Old and New: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistryPrimjer

The Lamb of God died for you now

No Israelite who had participated in the giving of a sin offering or guilt offering could possibly mistake the message of the divine drama: God’s mercy is brokered through a substitute’s death.

Jesus Christ did many wonderful things during his 33 short years on this earth. He taught people the Word of God. He healed the sick and even raised the dead. He gathered and trained 12 disciples who would continue the work when he was gone. He obeyed all the laws of God and Caesar. But the greatest of all his works was to offer himself as a guilt offering for the world. His cross on Calvary was the greatest of all the altars. The lifeblood he lost is our gain, for it is attributed to us through faith in him.

Already at the very beginning of his ministry, his advance agent, John the Baptist, pointed people to Jesus and clarified his holy mission: “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). Say this to yourself: “Jesus Christ once and for all has taken away all of my sin.”

This is why we don’t need to offer up slain animals anymore. Christ has been there, done that.