1996-05-24 - Christ the Lamb of God

As most of you know, before Christ's life on earth, death and resurrection, the only way humans had of having our guilt absolved, was through the killing of innocent animals. God is absolutely perfect Himself, and cannot tolerate any sin at all. However, because of His love for us, He provided a way of bridging the wall of sin that came between us. He accepted animals, as sin sacrifices. These animals died in the place of humans. The lambs that were sacrificed had to be "perfect." God would not accept the second-best. In order to meet God's standards, these lambs had to be flawless, "without blemish." Lev 4:32 (NIV) "'If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he is to bring a female without defect.

However, even these "blemish-free" animals were not the best. So God provided the ultimate, truly perfect means of covering our sins:

John 1:29 (NIV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Pet 1:18-19 (NIV) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Not only did He provide the perfect sacrifice -- the Only One that would truly satisfy His Holy sense of justice, but how awed we should be, that God made His very Son to be that sacrifice -- to suffer for me -- for us -- so we wouldn't have to be separated from God eternally. As Kathy Troccoli sings in her song from Jesus to us, "That's how much I loved you."

I hope you will join me today, in thanking God for providing a perfect Lamb to take our place.

: ) Jan

Janice P. Moser
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references are from the NASB unless otherwise noted.