December 12, 2025
- djohnstoncc
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
HIS MISSION WAS OUR SALVATION
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“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 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
When John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God,” he was drawing on a rich history of sacrifice woven throughout the Old Testament—moments where a spotless lamb became a symbol of forgiveness, covering, and substitution.
The first hint of this appears in Genesis 3:21, when God provided garments made from animal skins for Adam and Eve after their sin. For the first time, an innocent life was taken to cover human guilt. It was a quiet foreshadowing of something far greater to come.
Later, in Genesis 22, Abraham journeyed up a mountain with his son Isaac, prepared to offer him in obedience to God’s command. At the critical moment, God stopped Abraham and revealed a ram caught in a thicket—a substitute provided by God Himself. This scene beautifully previews what God would one day do through His own Son, offering Jesus in our place. As Scripture tells us, the consequence of sin is death, yet God offers eternal life through His Son.
The pattern continues in Exodus, where God instructed each Israelite family to sacrifice a lamb, apply its blood to their doorposts, and eat the lamb together. When judgment came upon Egypt, we are told when the angel of God saw the blood on the doorpost he would pass over that house. The blood was protection from God’s judgment. This event established the ongoing celebration of Passover, where a lamb was sacrificed and its blood presented as a covering for the sins of the nation.
With all of this imagery behind him, John the Baptist’s words take on even greater weight: “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus wasn’t just another lamb—He was the final, perfect sacrifice sent from heaven. His death didn’t simply cover sin for a moment; it removed sin for all who place their trust in Him.
As we celebrate Christmas, we remember that the baby lying in a manger would one day become the Lamb who gave His life for us. His birth points to His mission—and His mission was our salvation.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, help me remember the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for me. Teach me to walk daily in the freedom and forgiveness He provides. Amen.
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