Advent Devotionals: Day 27

I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve heard the term Lamb of God used to refer to Jesus, but it is somewhat an interesting title because while it’s referenced many times, the title itself is only found in the Gospel of John and in the book of Revelation. The idea of the lamb can be traced back to the Old Testament. The first reference is found in Genesis 22 when God called Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah. Just before Abraham went to slay his son in obedience to God, the Lord provided a lamb as a sacrificial substitute for Abraham’s son. In the same way, Jesus acts as our substitute, and God pours out His wrath on account of our sin onto Him instead of us. God, then, provides a Lamb of His own and accepts the life of that substitute.

Likewise, we see the Lamb of God in the Passover story. When God prepared to bring the final plague over Israel and instructed His people to slay a lamb without blemish and spread its blood over their doorposts. And God promised to pass over all the houses that had the blood of the lamb on them (Exodus 12:3–13). As the blood of the lamb caused the people of Israel to be spared from God’s wrath, the Lamb of God redeems His people from the penalty that is due for their sin by pouring that wrath onto Christ.  

Prayer: Father, we thank you this day for the sacrificial Lamb of God, our Savior, who takes away the sin of the world.

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