Message summary: Today, let us remember the glorious Lamb who was rejected by man and sacrificed once and for all for the sins of this world! Each one of us can declare, "He died for my sins".

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"Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son'" (Genesis 22:8). "Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, 'Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb'" (Exodus 12:21). "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). "The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29). "For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10). "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

Yesterday we visited our neighbors, Levi and Leah, along with several of their nine children. One of their sheep gave birth to triplets last week but the mother rejected one of the lambs, so the family members are bottle feeding the rejected lamb in the basement of their house!

The rejected lamb is doomed to become what is called a "bummer lamb".  Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. The rejected lamb walks away, head hanging so low it almost looks as if something is wrong with its neck. Their posture tells the story—their spirit is broken.

Unless the shepherd intervenes, the bummer lamb will die, rejected, vulnerable and alone. Thankfully the lamb in our photo was rescued by the farmer who brought it to his wife and children who are bottle feeding it, wrapping it in blankets, coddling it with lots of love and keeping it warm by the wood stove. It has brought excitement to an otherwise dull basement usually designated for the laundry room (except when they hold church services).

The little rejected lamb prompted me to consider various Scripture passages concerning Christ, who was "rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious" (1 Peter 2:4).

In the Old Testament the word "lamb" is used as a foreshadow of Christ. "Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son'" (Genesis 22:8). This is the great assurance Abraham had when he was called to sacrifice Isaac. He went to the mountain assured that God would provide the lamb for the burnt offering. "God will provide" is the Hebrew term Jehovah Jireh and alludes to not only the immediate provision at that time but to God's provision of a Lamb who would die for the sins of the world.

"Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb" (Exodus 12:21). This is in the establishment of the Passover which is celebrated by the Jews to this day, in their case remembering their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Christians recognize that Christ is our Passover lamb delivering us from sin's bondage.

Consider this remarkable prophecy by Isaiah, in which he speaks of the Messiah being “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (53:7). This Messianic prophecy foretells the sacrificial work of Christ.

In the New Testament the word "lamb" is used almost exclusively to describe Jesus Christ. "The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29).

It’s interesting that this statement was made before Christ even began His public ministry or gave any teaching regarding His forthcoming death. John seems to be speaking with revelation from God, for indeed the main reason that Christ came to this earth was to take away sin.

But I’ve wondered if John, cousin to Jesus, ever talked with Him about spiritual things during their childhood. Did Jesus tell him when they played together as children, “When I grow up I’m going to die for the sins of the world”?

The epistles continue the theme, "For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Here Paul clearly refers to Christ as "our Passover Lamb" who "has been sacrificed". Peter wrote, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake" (1 Peter 1:18-20).

The greatest concentrated use of the word “lamb” in the New Testament is found in the book of Revelation. Each of them is a reference to Christ as the "Lamb of God" with only one exception.

Today, let us remember this glorious Lamb who was sacrificed once and for all for the sins of this world. I encourage you to personalize it, He died for my sins. Let us, therefore, commit ourselves fully to Him and His great cause!  The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. To us who believe, this stone is precious" (from 1 Peter 2:7)


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber