LAMB OF GOD

The imagery of a "lamb" is taken from the O.T. to convey certain thoughts about Christ. John the Baptizer introduced Jesus as the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). The Passover lamb of the O.T. was clearly a "type" (see) of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7). There are several important truths associated with this idea. (a) Christ was a spotless lamb with no blemish (cf. Ex. 12:5; 1 Pet. 1:19). It was this sinless character that allowed him to die as a sacrifice for sin (2 Cor. 5:21). (b) Christ was submissive to the will of God. "He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth" (Isa. 53:7). His faithful obedience is an abiding example for us (1 Pet. 2:21ff). (c) Jesus was a sacrificed lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). His voluntary offering of himself (Gal. 1:4) was the necessary price for man's redemption (Mt. 20:28; 26:28; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). (d) Christ is portrayed as a victorious lamb in the book of Revelation (twenty-eight times) -- a lamb that was slain (5:6, 9, 12; 13:8), but that stood up again (5:6), and is "alive for evermore" (1:18). In this final book of the N.T., the lamb is a leader of his people (7:17; 14:1-4) who were purchased by his blood (5:9-10; 14:4).