Look at the Lamb!
The lamb was central to the sacrifices of the Temple—one life offered in place of another, blood spilled as a covering for wrongdoing.
John the Baptist announced, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
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Have you ever touched a lamb -- perhaps at a children’s science center, or on a visit to a local farm? If you have, you know that in all its cuteness, a lamb poses no threat. It’s a creature of almost meek gentleness and innocence.
A lamb doesn’t roar like a lion. It does not defend itself and does not intimidate. As painful as it is to picture, a lamb often is led in silence to its own slaughter.
It is this tender, unassuming image that John the Baptist gives us when he announces:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” -from John 1:29 NIV
With those words, John paints a rich and meaningful portrait. The lamb was central to the sacrifices of the Temple—one life offered in place of another, blood spilled as a covering for wrongdoing.
But this Lamb is no ordinary sacrifice. This Lamb does not merely cover failures -- He removes them. In addition, he comes not just for one nation but for the whole world. He is both the fulfillment and the transformation of an Old Testament ritual, offering not just pardon, but also restoration.
In the Agnus Dei, the ancient church sang of this Lamb reverently:
“O, Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.”
The monks’ chant reveals the truth they knew—this Lamb bears an unimaginable burden with extraordinary grace. He does not conquer by force but by self-giving love, disarming wrong and brokenness through His own surrender.
And yet, this Lamb is not weak. The Lamb of God carries within Himself the power of redemption, the strength to bear the burden of humanity’s willfulness, and the might to reconcile the world to its Creator. His gentleness does not diminish His greatness; it reveals it.
Grand as that is, this Lamb also comes to each of us in deeply personal ways. Jesus the Lamb meets us in our failures, our regrets, and our wrong turns. And when He does, it’s not with the growl of condemnation but with tenderness and mercy. He takes away not only the guilt of our mistakes but, also their grip. He frees us to live as God intended – as His beloved children.
Today, look at the Lamb. When you do, you will see in Him the extraordinary power of gentleness, and the strength of love that lays down His life for the world. Allow your heart to receive His mercy, and let His presence remind you that no burden is too heavy, no failure too great, no regret too deep for the Lamb of God to bear. +++
