What a breath taking declaration. Those in the Jewish community knew what John meant. Jesus was the prophesied Lamb that would come to die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Let’s look at some of the prophecies concerning the Lamb of God.

In the book of Genesis we see sin enter into God’s creation as Adam and Eve rebelled against God and partook of the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked. They hid from God. God then killed an innocent animal and gave them skins to cover their nakedness. Blood of an innocent animal (possibly a lamb) was shed to provide a covering for Adam and Eve.

Cain and Abel brought a sacrifice to God. Cain brought the fruit of the ground, the produce that he grew and cultivated. Abel brought a lamb. God rejected Cain’s sacrifice but received Abel’s prescribed sacrifice of a lamb. Why a lamb? The Word of God reveals that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22). The perfect, innocent Lamb looked forward as a type of Jesus, God’s Lamb, who gave himself as a sacrifice on the cross. Isaiah prophesied of God’s lamb even before Jesus Christ came to earth at the incarnation. (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53; 7:13-14; 9:6)

When God delivered Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He instructed Israel to take a lamb, slay it, and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. God was going to judge Egypt by sending the death angel over the land to kill the first born of each household. But God promised the Israelites, “The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13-14). God told the Israelites to commemorate that night by keeping the Feast of Passover each year forever.

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be the Passover lamb who would become mankind’s sacrifice for sins, for all who would believe and receive him. (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53) Space does not permit us to explore all that Christ did for us by his suffering and passion. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. (Isaiah 53:3) “He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all . . . He was led as a lamb to slaughter . . . From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he suffered their punishment? He had done no wrong . . . But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave . . . Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs . . . My righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins” (Isaiah 53 NLT)

If you would compare David’s prophesies of the suffering Savior in the Psalms, you would see how precisely Jesus fulfilled prophecy as the “Lamb slain before the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). God ordained the plan of salvation for mankind even before he created the earth. David prophesied how Jesus Christ would die on the cross for the sins of the world. (Psalm 22; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19) The exact words uttered by Christ on the cross were prophesied even before he was born. (Psalm 22:1-10) The vivid description of crucifixion is foretold. “My life is poured out like water, all of my bones are out of joint” (Psalm 22:14). “My strength has dried up like sun baked clay, my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth . . . They have pierced my hands and feet” (Psalm 22:15-16 NLT). Consider this remarkable prophecy, “The divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments” (Psalm 22:18 NLT). It was not a coincidence that the Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross gambled for the seamless robe of Christ. It was all foretold in God’s Word.

Don’t’ gamble for your soul like those Roman soldiers. Believe and receive the Lamb – Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord today. This Easter season read and meditate on the sufferings of Christ. Worship the Lamb. He did it all for you and me. “For as many as received him gave he power to become son’s of God, even as many as believed on his name” (John 1:12).