The Old Testament mentions sacrifice as early as the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis. Why was sacrifice necessary? Animal sacrifice was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The lamb sacrificed at Passover had to be without spot or blemish. This sacrifice showed that we alone could never approach God. There had to be a perfect substitute made for us. The sacrifice was costly, something not to be taken lightly.
A Shadow of the Good Things to Come
And yet these animal sacrifices were but a shadow "of the good things to come" as we read in Hebrews 10:1,
"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect."
The Insufficiency of Animal Sacrifices
Animal sacrifices were not sufficient. They could not perfect the ones who sacrificed it. As Hebrews 10:4 says the sacrifice of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. How do we dare approach the throne of a holy God? How can we see Heaven? In Acts 4: 12, Peter tells us that there is no salvation except through the blood of Christ. He is our perfect atonement. Atonement is reconciliation with God. Jesus reconciles us to God in a way no animal ever could. In Leviticus 17:11 we are told, "it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."
Jesus: The Perfect Atonement
Because of this perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made for us we can approach the throne, knowing that He is worthy. In John's visions in Revelation 5 a scroll, containing judgment, is sealed and an angel cries out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll?" When no one is found, John begins to cry until one of the elders that stands before the throne of God tells him that One has been found, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." (Revelation 5:5) Then John sees a lamb, "as though it had been slain", take the scroll. Then those in Heaven cried out,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12
The Worthy Lamb of God
The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed! And He alone is worthy! Thanks be to God. He alone can judge sin on the earth. How can He do this? By becoming our sacrificial Lamb. Our perfect sacrifice. Our atonement. He has become our Great High Priest.
Universal Acknowledgment of Christ's Worthiness
What is more amazing is that it is not just those in Heaven who acknowledge this but we read in Revelation 5:13 that "every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them" will acknowledge this. Every creature! The atheist, the agnostic, the unrepentant, the animals, every creature will say to the Lamb "blessing and honor and glory and power."
Propitiation and Redemption Through Christ
We have been redeemed by Christ, bought with a price, the death on the cross of God's very Son. God Himself set forth Jesus "as a propitiation by His blood, through faith"(Romans 3:25). Propitiation means satisfying, meaning that the blood of Christ satisfies God's anger and judgment towards sin through our faith in Him. Our redemption can only come from Jesus. No one is worthy but our Lord.
Praising the Worthy Lamb
Even now we can say, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain", we can lift our voices in praise for the One who died for us, the One who made a way when there was no way. Hallelujah!
Enjoy "Worthy is the Lamb" sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
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