When I first became a Christian, I’d hear Jesus called the “Lamb of God” and would casually repeat the words in Bible study circles without understanding the true meaning. I often would think, why not a lion or a bear? Why a lamb? Jesus, the Great I am, shouldn’t He be called something more powerful? Thankfully my Bible study mentors saw the misalignment and often would say, “Rebecca, context is key.” They used that opportunity to share with me the beautiful meaning behind this name. Now, as a mom and children’s Bible study leader, I love to unpack this truth for others so they too can discover the richness in His name.
I often would think, why not a lion or a bear? Why a lamb? Jesus, the Great I am, shouldn’t He be called something more powerful [than a lamb]?
The Spotless Lamb
Throughout the Old Testament, a lamb was sacrificed on an altar as an act of worship and means of atonement for one’s sins. The word atonement means to “cover over.” The sacrificial lamb was a substitute and the requirement was to choose a lamb without defect. Meaning the lamb should be as close to perfect as possible. Instead of a person dying for his or her sins, God provided the lamb to be their substitute, and the blood of the lamb paid the penalty for their sin. (You can read more about this in The Offering of Issac in Genesis 22:1-14)
The lamb plays another major role in the Old Testament, and that is during the Passover. For context, the Passover occurred during the time of Moses, the ten plagues and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The last and final plague was the death of the first-born son. God Himself was coming to Egypt, striking the final blow. Before this conclusive strike, God sent Moses specific instructions to give the Israelites to save them from this plague:
“Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” (Exodus 12:7, NIV)
God promised to pass over each house covered by the blood of the lamb. The message of the Passover is that God delivers through the death of an innocent substitute. The Israelites’ first born sons were spared by the blood that covered their door frames.
Speaking of this event, Louie Giglio wrote “What a powerful moment in history and what a powerful example of spiritual foreshadowing. The Passover pointed forward thousands of years to the moment when Jesus – the Lamb of God – shed His blood on the cross to cover the sins of humanity.” ¹
Now, let’s go to the New Testament and see how Jesus fulfills both of these prophetic symbols of atonement.
Christmas to the Cross
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV)
- Giglio, Louie. At the Table with Jesus: A Bible Study on the Life and Teachings of Jesus. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2021.
Now, I have to admit, this next part blew my mind as a new believer and honestly still does to this day! Never doubt that God is in every single detail! John the Baptist’s words were perfect and precise. Jesus was born sinless and pure in a messy manger not in a pristine place. Oftentimes, we hear the Christmas story and skim through it, missing the small, yet very important details surrounding His birth.
- Born in a stable
- Wrapped in swaddling clothes
- Worshipped by lowly shepherds
Coincidental? I think not.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12, NKJV)
In this passage, we read of the angels’ appearance to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. Historians teach us that flocks of sheep covered the fields of Bethlehem and these shepherds cared for the lambs destined for sacrifice in the temple (only spotless ones could be offered). Don’t miss one incredible truth: the angels specifically told the shepherds that Jesus would be wrapped in “swaddling clothes.” Why does that matter? It was many years ago on my first trip to Israel that our guide shared with us the powerful meaning behind the “swaddling clothes.”
Shepherds kept watch over their sheep and when they gave birth they marked the spotless ones for temple sacrifice. Each spotless lamb was caught in the hands of the shepherd before touching the ground and carefully wrapped in swaddling clothes as a sign of purity. Therefore, when the angels declared that Jesus would be found wrapped in “swaddling clothes,” this was to designate Him as the sinless Lamb of God. How fitting that the shepherds, who ran to Bethlehem that first Christmas morning, were among the first to worship the Lamb of God.
Jesus finished His work. He lived a sinless, perfect life—proving that He alone was qualified to stand as the ultimate sacrifice. Then He died the death we should have died so that death and judgment would Passover us.
Marian Jordan Ellis shares the interesting perspective of the connection between the Lamb of God and the Passover lamb.
“Falsely accused, but in full control, Jesus chose to lay down His life. Jewish tradition tells us that at the third hour (9:00 AM), Israel’s High Priest tied the Passover lamb to the altar for sacrifice. At that exact moment, the Gospels tell us that outside the city walls of Jerusalem, Jesus was nailed to the cross. (Matthew 27:32-56) Then for six brutal hours both the Passover lamb and Jesus the Lamb of God, awaited death. While Jesus was tortured, mocked and forsaken, He endured the full penalty for sin. Finally, at the ninth hour (3:00 PM), the high priest ascended the altar in the temple and sacrificed the Passover lamb. The blood spilled out. The lamb slain. At that exact moment from the cross, Christ’s words thundered out over the city of Jerusalem, “It is finished!” Jesus finished His work. He lived a sinless, perfect life—proving that He alone was qualified to stand as the ultimate sacrifice. Then He died the death we should have died so that death and judgment would Passover us.”1
Reflection Questions
Have you thanked God this Easter season for the ultimate sacrifice of His son, Jesus? How should remembering the Spotless Lamb’s sacrifice, and the salvation we are offered as a result, change the way we live right now?
How can we share this eternity-altering truth with those around us? Is there a person that comes to mind who needs to hear this message of grace, love, forgiveness and hope? Pray for the Lord to make clear an opportunity to personally share with that person.
Prayer
Dear God,
Help me to truly behold you are the sinless Lamb of God. Help me to grasp the truth of your death and resurrection, that I may find hope and purpose. Good Friday tells me that Jesus paid the atonement for my sins and declared me worthy of dying for! Help that truth permeate my heart and mind and give me the ability to share this Good News with others.uring this Easter week help me find time to get still and reflect on your sacrifice and grace in my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1. Ellis, Marian Jordan. Garden to Garden: Through the Bible from Eden to Eternal Paradise. New York: FaithWords, 2024.