Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Theme · christological

Lamb of God

The lamb motif begins with Abraham's answer to Isaac: 'God will provide for himself the lamb.' The Passover lamb's blood marks Israel's doors so the destroyer passes over. Isaiah declares the Servant is led like a lamb to the slaughter. John the Baptist identifies Jesus with these words: 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.' Paul says 'Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us.' Revelation brings the motif to its climax: the Lamb who was slain stands at the center of the throne, receives the worship of all creation, and opens the scroll of history.

Passages expressing this theme

  • 1Cor 5:7 — Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
  • 1Pet 1:19 — But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
  • Acts 8:32 — The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
  • Exod 12:3 — Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Exod 12:5 — Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
  • Exod 12:13 — And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Eg
  • Gen 22:8 — And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
  • Isa 53:7 — He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
  • Rev 5:6 — And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spir
  • Rev 5:9 — And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and p
  • Rev 5:12 — Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
  • Rev 7:14 — And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
  • Rev 12:11 — And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
  • Rev 13:8 — And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
  • Rev 17:14 — These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
  • Rev 21:22 — And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
  • Rev 21:23 — And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.