The Lamb of God

By Royce Frederick

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” (Jn. 1:29). Like lambs which were sacrificed in the Old Testament, Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sins when He allowed evil men to crucify Him.

SINLESS

Every animal which was sacrificed in the Old Testament was innocent and sinless. Animals are not able to sin. Jesus, too, was completely sinless. He “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21).

RIGHTEOUS

The animals which were sacrificed were not tested or tempted to sin. Only man and woman are able to understand and choose between good and evil (Gen. 2:17). Jesus was tested. He “...was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). He is the only person who has lived a completely righteous life (Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 2:1). “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just [righteous] for the unjust, that He might bring us to God...” (1 Pet. 3:18).

WILLING

None of the sacrificed animals died willingly. But Jesus freely gave His life for us. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us...” (1 Jn. 3:16).