The Lamb of God

MANILA, Philippines — Have you ever wondered why the Scripture refers to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God? Why compare Jesus to a docile lamb? Why not a lion? Or some other animal that suggests power and majesty?

In the Old Testament, lambs were used as sacrificial offerings to atone for sins. The Law of Moses has God commanding the Israelites to offer a spotless, unblemished animal – often a lamb – to atone for the sins of the people. The unblemished nature of the lamb symbolizes purity and innocence, and its death served as a substitution for the sinner. But offering an animal only temporarily covers sin to restore right standing before God.

So, in Christian theology, Jesus is referred to as “the Lamb of God” to symbolize his role as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

Isaiah 53 has a prophecy about a “man of sorrows” who bears the sins of many. The prophet Isaiah describes a figure who is despised and rejected, suffers for the sins of others and is ultimately glorified. This seems to be a direct foretelling of Jesus’ crucifixion to atone for humanity’s sins.

“The Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone…

“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…”

The most direct Biblical reference to “the Lamb of God” was by St John the Baptist. He declared in John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus is the ultimate unblemished lamb – sinless, pure and chosen by God – not merely to cover sin temporarily, but to remove it entirely, once and for all times, through his death on the cross.

At the heart of this doctrine is the concept of substitutionary atonement. This means that Jesus, who is sinless, took upon himself the punishment that humanity deserved for its sin. In doing so, he satisfies the justice of God – because sin requires a penalty – while offering forgiveness and a path to eternal life.

Thus, the cross accomplishes what no animal offering ever could – the full reconciliation of humanity to God. The theological basis of Christian salvation through the cross centers on the belief that Jesus Christ’s crucifixion was a divinely ordained act of redemption for humanity’s sin. In Christian theology, sin is viewed as a fundamental barrier between humanity and God – caused by human disobedience.

The Gospel of John clearly compares Jesus to the Passover lamb: Jesus was crucified on the same day that the Passover lambs were being killed in the Temple (John 19:31). According to the New Testament, Jesus’ death on the cross fulfills the requirements of divine justice while simultaneously expressing God’s immense mercy and love.

The cross of Christ offers forgiveness and redemption to those who believe in him and accept him as their Lord and Savior.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This emphasizes the unconditional love of God. It highlights that Christ died for us even while we were still in a state of sin, demonstrating the depth of God’s grace and mercy.

The cross is also about victory over sin, death and the powers of evil. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 proclaims: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ultimately, salvation through the cross is a gift of grace, received through faith. It cannot be earned through good works or moral perfection but is offered freely by God to all who trust in Jesus. The cross is the means by which God’s justice and mercy meet, offering reconciliation and renewal.

Hebrews 27-28 sums up the meaning of the cross to us who believe in Christ: “Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Happy Easter, everyone!

Boo Chanco’s email address is bchanco@gmail.com. Follow him on X @boochanco