Lamb

When my great-grandma was little, their family had chickens. One rooster in particular was mean. It would chase her around the yard with her screaming, it screaming, and her screaming some more.

Eventually her dad got sick of the screaming, so said-rooster became dinner. The whole family felt rather satisfied stuffing the ornery rooster in their bellies—except my great-grandma. She hated the rooster so much that she refused to even eat it.

Thousands of years ago, a rather different kind of story happened. God warned Moses that the worst plague of all was coming to Egypt. The first born son in every family would die. However, the Israelites could protect themselves with a very specific sacrificial offering—a firstborn lamb without blemish would need to die in their stead.

This wasn’t an old, cranky rooster we’re talking about. This was a sweet, innocent, little lamb. That doesn’t seem very fair, does it? What had this cute baby lamb done to deserve such a fate? Nothing.

Of course, this event (now remember as the Passover) was symbolic. It was meant to point the Israelites, and the rest of us too, towards an even more innocent and holy Lamb.

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 1:29

That’s how John the Baptist introduced Jesus Christ to his followers. He is the sacrificial Lamb that rescues us from death and hell.

As Jesus’s time as a mortal man came to a close, he offered Himself in our stead. He willingly took upon Himself the punishment for all our sins and ultimately allowed Himself to be killed.

“…How sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

…Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.”

Doctrine & Covenants 19:15-18

Did Jesus deserve to suffer and die? No! Absolutely not! He was the first (and last) person to lead a perfect life. Yet He chose to suffer in our stead because He loves us.

After His death, Jesus rose again, this time with a perfected, immortal body. Because of Him, we can all live again one day too, freed from the pains and imperfections that sometimes seem so prominent in our mortal life.

Because of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, we are saved.

Thoughts about Jesus Christ—our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

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Questions To Ponder On

Why did the Israelites sacrifice a lamb during Passover?

God warned Moses that the worst plague was coming—the death of every firstborn son in Egypt. But the Israelites could protect themselves with a very specific offering: a firstborn lamb without blemish had to die in their place. This sweet, innocent lamb–which represents Jesus Christ–didn’t deserve such a fate, but its death was meant to save others.

What does the lamb in the Passover story symbolize?

This wasn’t just about one lamb—it was symbolic. It was meant to point the Israelites, and the rest of us too, toward an even more innocent and holy Lamb. As John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” That Lamb is Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus deserve to suffer and die?

No! Absolutely not! He was the first (and last) person to lead a perfect life. Yet He chose to suffer in our stead because He loves us. He willingly took upon Himself the punishment for all our sins and allowed Himself to be killed.

How did Jesus describe the suffering He went through for us?

He said, “How sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not… Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit.”

What hope do we have because of Jesus Christ?

After His death, Jesus rose again with a perfected, immortal body. Because of Him, we can all live again one day too—freed from the pains and imperfections that sometimes seem so prominent in our mortal life. Because of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, we are saved.