The Sacrificial Lamb

A commonly talked about figure in Christianity, but an amazingly unknown one. Maybe because we don’t use terms like that today. When we think sacrifice we think of being inconvenienced or having to stretch ourselves. In a world where hyperbole reigns supreme such as, “that was awesome”, “I almost died” and “I’m starving”, sacrificial gets thrown in the pot and we lose our central Christian figure amongst a Jesus fish car emblem and the church program with coffee stains on it from last week.

Who is this sacrificial lamb? Or I guess to go back even further and have an even better understanding, “what is a sacrificial lamb?”

In the Old Testament, the scriptures talk about atoning for sins. Making things right with God. There are several types of offerings for different things. But one that is very crucial to understanding why Jesus came and what that should mean to us is the sin offering. An innocent lamb is tied to the brazen alter and sacrificed. What happens here is a beautifully mystical thing where our sin is taken on by this lamb and we take on his innocence. Additionally there is the presence of the goat…or the scapegoat. The scapegoat is released into the wilderness as a symbol of carrying away our sins.

Now, I know this is heavy. Maybe even a little disturbing if you don’t understand. You may be asking, “Why would God do that to that poor animal?” or “Why would God have US do that to that poor animal?” It requires a mind of the spirit to understand…so if this idea is escaping you right now, first ask for God to open your heart and mind and spirit to the words you are reading and about to read.

This sacrifice was a foreshadowing of what was to come. In their own right, people of the Old Testament could never keep up with atoning for their sin in this fashion. It was never going to be enough.

Enter Jesus…

HE became the sacrificial lamb. A once and for all offering whom took on our sin and transferred his innocence onto us. And he was also the scapegoat to carry our sins away.

Isaiah 53:4-7
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

But it was not for nothing:

Isaiah 53:10-12
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise him and fill him with grief. However, when his soul has been made an offering for sin, then he shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again,[b] and God’s program shall prosper in his hands. 11 And when he sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of his soul, he shall be satisfied; and because of what he has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for he shall bear all their sins. 12 Therefore, I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great because he has poured out his soul unto death. He was counted as a sinner, and he bore the sins of many, and he pled with God for sinners.

Let us dwell on that today. No greater love has any man than to lay down his life for his friends!