Names of Christ: Lamb of God

One of the names of Jesus is Lamb of God. When you look at the history that's recorded in the Bible, from the sacrifice of Isaac, when Abraham said God would provide for Himself the sacrifice, he is talking about the Redeemer to come. He's talking about a wonderful appearance that would happen.

In the Gospel of John, chapter one, John the Baptist announced Jesus. That was his ministry. He was to make the way straight. He was to declare who was to be the Messiah. Here's what's recorded in that gospel: 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" (John 1:29-30CloseJohn 1:29-30 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, `A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NKJV)

That's a wonderful declaration by John the Baptist. We know that John the Baptist was born before Jesus. He's a miracle birth. We know from Jesus that there is no prophet that was greater than John the Baptist. We know that. But here, John the Baptist is saying there is Someone who came after me, but He existed before me. And He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Now, here's what Peter did to explain all of this. How could there be a Lamb of God, a Sacrifice of God, that would exist before John the Baptist? That would exist before Abraham? Because Jesus said that,

"Before Abraham, I am." (John 8:58CloseJohn 8:58 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!*" OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NKJV)

So, He existed before! When Abraham declared God will provide for Himself the sacrifice, he is talking about the Lamb of God.

Peter, the great apostle said,

"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (1 Peter 1:18-20Close1 Peter 1:18-20 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NKJV)

Today, let the Lamb of God be manifest in your life. Realize that He was foreordained for you! That He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world to provide a way for you—to provide redemption for you—that you could enter into the presence of God and enjoy it for all eternity.

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away your sin—who takes away my sin.