Day 8: The Lamb Nature

Yesterday, we’ve begun to study this beautiful title of Jesus; the Lamb of God. This picture of the lamb was fulfilled in Jesus. First of all, we have a prophetic picture in Isaiah 53:7:

“He was oppressed and afflicted, and yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, [here's the picture of meekness] and as a sheep before the shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

A good many years ago I worked on a farm with sheep. And I noticed how amazingly accurate that is. When you take a sheep to be shorn it will bleat loudly all the way until you actually take the shears and start ripping off the wool. And, at that moment the sheep becomes absolutely silent. So, how accurate the scripture is, "The sheep before her shearers is silent, so he [Jesus] did not open his mouth." And this is recorded in the gospel, just to see it's fulfilment, in Mark 14:55-56 and 60-61, the account of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men bring against you? But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.”

There he was, the sheep before the shearers. And then again, the same before Pilate, the Roman governor. Mark 15:3-5:

“The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of. But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.”

That's the Lamb of God. The blood of the Passover lamb redeemed Israel out of Egypt but the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, provides eternal redemption for all who believe. This is clearly stated many times in the New Testament. For instance, in Hebrews 9:11-12.

“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, but he entered the most holy place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”

You see, the blood of Jesus obtained eternal redemption for every believer. And then again in 1 Peter 1:18-19:

“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 forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

It took the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, God's sinless eternal Son to provide eternal redemption. The blood of the Passover lamb was a type, a figure. It provided temporary redemption. It had to be renewed every year. But when Jesus shed his blood and entered into the holiest, that was once and for all. It never had to be repeated. He had obtained eternal redemption.

And finally, let's see that the nature of Jesus as the Lamb of God sets us an example and a pattern that we need to learn to follow in our lives. 1 Peter 2:21-23:

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.”

There He is, the spotless, meek, Lamb of God standing before his accusers, offering no defence, no retaliation. That's the lamb nature in the Son of God. And God makes it very clear that we who are believers and followers of Jesus have got to reproduce that lamb nature. He set us an example that we should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him he did not retaliate. When He suffered He made no threats. That's part of the nature of Jesus that God wants to work in each one of us.

Tomorrow we'll begin to study about another beautiful title of Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.