Holy Week – The Lamb of God in the Story of God

A lamb appears in God’s narrative toward the beginning, throughout and is present at the conclusion.  The lamb in Exodus 12: 1-13 was the sacrificial Passover lamb. One lamb was sacrificed for one family. If your family was small you might share a lamb with another small family. It was a real live lamb that was slaughtered.

A lamb appears in God’s narrative toward the beginning, throughout and is present at the conclusion.  The lamb in Exodus 12: 1-13 was the sacrificial Passover lamb. One lamb was sacrificed for one family. If your family was small you might share a lamb with another small family. It was a real live lamb that was slaughtered.

The blood of the slain lamb was pasted on the doorposts of the dwelling of that family as instructed by the Lord. “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”Thus the family was protected, saved from destruction by the blood of their slain lamb – a symbolic, but very real act.

Who would have thought that a lamb could rescue the souls of men?

In Isaiah 53 the narrative continues as another “like a slain lamb” is mentioned, “ he was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent…for he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” – this lamb, a human, being sacrificed for the sins of humans.

In the Gospel of John 1:29, from John the Baptist’s portion of the narrative -John looks up from his baptizing in the river and says “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” One lamb is sacrificed for one family; the Lamb of God is sacrificed for the whole world.

Who would have thought that a lamb could rescue the souls of men?

The death of Christ was foreshadowed in the Passover Feast Israel celebrated the night an unblemished, sacrificed lamb’s blood was pasted on top of the doorposts of each home as a protection. Isaiah connects the Passover lamb with the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God.

The final story of The Lamb, threaded throughout God’s story, ends in great triumph.

 In the Revelation 5:11-12 “I heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands and then thousands times ten thousands…they encircled the throne in loud voices they sang: Worthy is the lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.”

Who would have thought that a lamb could rescue the souls of men?

It is true – the lamb in God’s story sacrificed Himself for my sin and yours. He IS THE wonderful, merciful Savior we honor and remember and celebrate this Holy Week before Easter as Selah sings-

Wonderful, merciful Savior


Precious Redeemer and Friend


Who would have thought that a Lamb


Could rescue the souls of men?


Oh you rescue the souls of men


Here in our weakness You find us


Falling before Your throne


Oh, we're falling before Your throne

Songwriters: Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse