I’ve been focusing on hope in all these journaling entries, but the greatest hope by far is that when we access the blood of Christ, we receive a true cleansing and the promise of salvation (I John 1:7–the blood of His son purifies us from sin). The ultimate sacrificial lamb.

When I was young, I always wondered why God chose to depict Jesus as a lamb and why lambs were used for sacrifice. There are many other animals with helpless young. But in later years, I came to understand that it’s an animal with great humility who willingly goes to be slaughtered (like the reference in Isaiah 53:7 says).

The author of John 1:29 gives John the Baptist’s declaration about Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” A little confusing, because the author Remember these words were uttered while John the Baptist was out baptizing to prepare men and women for the coming of Christ. They’ve been waiting for this savior, this lamb of God, which was foreshadowed with the sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22.  The men and women received John’s baptism with water, but would soon be able to take part in baptism in the name of Jesus like what’s given in Acts 2:38:

Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

With this baptism, they could access the blood of Jesus, and have their sins washed away. Salvation because of his sacrifice. (1 Peter 3:21).

There have been many vivid visuals of Christ’s sacrifice over the last several years, most notably The Passion of the Christ, which did stir deep emotion, but also scarred my brain with a series of gory images. I do feel it’s important to reflect on the pain and suffering that Christ endured on our behalf, but I also think Scripture emphasizes the humility Christ expressed when he went to the cross. It’s not a gory, gruesome, disgusting bloody battle that’s described in Scripture. It’s a flowing blood that continually covers our sin.

John 1:29 does not depict Christ as a great spiritual warrior or champion. He’s not described as a roaring lion or fierce panther. No, he is given the persona of a gentle, innocent lamb. The Lamb of God. The savior who willingly took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders and accepted the punishment and shame on our behalf. And if you can’t find hope in that, what can you find hope in?

For my journal today:

1. In John 1:29, underline the phrase: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
2. Sketch a lamb in the margins near this verse.
3. Write: Hope for eternal life through His blood
4. Write a reference link to Isaiah 53:7 and Acts 2:38