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Today is Good Friday and a chance to reflect on the amazing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Often times Jesus is referred to as “the Lamb of God.” But, what does that really mean? Why would Jesus be associated with this kind of animal?

Well, “The Lamb” is directly related to the Jewish tradition of celebrating the Passover which led to their Exodus from slavery in Egypt (click here to read this story). Again, Jesus is referred to as our passover lamb. But why? Well, at the first Passover, each Jewish family slaughtered a lamb for their evening meal, and then put its blood on the doorposts of the house so that the angel of death would ‘pass over’ them and spare them, while the firstborn of the Egyptians (who held Israel in slavery) were killed. Shortly after Jesus’ life and ministry on Earth, the Jews still celebrated the Passover festival, but sacrificed the lambs in the Temple, continuing the tradition of keeping fresh the memory of what God had done for them years ago through the Exodus. The early Christians (those who followed Jesus’ teachings after His ministry on Earth) saw Jesus’ own death as the climax, the highlight, of the whole tradition of Passover. In their minds the real Passover Lamb was Jesus and his death had won freedom, from sin, for the entire world.

So, think about that. The whole Christian life becomes one long Passover celebration. Why? Because God acted to save the entire world through Jesus our true Passover Lamb. Good Friday is about remembering Jesus’ torture, sacrifice, broken body, spilled blood and death. Why? Because He took the punishment for our sins and provides freedom and forgiveness for us. Jesus’ death allows the judgment of our sin to “pass over.” If we follow Christ, our sin has been taken care of…we have forgiveness. Jesus’ death provides for us an”exodus”, or freedom, because of the forgiveness of sins that is available.

Father, thank you for your amazing Son Jesus. Thank you that He is our Passover Lamb and that His death provided the sacrifice needed to bring forgiveness of sins and freedom to all those who choose to follow Him. In the name of Jesus, amen.