God had a big, important rescue plan for His people, and this plan involved a lamb. That's what we're going to explore today when we hear John the Baptist point to Jesus and declare, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" What did he mean by that, and why is it so powerful?
The Old Story: The First Passover Lamb
To understand John the Baptist's words, we need to go back in time, way before Jesus, to the story of the Passover from the Old Testament. God's chosen people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt, suffering greatly. God sent many signs to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let His people go, but Pharaoh refused.
Finally, God told Moses that He would send one last, terrible plague: the death of the firstborn son in every Egyptian home. But God also gave the Israelites very specific instructions to protect them: Each family was to choose a perfect, unblemished (no flaws) male lamb, one year old. They were to sacrifice this lamb and put some of its blood on the doorposts and lintel (the top part of the doorframe) of their houses. Then, they were to eat the roasted lamb together as a special meal. God promised that when the angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts, it would "pass over" that house, and their firstborn would be saved. This act of faith and obedience saved them
The Passover was a pivotal moment: the lamb's blood protected them from death, and eating the lamb was a sign of their freedom and new life with God. From that day on, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Passover feast every year to remember how He saved them from slavery and brought them to freedom. It was all about salvation through a lamb.
The New Story: Jesus, the Lamb of God
Now, fast forward over a thousand years. John the Baptist, a prophet chosen by God, sees Jesus walking by. He points to Him and declares, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This wasn't a random statement; it was a huge, deep message that would have immediately made Jewish people think of the Passover Lamb.
Just as the first Passover Lamb saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and from physical death, Jesus, the "Lamb of God," came to save all of humanity from a much greater slavery: slavery to sin and spiritual death.
Think about it like this:
The Passover Lamb was perfect and without blemish; Jesus is the perfect Son of God, without any sin.
The Passover Lamb's blood saved the Israelites from death; Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, cleanses us from our sins and saves us from eternal death, bringing us new, eternal life.
The Israelites ate the Passover Lamb to share in their freedom; Jesus gives us His very Body and Blood in the Eucharist (Holy Communion). When we receive the Eucharist, we are truly eating the "Lamb of God," allowing us to share in His sacrifice and His new life, just like sharing in the Passover meal.
So, when John the Baptist called Jesus the "Lamb of God," he was telling everyone that Jesus was the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. He was fulfilling God's ancient plan from the very first Passover, becoming the true Lamb whose death brings real freedom and a restored relationship with God for everyone who believes in Him. He is the ultimate "Passover" that sets us free.
Reflection Questions:
In the story of the first Passover, the lamb's blood on the doorposts was a sign of protection and salvation. How does this Old Testament image help you understand what Jesus' blood does for us in the New Covenant?
The summary explains that Jesus is the "perfect" Lamb of God. What does it mean that Jesus is "perfect" when compared to the lambs used in the first Passover, and why is His perfection important for our salvation?
When John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" What do you think he wanted people to understand most deeply about Jesus? How does this title help you understand Jesus' mission?
The summary connects eating the Passover lamb to celebrating freedom, and then connects this to receiving Jesus' Body and Blood in the Eucharist (Holy Communion). What does this connection teach you about why Catholics receive Holy Communion?
Multiple Choice Questions
In the original Passover story, what were God's people, the Israelites, suffering from in Egypt?
a) A great famine.
b) Slavery.
c) A long journey.
d) A lack of water.
What was the purpose of putting the lamb's blood on the doorposts during the first Passover?
a) To make the houses look nice.
b) To show who owned the house.
c) To protect the firstborn from the angel of death.
d) To invite the angel of death inside.
What specific title did John the Baptist use when he pointed to Jesus?
a) "The Mighty King."
b) "The Great Prophet."
c) "The Lamb of God."
d) "The Son of David."
The text explains that while the first Passover Lamb saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Jesus, the Lamb of God, saves humanity from:
a) Physical hard work.
b) Sickness and disease.
c) Slavery to sin and spiritual death.
d) Being lost in the desert.
According to the summary, receiving Jesus' Body and Blood in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is so important to do every Sunday because…
a) We are participating in the sacrificing the lamb (Jesus) on the cross and how He saved us
b) We eat the roasted lamb together.
c) We are drawing blood from the lamb.
d) we are Putting blood on the doorposts.