Lamb of God
Lamb of God
By: Monica Gerges
Although we celebrate the birth of Christ during the Feast of the Nativity, we can’t overlook the implications and ultimate purpose of Christ’s incarnation and birth because, just like many of the other major feasts, Christmas should serve to remind us of God’s humility, sacrifice and love for us. Christ comes as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) and unsurprisingly the scripture is riddled with imagery likening the Messiah to the perfect sacrificial lamb.
The sacrifice of lambs plays a very important role in Judaism, of particular importance to us is the Passover sacrifice and the sin/purification offering. The Feast of the Passover is one of the main Jewish holidays and a celebration in remembrance of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In fact, the slaughter of the Passover lamb and the application of its blood to the doorposts of the houses (so that the Angel of Death would pass over that house) is mimicked when Christ’s blood is shed on the wood of the Cross to save us from the Angel of (spiritual) Death – Christ is our Passover lamb. During the sin/purification offering, an individual’s sins were ‘transferred’ to the lamb which was then killed for the forgiveness of their sins; similarly, the sin of all humanity was placed on Christ who was then crucified so that we could be saved.
When faced with conditions of stress or pain, most animals vocalise their trauma and do everything in their limited power to escape such circumstances, however lambs which are simply small, weak animals are instead, silent and submissive. Similarly, Christ was “oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7)
It is through Christ’s death on the cross as God’s perfect sacrificial lamb that we can now attain eternal life. The fact that God Himself has provided the offering that atones for our sins is part of the glorious good news of the gospel and may this season always remind us of God’s infinite love for us.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.
By: Monica Gerges
Although we celebrate the birth of Christ during the Feast of the Nativity, we can’t overlook the implications and ultimate purpose of Christ’s incarnation and birth because, just like many of the other major feasts, Christmas should serve to remind us of God’s humility, sacrifice and love for us. Christ comes as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) and unsurprisingly the scripture is riddled with imagery likening the Messiah to the perfect sacrificial lamb.
The sacrifice of lambs plays a very important role in Judaism, of particular importance to us is the Passover sacrifice and the sin/purification offering. The Feast of the Passover is one of the main Jewish holidays and a celebration in remembrance of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In fact, the slaughter of the Passover lamb and the application of its blood to the doorposts of the houses (so that the Angel of Death would pass over that house) is mimicked when Christ’s blood is shed on the wood of the Cross to save us from the Angel of (spiritual) Death – Christ is our Passover lamb. During the sin/purification offering, an individual’s sins were ‘transferred’ to the lamb which was then killed for the forgiveness of their sins; similarly, the sin of all humanity was placed on Christ who was then crucified so that we could be saved.
When faced with conditions of stress or pain, most animals vocalise their trauma and do everything in their limited power to escape such circumstances, however lambs which are simply small, weak animals are instead, silent and submissive. Similarly, Christ was “oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7)
It is through Christ’s death on the cross as God’s perfect sacrificial lamb that we can now attain eternal life. The fact that God Himself has provided the offering that atones for our sins is part of the glorious good news of the gospel and may this season always remind us of God’s infinite love for us.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Recent
Archive
2019
June
Pentecost – The Holy SpiritThe Lost Sheep: Feeling Alone in the ChurchThe AscensionPractical Tips: The Holy 50 DaysTools for PrayerWhom are you Seeking?“Ooh, Heaven is a place on Earth!”How to Benefit from Holy Week?Seek Your Mate in PoetryAfrica 2015The Forgotten MedicineA Servant in PoetryTolle Lege – Take up and ReadAttaining Godly LoveOn The PsalmsJanuary is for St JosephIs it Syami?Waiting on the Lord – Psalm 130St John ChrysostomGentlenessTurn it UpThe Life of Giving
July
BaptismPrayer Before Holy CommunionGod’s Invitation: Will We Accept?Our Relationship With GodThe Unforgivable SinBears in AlaskaSelf-DenialThe Significance of Christ’s TearsThe Fast of Saint MaryStrength In NumbersSeeing Christ in OthersWhat is Hell?From Saul to PaulThe Missing Prayer (Part THREE of THREE)The Missing Prayer (Part TWO of THREE)The Missing Prayer (Part ONE of THREE)Lamb of GodHebrews 12:14 – A ContemplationThe Greatness of John the BaptistExtra! Extra! Read All About ItChristians in IraqInterview with Abouna Tadros Malaty (Fr Paul Fanous)Loving Your EnemiesSacrament of UnctionThe Resurrection of the DeadFr. Alexander Schmemann: Reflections on Pope Shenouda III5 Things You Need to Know About LentSpear in Your Side3 Things To Do This Lent!Lenten Fasting – RevisitedAttaining Godly LoveBeing Restored by ChristRecommended Readings ListContemplation on the KingdomThe Glorious Feast of the AscensionHow to Not Spiritually Wither Away in the Holy 50Drawing Closer to GodThe Feast of St Mark the ApostleI Rescued the FatherlessAdmit it… Isn’t church just sheer boredom?Evidence for the ResurrectionFr Mark Basily – 103.2 Interview (Palm Sunday Bombings)The Effects of ReadingThe Significance of The Upper Room to The Early ChurchMental Health and ChristianityLiving in the MomentBecause He is Risen I am HopefulFeelings of DoubtApostles FastTrusting in HimThe Samaritan WomanSt Paul Defending His Apostleship and ServiceSupporting and Serving the NeedyThe Lord's PrayerThe Man Born BlindThe Paralytic ManLet’s Get Personal About LentNew Year New MeGod Became ManA Fool on Earth, but Wise for EternityFr Yacoub’s 10 Tips on PurityHurt People Heal PeopleMy Perfect SelfNew Comers to the ChurchFaith or FeelingsYou Can’t Leave MeHe is Useful to Me for MinistryThe Love of a ParentPsalm 23Understanding the Holy FiftyThomas SundayContemplations on Good FridayBridging the GapUse It Before You Lose ItLove (Advent Series)21How to Survive the Christmas SeasonHow to Transform Your Spiritual Life in 2019
No Comments