The title “Lamb of God” for Jesus appears only twice in the New Testament, but it nevertheless encapsulates a key aspect of his identity and mission. John the Baptist declares Jesus to be the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” in John 1:29 and John 1:36. Understanding the meaning and significance of this title requires an examination of the background of sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, lambs were commonly used for sacrificial offerings. When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God, those familiar with the sacrificial system would have recognized the implication that Jesus was being offered as a sacrifice for sin. Several connections can be made between Jesus and the Passover lamb in Exodus 12 that was slain on behalf of the people of Israel. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb delivered the Israelites from slavery and death, Jesus’ blood delivers believers from slavery to sin and death. Jesus himself made this connection at the Last Supper when he described his impending death as a sacrifice, stating that his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28).
The most prominent sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament was the lamb offered on the Day of Atonement as described in Leviticus 16. On this annual day of national cleansing and forgiveness for Israel, the high priest would select a spotless lamb which would bear the sins of the people and be sacrificed in their place. In calling Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, John the Baptist was proclaiming Jesus as the ultimate and final sacrifice that permanently atones for sin (Hebrews 10:1-18). While previous sacrifices only provided temporary cleansing, Jesus’ death accomplished eternal redemption.
Not only does Jesus fulfill the Old Testament concept of a sacrificial lamb, but he is also portrayed as a sacrificial lamb in Revelation. In Revelation 5, Jesus is presented as the slain but risen Lamb who alone is worthy to open the scroll containing God’s final judgments and plans. And in Revelation 7 and 14, believers who follow the Lamb and have their robes washed in his blood are pictured as an innumerable multitude gathered in worship around the throne of God and the Lamb.
In summary, the title “Lamb of God” connects Jesus’ death on the cross to make atonement for sins with the extensive sacrificial lamb imagery and typology in the Old Testament. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb and the Day of Atonement lamb – he is the Lamb who was slain and whose blood delivers people from slavery to sin and death. Calling Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world proclaims his sacrificial death on behalf of humanity and its power to grant forgiveness, redemption and eternal life to those who believe in him.
The Lamb in Old Testament Sacrifices
In order to fully understand the meaning behind Jesus as the Lamb of God, it is helpful to survey some of the key passages in the Old Testament that establish the background of sacrificial lambs.
One of the earliest references is in Genesis 22 when God provides a ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. On Mount Moriah, Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac according to God’s command. But just as he is about to slay Isaac, an angel stops him and points to a ram caught in the thicket that can be offered up instead. This incident is a foreshadowing of God’s future provision of a sacrifice – his own Son Jesus – to substitute for humanity.
References to sacrificial lambs proliferate in the book of Leviticus, which provides legislation for Israel’s sacrificial system. Burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and fellowship offerings all entailed the sacrifice of unblemished lambs or goats. The blood of the animal would be splashed on the altar and the animal itself burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 1-3). This regular offering of lambs functioned as atonement for the people’s sins, allowing God to dwell among them.
In Leviticus 16, God established the Day of Atonement as a national day of cleansing and forgiveness for all the sins of Israel. During this annual ritual, the high priest selected a spotless lamb which he slaughtered as a sin offering. Placing his hands on the lamb’s head, the high priest symbolically transferred the sins of Israel onto the lamb. Its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat – the place where the atoning presence of God dwelt in the tabernacle. The lamb bore Israel’s sins and was sacrificed in their place. This pattern of sacrificial atonement is the key backdrop for understanding Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
Another important foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice appears in the Passover (Exodus 12:1-13). God sent the tenth and final plague upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn son in every household. But he provided a means of deliverance for the Israelites: slaughtering an unblemished lamb and spreading its blood on the doorposts of their houses. When the angel of death passed through Egypt, he would “pass over” the houses covered with lamb’s blood, sparing the Israelite firstborns. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood caused God’s judgment to pass over Israel, so Jesus’ blood causes God’s judgment for sin to pass over all who trust in him.
The extensive imagery of sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament, from the ram caught in the thicket meant for Isaac to the regular offerings described in Leviticus to the Passover lamb and the Day of Atonement sacrifice, provides crucial background for the title Lamb of God being applied to Jesus in the New Testament. His sacrifice fulfills and completes the entire Old Testament sacrificial system.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of Passover Imagery
In the Gospels, Jesus’ death on the cross is clearly identified with the Passover sacrifice. Just as the original Passover lamb had to be an unblemished male (Exodus 12:5), Jesus is the sinless Son of God. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus ate a last supper with his disciples and connected the meal to the Passover celebration, saying “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). During this Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and declared them his body and blood, given as a sacrifice and establishing a new covenant (Luke 22:19-20). The parallels to the Passover meal, the sacrificial lamb whose blood saved from death, and the original covenant established through Moses are all evident.
The Gospel of John highlights how the Passover setting deepens the meaning of the Lamb of God title for Jesus. John the Baptist declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God, and John’s gospel strategically depicts Jesus’ death occurring at the time when the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in preparation for the feast. John 19:14 states that Jesus’ sentencing took place on “the day of Preparation of the Passover.” And in John 19:31-36, Jesus’ legs are not broken by the soldiers in order to hasten his death because this would violate the requirement that the Passover lamb must not have any broken bones (Exodus 12:46). Jesus dies as the slaughtered Passover Lamb, whose blood protects people from the final judgment of God.
The connections between Jesus’ death and the Passover sacrifice provide persuasive evidence that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb. He is the Lamb whose blood causes judgment and death to pass over all who take refuge in him. The imagery of the Passover lamb that was foundational to Israel’s redemption from slavery fits Jesus precisely, affirming his identity as the Lamb of God who offers eternal redemption.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Day of Atonement Sacrifice
Not only does Jesus fulfill the Passover sacrifice, but the New Testament writings also contain allusions linking Jesus to the Day of Atonement sacrifice described in Leviticus 16. On the annual Day of Atonement, Israel’s high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and offer blood sacrifices to atone for the sins of the whole nation during the past year. Absolution came through the lifeblood of a spotless sacrificial lamb. Jesus’ high priestly ministry and once-for-all sacrifice combine to make him the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement type.
The Book of Hebrews in particular connects Jesus’ death on the cross to the Day of Atonement sacrifice:
– Jesus has entered the true, perfect tabernacle in heaven to stand before God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:11-12, 23-24).
– Jesus did not enter heaven by means of the blood of goats and calves like the earthly high priests, but by his own blood he secured eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12-14).
– Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, entering once for all into the holy places by means of his own blood to secure eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).
– Just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that face judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:27-28).
– Jesus’ offering of himself abolishes the regular sacrifices as he became the perfect and complete sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-12).
The argument of Hebrews is that Jesus fulfills and perfects the Old Testament pattern of atonement, including the Day of Atonement ritual. While the blood of bulls and goats provided ceremonial cleansing, Jesus’ blood truly takes away sin and makes those who are cleansed perfect in God’s sight. Whereas the old sacrifices were continually offered over and over again every year, Jesus’ sacrifice was decisive and final. Therefore, Jesus can be described as the Lamb who finally and fully takes away the sin of the world in a way that the OT sacrifices never could.
Jesus as the Slain Lamb in Revelation
The consummation of the image of Jesus as the Lamb of God comes in Revelation as it depicts the exalted Lamb enthroned in God’s presence and worshipped as Redeemer. In Revelation 5, there is a scroll sealed with seven seals containing God’s final judgments and plans. John begins to weep because no one is found worthy to open the scroll until one of the elders declares “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” But when John looks to see the conquering Lion, instead he sees a Lamb standing as though slain. The Lion and the Lamb refer to the same person – Jesus. He alone is worthy to open the scroll because he conquered sin and death through his sacrificial death as the Lamb.
Later in Revelation, a vision of a great multitude from every nation worshipping God and the Lamb appears. The saints of God have washed their robes white and made them clean in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-17). And in Revelation 14, the Lamb stands victoriously with the 144,000 on Mount Zion while an angel proclaims the eternal gospel, calling people to fear God and worship the Creator and the Lamb. Jesus’ identity as the Lamb culminates in the vision of his victory, enthronement, reign, and eternal worship portrayed in Revelation. The sacrificial Lamb who was slain now rules as the Lion-Lamb who reigns forever.
The Lamb imagery that was so prominent regarding Jesus’ earthly mission of redemption maintains its force as his eternal identity and eternal rule are depicted. He is consistently worshipped and glorified in Revelation as the Lamb who is worthy of all blessing, honor, and praise.
Implications of Jesus as the Lamb of God
The title Lamb of God, drawn from the extensive sacrificial lamb imagery and typology of the Old Testament, has rich implications for understanding the meaning and significance of Jesus’ identity and mission. Here are several key implications:
1. Jesus is the ultimate and complete sacrifice for human sin. As John the Baptist declared, he is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). No longer are ongoing sacrifices required – Jesus’ death fully atoned once and for all.
2. Jesus’ sacrifice and shed blood provide redemption. Those covered by his blood are spared from God’s final judgment, just as the blood of the original Passover lamb caused the judgment angel to pass over.
3. Jesus’ sacrifice brings freedom from slavery just as the Passover Lamb’s sacrifice allowed Israel to be set free from slavery to Egypt. The Lamb offers spiritual freedom from slavery to sin.
4. Jesus’ sacrifice establishes a new covenant relationship with God just as the old covenant was established by sacrifice. The Last Supper imagery highlights Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb whose death inaugurates a new covenant in fulfillment of Jeremiah 31.
5. Jesus’ sacrifice was substitutionary – it was on behalf of others. He is the pure and spotless Lamb who could bear the penalty of sin for others and die in their place.
6. Jesus fulfills the entire Old Testament sacrificial system completely and perfectly. All the lamb sacrifices pointed forward to the one ultimate sacrifice of the true Lamb of God.
When John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” he was identifying Jesus’ supreme purpose: to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice, a ransom payment, and a Passover-like deliverance that redeems people, releases them from sin and death, and initiates an eternal loving relationship between God and humanity. All the complex, developed sacrificial lamb theology of the Old Testament comes to final and complete fulfillment in the sending of God’s Son into the world as the true Lamb of God.
