If you were to write a story, how would you describe your hero? Courage, strength, wisdom, and toughness are

some of the qualities many would choose. What if your story needed an animal to embody the characteristics of your hero? You might choose a lion, eagle, bear, or warhorse. If we are being honest, I doubt many of us would choose a lamb.

Lambs have no defensive or offensive mechanism. They are completely reliant on their shepherd for survival, which makes them unlikely candidates to be heroes. Yet to our surprise, “Lamb of God” is the exact title John gives Jesus.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin

of the world!” (John 1:29)

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and

said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35-36)

John’s repetition of “Lamb of God” as Jesus’s title makes sure we don’t miss the point. The prophet sent to prepare the way of the Lord is making a clear declaration about the hero of God’s story; He is the Lamb of God.

To understand how a lamb can be a hero, we can’t skip over the main task of this Lamb. As John says, he “takes

away the sin of the world.” Jesus was not sent to be a military conqueror or overpower physical enemies. He came to bring forgiveness and victory over sin, which is the role of a lamb.

Throughout the Old Testament, lambs were used to cover sin. When God sent the tenth plague on Egypt, those

whose doorposts were covered with the blood of the lamb were saved from death (Exodus 12:21-23). Lambs were

also one of the acceptable sacrifices for a sin offering (Leviticus 4:32-35). Although this is foreign to us today, the Jews who heard John’s declaration would have clearly known what it meant for Jesus to be “the Lamb of God.”

In identifying as a lamb, Jesus laid down His right to defend Himself. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God so He could offer Himself as the perfect, spotless Lamb of God to take away our sin. As the prophet Isaiah said, “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Though silent on the cross, He roared in victory through the resurrection and reigns today.

Because the lamb was victorious, we can live with faith, courage, and love. How will you do that today?

By Philip Jones

Philip and his wife Stacy have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His

passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.

Your Daily Missions Moment:

On  February 9, you will have the opportunity to help provide Bible Translation for a people group in Central Asia that does not have a Bible in their language. Watch for more information about “Adopt a Verse” coming inFebruary.. You can make a difference for $40 per verse.