The Easter Lamb

 

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21 ESV).

 

Of all Easter symbols, the lamb is probably the most strongly Christian. Other than the fact that lambs are young animals born in springtime, it has no strong ties to pagan traditions. The lamb reference comes from the Jewish Passover, where each family killed a lamb as a sacrifice. When Christ became the Passover Lamb for everyone, the lamb became a symbol for His sacrifice. The Apostle John records the declaration of John the Baptist as he saw Jesus coming toward him: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

 

Easter has a clear connection with the Passover. The day before his crucifixion, Jesus observed Passover with his disciples. This event is often called “the Last Supper,” as it would be the last time before Jesus’ death and resurrection that He would eat a meal with the disciples. While they had gathered for the Jewish Passover Meal, Jesus would enhance the meaning of this holy day with an explanation of the coming events of the crucifixion and resurrection. Remember that Passover was the time that Jews remember their freedom and exodus from Egypt. During this Passover feast, Jesus told his disciples that the bread symbolizes his body that would be broken and the wine, his blood, which would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Matthew 26:17-30).

 

At this time in the Christian calendar, it is important that we remember the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ death and the victory of the resurrection. All of this was done to pay the debt we could never pay and die the death we all deserved. Jesus was that Lamb of God who took away the sins of all believers for eternity. His work was a finished work needing nothing else. That is what we celebrate. The Easter Lamb is a reminder to all of us!