DAY – 20
THE LAMB OF GOD
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Rev 13:8
As John the baptized was preaching and baptizing repentant people who came to him on the Jordan River, the Lord Jesus arrived to be baptized by John. "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," John exclaimed when he saw Jesus. As we already know, Lord Jesus was sent to mankind as a ransom to redeem them from their sins. According to the Bible, there can be no forgiveness of sins without bloodshed, and without forgiveness, we are considered God's enemies. As a result, Jesus' blood was shed to atone for humanity's sins.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they discovered they were naked. As a result, they stitched garments for themselves out of massive leaves and hid from God. God came down to speak with them as he usually does, but they were nowhere to be found. So he summoned Adam and Eve. They heard God's call and responded by telling him they were naked. God became enraged when he discovered that man had disobeyed him. I admit that his heart would have ached for their folly, but the loving God, knowing that the garments of leaves were useless, provided them with leather garments. This implies that God sacrificed an animal for its leather to atone for their sins and clothed them in animal skin.
We can learn from the Old Testament that Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David, Solomon, and others made massive animal sacrifices for themselves and the sins of the people. God told Moses about various types of atonement sacrifices as he was giving him the laws. People sacrificed doves, pigeons, rams, lambs, and other animals at the altar of God based on their financial capabilities. The priest in the temple usually gathers the animals and sacrifices them in the presence of the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, such practices were observed in the presence of the Lord.
Though these sacrifices brought God's forgiveness to the people, the blood of the animals could not atone for the people's sins. They kept making the same mistakes and making sacrifices to the Lord as a form of practice. Many times, throughout history, God condemned them for their stubborn hearts in not doing what pleased God and angered him. As a result, Lord Jesus was given to mankind to save them from the darkness.
In the New Testament, the crucifixion of Lord Jesus was foreshadowed during the time of the Israelites in Egypt. God instructed the people to prepare for the Passover feast by slaying a one-year-old lamb with no defects and without breaking its bone to eat. The blood of the lamb was to be strewn on the doorpost, preventing the death of the angel from entering. Similarly, during the Passover, the Son of Man, Lord Jesus, also known as the Lamb of God, was crucified. The sinless man was sacrificed as a ransom to save mankind from its sins. And through his bloodshed on the cross, Jesus conquered death and the power of death, as well as darkness. In contrast to animal blood, Jesus' blood has the power to save dying humanity.
His blood defeated Satan, and through his blood, we can also triumph. It is possible for us, like Jesus, to emerge victorious over the enemy. His blood alone has the power to free us from the bonds of sin, not just victory.
In the book of revelations, John saw the Lamb of God seated on the throne alongside the Father. He is the one who won the victory on Earth, and his name is given to all to worship. He is the conqueror, and we are more than conquerors in him. We must be washed by the blood of the lamb to be victorious on earth.
May the Lamb of God help you overcome evil and triumph as you put your trust in him. amen!
Hallelujah 👍