The Sacrificial Lamb

Dakota Community Church

March 16, 2008

The Sacrificial Lamb

Two weeks ago we saw Jesus as the light of the world. In the light we are able to see, we stop stumbling our way through life. In the light we find growth and direction, we discover a God who loves and cares for us and has a plan and purpose for our lives, and in the light, because we can now see, we find responsibility. We can no longer claim ignorance where the plight of those in need around us is concerned.

Then last week we saw Him as the bread of life, the sole source of provision, the daily requirement, and all too often the source of bitter complaining.

Today I want us to take a fresh look at Jesus, the sacrificial lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-20

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, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

1. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb.

John 1:29

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

I want to look at two Old Testament sources to glean understanding of this aspect of Christ’s life and purpose.

Read Genesis 22:1-19

This is a hugely misunderstood passage of scripture. Many people attribute all kinds of nasty and sinful characterizations to the Father as a result of not properly understanding these events and their ultimate meaning. Many people read this and assume that it is an example of God giving us something very precious and then demanding that we surrender it. I have heard this passage used to explain why a child has died and all sorts of terrible things. In fact this is another case where we see God establishing what He is going to do in the earth by laying down a preview, or pattern or type if you will. This passage is not about father Abraham and his son Isaac. This is a type established for all time of Father God and His son Jesus.

Genesis 22:6

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac…

John 19:17

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

Do you see the established pattern here?

Genesis 22:6-8

…and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

Notice who carried the knife and the fire. Who killed Jesus? Did the Jews kill the Messiah? Did Pilot or the Roman guards kill the Christ? No this was the Fathers plan from the beginning.

John 10:17-18

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

“This command I received from my Father.”

One more thing I want you to notice before we move on to the next point.

Genesis 22:13

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Once the pattern is established, the only son, the son of promise, will be the sacrifice and the Father will offer him on the altar, then a substitute is introduced until the appointed time arrives.

2. Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice.

Read Hebrews 9:1 – Hebrews 10:13

The earthly tabernacle was a type of the heavenly one, which is why the specifications had to be followed exactly.

Hebrews 8:5

They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

Goats and bulls were a temporary substitute to illustrate what was to come in Christ the final sacrificial lamb. God was never pleased with these, they were a temporary fix.