by Shannon Caughey

In just over a week we will observe Good Friday. On Good Friday, we remember the intense suffering and cruel death on a cross that Jesus experienced. He endured an awful, unjust death. Yet it was anything but pointless. Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for a purpose—and we are right at the heart of why he did this.

A particular title used for Jesus reveals this purpose: “Lamb of God.” In this series of devotions, we’re looking at various names and titles of Jesus with the goal of knowing him more fully. The better our knowledge of who Jesus is, the deeper our motivation becomes to live and coach for him. Let’s consider why Jesus is called “Lamb of God” and what that means for us.

In John 1, John the Baptist twice uses this title for Jesus: “²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ …³⁵ The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. ³⁶ As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God!’”

“Lamb of God” is a reference to the Passover lamb. In Exodus 11-12, the final plague that led to Pharoah releasing the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt was the death of every firstborn. Before this plague, God directed all the households of the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and spread its blood on the doorframes of their houses. The Lord said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13). At God’s instructions, his people celebrated the Passover every year after. This remembrance included a Passover lamb as a reminder of how the Lord delivered them from death.

“Lamb of God” also points more broadly to Old Testament laws that addressed the sins of the people. The just and righteous punishment for sin against the holy God is death. However, because of God’s gracious desire to forgive while also meeting the demands of justice, he directed the priests to sacrifice a lamb each day in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) to atone for the sins of the people. This offering was needed day after day because a lamb could not be a full and final substitute for the sins of all people for all time. 

By referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God, John recognizes that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of what was symbolized by the Passover lamb. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.” Christ Jesus is the one who by his shed blood delivers us from death—eternal, spiritual death for our sins. 

“Lamb of God” also highlights how Jesus made atonement for our sins through his sacrificial death on the cross. According to 1 Peter 1:19, it was “the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” that paid in full what was needed so we can be forgiven and set free from the penalty of our sin. A couple chapters later in 1 Peter 3:18, we are reminded of this wonderful truth: “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.”

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, including our sins. When we respond in faith to Christ and what he accomplished through his crucifixion, we are forgiven and set free from enslavement to sin. Jesus delivers us from death and gives us new, eternal life with God. We celebrate the love and grace of the Lamb of God! This also compels us to extend love and grace to those we coach—because they, too, are sinners. Our ultimate desire is to point them to the only One through whom they can experience forgiveness and true life.

For reflection: Praise Jesus that he is the Lamb of God. Thank him for the forgiveness, freedom, and life he made possible. Pray that you would be a channel of his love and grace to others.