Introduction:

Since the dawn of creation man has sought to worship by offering sacrifice to his deity. From the Moabites in the Middle East, to the Aztecs in South America, man has sacrificed to placate the gods he served in hope that he might produce a good crop, prosper throughout the year, enjoy health, and be victorious over hostile peoples living around him. In (2 Kings 3:26,27), when the battle went against the King of Moab, he offered his eldest son for a burnt offering upon the wall of his city.

Why do men sacrifice? There are a number of answers that we could suggest: first, as already pointed out, men seek to obtain divine favors; second, sacrifices are offered to demons to drive the spirit out of a sick person into the sacrificial victim that would then be destroyed; a third possibility, a sacrificial meal is offered to establish fellowship and communion with his god; lastly, sacrifices are offered by man to show dependence and homage to deity. All of these overlook God's primary intent in the concept of sacrifice, that is God intended sacrifice to provide an atonement for man's sin so that man could 'draw nigh' to a holy God.

 

I. THE LAMB OF GOD TYPIFIED BY THE PATRIARCHS AND BY OLD TESTAMENT LAW

A. (Gen. 3:21) God provided Adam and Eve with coats of skins to clothe them from their nakedness. "...it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." - (Lev. 17:11)

B. (Gen. 4:3-5) Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock..." "...a more excellent sacrifice..." (Heb. 11:4).

C. (Gen. 8:20-22) "...Noah builded an attar ... and offered burnt offerings..."

D. (Job 1:5) The patriarch Job offered sacrifice on behalf of his children.

 

II. THE LAMB OF GOD PERSONIFIED IN THE PROPHETS

A. Israel's response to the lamb, (Isa. 52:13-53:3).

[1]. Many were astonied at thee"… (52:14)
[2]. The Kings shut their mouths at him… " (52:15)
[3]. "there is no beauty that we should desire him..." (53:2)
[4]. "...despised and rejected ... we hid our faces from him ... we esteemed him not..." (53:3)

B. The substitutionary death of the Lamb, (Isa. 53:4-9).

[1]. wounded for our transgressions" (53:5)
[2]. bruised for our iniquities" (53:5)
[3]. the chastisement of our peace was upon him with his stripes we are healed..." (53:5)
[4]. "...the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (53:6)
[5]. he was cut off for the transgression of my people" (53:8)

C. The triumphant resurrection of the Lamb, (Isa. 53:10-12).

[1]. he shall prolong his days. " (53:10)
[2]. "...he shall divide the spoil... (53:12)

 

III. THE LAMB OF GOD IDENTIFIED IN THE GOSPEL

A. The Lamb is God Incarnate.

The Old Testament sacrifices could never take away sin. Only God can forgive sin; forgiveness of sin must be accomplished in harmony with the nature of God. A holy, righteous and perfect God demands a sacrifice, which is holy, righteous and perfect.

The Redeemer must have the redemptive price to perform the task of redemption; he must be willing to redeem; he must be related to mankind as a kinsman. It was man who lost man's inheritance, and only man could redeem it back. Yet only God could pay the price. Man's sin brought eternal consequences, God's blood was required for an eternal remedy. In the final analysis, it is the God-man who is the perfect Lamb; Son of God, Son of Man. (Jn. 3:16; Gal. 4:4)

"...God would provide himself a Lamb..." (Gen. 22:8. 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 2:24,25)

B. Jesus is the Lamb, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

The Lamb's place of birth, (Mic. 5:2); the Lamb's unique birth, (Isa. 7:14); the Lamb's time of birth, (Dan. 9:24-26); the Lamb's suffering, (Isa. 53); the Lamb's death, (Isa. 53); the Lamb's resurrection, (Ps. 16:10) and 300 other prophecies fulfilled in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ. "...the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:7)

 

IV. THE LAMB OF GOD GLORIFIED IN THE REVELATION

A. The Worship of the Lamb, (Rev. 4,5). "Who is worthy ... ?" (5:2) - no man was found worthy..." (5:4) "...Behold the Lion...the Root ... hath prevailed..." (5:5).

He is "a Lamb" (5:6). "...for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood..." (5:9). (See Acts 20:28). "Worthy is the Lamb ... And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him..."

B. The Wrath of the Lamb, (Rev. 6-18). The Lamb offers His love to all who will receive it. Those who spurn His love must face His wrath. Have you received the Lamb as your sacrifice for sins??? Or will you experience His wrath? (Rev. 6:16; 17:14)

C. The wedding of the Lamb, (Rev. 19-20)

[1]. Bridegroom and bride are betrothed at a formal ceremony. (2 Cor. 11:2) Salvation or New Birth.
[2]. The bridegroom arrives for his bride at a set time to take her away to his father's house. (1 Thess. 4:13-18) - The Rapture
[3]. The bridegroom takes the bride to his father's house where the marriage is consummated. We'll go to the Father's house and remain in seclusion for the honeymoon. (Rev. 4:1)
[4]. The bridegroom publicly presents his new bride, (Rev. 19:14), at his second coming.

D. The Wife of the Lamb, (Rev. 21,22). The New Jerusalem is the dwelling place of the Lamb's bride (21:9). It is as a "bride adorned for her husband" (21:2). The Church, the body of believers in Christ, is the bride. (Rom. 7:4; Eph. 5:22-31; 2 Cor. 11:2; Gal. 4:19-31)

E. Abraham offered many sacrifices to God. In chapter IS God personally instructed Abraham to sacrifice in connection with the covenant which God made with him. (Gen. 12:7,8; 13:4,18; 15:7-21)

F. (Gen. 22:8) "...God will provide himself as lamb..." He provided a ram ... then! (vs. 13).

G. (Ex. 12:12,13) The Passover Lamb ... (1 Cor. 5:7) teaches us that:

[1]. Israel must atone for their sins before entering into the covenant.
[2]. The covenant was a covenant of pure grace.
[3]. God promised to deal graciously with Israel if they endeavored to follow Him in obedience.

H. The Levitical Offerings, (Lev. 1:1; 6:6).

[1]. Prophesied the suffering and death of Christ.
[2]. The animals portray the work of Christ in His earthly ministry.

"...these sacrifices were but a shadow of good things to come ... for it is not possible that they should take away sins..." - (Heb. 10:1,4)

Why did God demand such an elaborate system?

First, acknowledgment was made that an atonement was necessary for sin; second, admission was made that another must make substitutionary atonement for him; third, the blood covered the sin to make it possible for God to withhold judgment; fourth, it made possible the communion of sinful man with a holy God; lastly, his sacrifice pointed to a day when Christ would once and for all atone for sin. (Heb. 9:26-28)