Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“…Behold, the LAMB of GOD, who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29b

To glorify the God of Impact is to follow and hallow THE LAMB of GOD: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward Him, and said, “Behold, the LAMB of GOD who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jh.1:29). John the Baptist, by this proclamation, identified and witnessed to Jesus as the Lamb of God. This shows His unique role as the Sin-bearer; Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Messiah, and Son of God, Who came to fulfil Old Testament prophecy of atonement, causing disciples to follow Him.

Prophetic references to the Lamb of God are numerous in the Old Testament. One of the earliest and well-known prophecies is found in Genesis 22, where God commanded Abraham to offer his son, Isaac as a sacrifice. In obedience, Abraham was willing to release even his beloved son; hence, His test became a testimony to the world. On the way to the altar, Isaac asked his dad, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” In response, Abraham prophesied, “My son, God will provide himself the LAMB for a burnt offering…” (Gen.22: 7-8). Although Abraham prepared to offer Isaac to the Lord, before he could slay his son, God stepped with a substitute lamb (Gen.22:10-12).

Abraham again prophesied about the Lamb of God, “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Gen.22:14). The Lamb of God is again vividly foreshadowed in Exodus 12 and 13 through the Jewish Feast of the Passover. This was eaten in remembrance of the Lord “passing over” the houses of those who had sacrificed the Passover lamb and sprinkled its blood on their doorposts and lintel, while the angel of death struck those who had not sprinkled the blood of the lamb. This was the final of ten plagues sent by God to redeem His people.

Two millennia after Abraham, and about one-and-half millennia after Egypt, God offered His only Son, the Lamb of God, as a sin offering, to reconcile fallen humanity to the Holy Living God! Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb of God, was sacrificed upon Calvary’s cross for the sins of all humankind. When the Day of the Lord comes, those who have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb through accepting Christ, will be kept safe, while the unbelieving world pays for their rebellion against God.

Beloved, let’s become sold out to the Lamb Who was slain to redeem us; let’s follow and join heaven’s hosts to eternally celebrate Him: “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the LAMB that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). This is the sure access into the Dominion of Redemption!