He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Isaiah was a prophet of God who lived a long time before Jesus did. But God gave this man a vision of Jesus as our ultimate payment for sin through death on the cross. How could the prophet help an Old Testament person understand the idea of Christ dying for us? He used the idea of a lamb being slaughtered to help them look ahead to the kind of suffering that the future Messiah would experience.
A person living in the time of the Old Testament was required to offer what was called a "sin offering" to atone for their sins (Lev. 4:2). This meant they would have to kill an animal - often a lamb - and shed it's blood to account for their wrongdoings. The sacrifice represented the principle that, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Lev. 17:11 and Hebrews 9:22).
So imagine... John the Baptist sees Jesus in the distance and declares, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) Jesus came to pay for all of our sins once and for all. His ultimate sacrifice means that we no longer have to sacrifice animals every time we commit a sin. He laid his life down for you and I. The Father allowed the sins of the world to be placed on his son - the Lamb of God. We are made clean forever by the blood of Jesus!
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness…"
1 Peter 2:24.
As we experience this Resurrection season, it's not very fun to think about the horrible death that Jesus died for us, but it is a central focus of our faith. What is God saying to you about it today? What does sacrifice mean to you? What comes to mind when you think of Jesus on the cross? First pray, then sit quietly while you wait for God to speak to you with a picture, story, thought or idea. Draw a picture or write in your journal.
Action point: Take a few moments to talk with your kids about how incredible the sacrifice of Jesus was. Could you imagine having to kill an animal every time you sinned? Why do you think Jesus did what he did for us? Can you imagine dying in the place of a "bad guy"?
If you’ve enjoyed this devo, consider having a family date! This date will teach you and your family the significance of Passover!
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