Behold the Lamb of God

The first lamb was accepted and noted.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (Genesis 4:2-4).

Jesus was more accepted and noted.

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:24).

God redeemed Isaac with a lamb.

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son (Gen 22:8,13).

Notes: (1) creative wording provides some inspired ambiguity, and knowing the breadth of scripture (Ps 119:96), we see both the male lamb God did provide and Jesus the Lamb of God, (2) Jesus declared that Abraham had rejoiced to see His day (Jn 8:56), and (3) this salvation of Isaac was figurative (Heb 11:19).

The Passover lamb was precious.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you (Exodus 12:12-13,23).

Notes: (1) the Old Testament Passover lamb’s blood caused the destroying death angel to pass over each house of Israel, though all the firstborn in Egypt died, (2) the difference was so great that dogs did not even bark in Israel, (3) the New Testament Passover Lamb’s blood fulfills the shadow and type of the Old Testament, and God will pass over us on Judgment Day because of it, and (4) God told Israel’s fathers to teach the importance of this salvation in their annual feast, just as fathers should do for communion.

Asses were redeemed by a lamb.

And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem (Exodus 13:13).

Notes: (1) asses were unclean animals, which had to be redeemed, for God did not want them on His altar, so they had to have their necks broken if the Israelite did not want to spend a lamb (Num 18:15-17) and (2) it is a perfect illustration of an innocent lamb being substituted for an ass and (3) we are all like asses, yet worse than asses, for we have used our rational intelligence to rebel against our Creator God.

Israel was covered by daily lambs.

And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even (Num 28:3-4).

Ebenezer was a burned sucking lamb.

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him (I Samuel 7:9).

God’s Servant died submissively like a lamb.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).

Notes: (1) Lambs and sheep will allow themselves to be both fleeced or killed without fighting, which is very different from most other animals that will put up much fight and noise – consider a cat for either shearing or killing and (2) Jesus did not revile or threaten, which spirit we are to have (I Peter 2:20-23).

The eunuch heard Jesus was like a lamb.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:32-35).

His blood (life) was precious.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (I Peter 1:18-19).

He is our Great Shepherd and sacrificial Lamb.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Heb 13:20-21).

The slain Lamb changed everything.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever (Rev 5:4-14).

Notes: (1) this scene is the ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven from Bethany, where the apostles saw Him depart into clouds, and John here sees Him arrive in heaven, (2) the Lamb of God is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah – worship Him, (3) He appears as a Lamb “slain,” which is noted in verses 6,9,12.

Our Lamb is terrifying to our enemies.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17).

The Lamb saved innumerable Gentiles.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Rev 7:9-17).

Notes: (1) the Lamb also saved many Jews, which are symbolized by 144,000 in two places (Rev 7:1-8; 14:1-5) and (2) the saved Gentiles are referenced again (Rev 14:6-12).

The remnant overcame Satan by the Lamb.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11).

The Lamb oversees the torment of the wicked.

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:10-12).

The Lamb of war destroys all our enemies.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful (Rev 17:14).

Eternal life is only by the Lamb’s book of life.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 13:8; 20:15; 21:27).

Notes: (1) the book of life is the Lamb’s book listing all those He died for, (2) it is the book of life, for eternal life was secured for all listed in it, (3) it is the book of life of the Lamb “slain,” for He did truly die and was buried to save those written there, which use of “slain” occurs three times in chapter five, (4) “from the foundation of the world” modifies when the names were written (see 17:8), not when the Lamb was slain in any sense, and (5) the Destroyer on the great Day of Judgment will pass over all those written in the book.

We await the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God (Revelation 19:6-9).

For we are the Lamb’s wife.

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:9-10).

The Lamb is the temple and light of heaven.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof (Revelation 21:14,22-23).

Heaven is all about God and the Lamb.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads (Revelation 22:1-4).

Until then Jesus is our Passover Lamb.

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (I Cor 5:7).

Notes: (1) the Old Testament Passover lamb’s blood caused the destroying death angel to pass over each house of Israel, though all the firstborn in Egypt died, (2) the New Testament Passover Lamb’s blood fulfills the shadow and type of the Old Testament, and God will pass over us in the Day of Judgment because of it, (3) rather than sacrifice another lamb, we simply remember our Lamb’s one sacrifice, which makes communion an incredibly important event to honor Him, and (4) we get to explain it to our children.

Our Communion is the Fulfilled Passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:14-16).

Notes: (1) this was the last of four Passovers Jesus had with His apostles, (2) there would be no further use of it looking forward to the Lamb’s blood being shed for sinners, (3) for it would be fulfilled gloriously by Jesus dying to save His people from their sins, and (4) He would rise again in total victory over death.

We have a Day to be much Observed.

It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations (Exodus 12:42).

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come (I Cor 11:26).

Notes: (1) the ordinance of the O.T. Passover was to be perpetual, (2) and its fulfillment in the Lord’s Supper is to be observed perpetually until He comes, and (3) the event and memory of ours is far