Devotional thoughts for Thursday

Thursday 5. February 2015 

Septuagesima 

The next day John the Baptizer saw Jesus walking toward him, and said: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1,29 ESV) 

John employed a rich image when he called Jesus the Lamb of God. The old testament had numerous animal sacrifices in its rituals. Lambs were one of several animals that were sacrificed. At the center of this sacrificial system were sacrifices for forgiveness and atonement. 

Jesus is the new testament and as such He fulfilled the old testament and became the Lamb sacrificed for our atonement. What Israel was required to do daily and yearly for atonement, Jesus did in one afternoon. His vicarious sacrifice on the cross as the Lamb of God has redeemed us back to God the Father. The law and the covenant have been fulfilled, and thus we live under the new testament of Jesus that is exhibited by faith and grace in His penal substitution. 

Prayer: O LORD Jesus, Scepter who rises out of Jacob, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, rule our hearts through Your suffering cross and forgive us our sins, so that we may become partakers of Your Divine Life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.  Amen. (1140, Treasury of Daily Prayer)