The Lamb of God

The Lamb of God

“Look, there is the lamb of God.”  (John 1: 36)

Jesus is the Lamb of God.  What are the attributes of a lamb?  Meekness, gentleness and tenderness.  Jesus is the image of God the Father.  One of the purposes of his incarnation is to reveal to us the nature of God.  In John 1: 36, we see Jesus that is meek, gentle and tender.  A God that is very lovable.

Jesus as the Lamb of God is a concept we should reflect on always.  Lamb of God is one of the tenderest descriptions of Jesus.  It shows the power that created the universe as powerless.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church comments thus, “After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the ‘Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’  By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel’s redemption at the first Passover.  Christ’s whole life expresses his mission:  ‘to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  9CCC # 608)

Jesus is the Lamb that defeated the ferocious enemy, the ruler of the powers and the principalities.  Is it not amazing that in describing the power that defeated Satan, the image of a gentle, meek and tender lamb is used?  God displays his mighty power not through brute force but through meekness, gentleness and tenderness.  

What is the lesson for us?  Lord Jesus, make us meek, gentle and tender like you.