After humanity actively chose to turn from God and the flourishing life He desired for them, like a cancer, sin infested everything. They knew it and they hid from God. But God in His great mercy would not leave them in that place of shame and guilt but instead provided a covering for that shame. The first sacrifice (death of an animal) was made by God for Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:21 says, “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” An animal died, blood was shed, in order that they their shame and guilt would be covered.
Throughout the Old Testament we see the sacrifice of a lamb and the shedding of its blood as the picture of how sin would be attained for, that is how it would be washed and cleansed. God tells us in Hebrews 9:22, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Along with Abel, Noah, Abraham, David, and Solomon all God’s people would make a sacrifices to God for the atonement of sin.
One especially powerful story is that of the Passover where death “passed over” each household that had blood on its door post (Exodus 12). The Hebrew people were in bondage in Egypt, slaves to Pharaoh with no hope of escape. God commanded that they sacrifice a spotless lamb, spread the blood on the lintels of their doors, and then eat the lamb with unleavened bread. When the angel of the Lord came to the house and saw the blood, he would pass over the house. But every house that did not have the blood on the door, the first born male was put to death.
Fast forward to Isaiah 53:7 and we read, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Who is the prophet Isaiah talking about? Roughly 700 years later John the baptist would point to Jesus and declare to the crowds, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus was to be that lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus was to be the lamb who’s blood would be applied to the households of faith, Jesus was the one who would be the one who would take away the sins of the world.
Before Christ’s sacrificial offering of himself he would tell his disciples exactly why his blood was being shed and that he was shedding it for them, “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”(Matt 26:26-28). Jesus is the lamb of God (Agnus Dei) who came to take away the sins of the world!
As God, a being outside of time itself, Christ continues to graciously give us the benefits of his sacrifice in the Lord’s Supper. It is for this reason that the prerequisite for rightly coming to the Supper is faith in the gospel. All receive but only those who receive in faith receive the benefits. Luke 24:30 we read an account of Jesus making himself known to his disciples after his resurrection in the breaking of bread, “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.” Jesus chose to make himself known in that breaking of bread and he continues to make himself known to us in the breaking of bread of the Lord’s Supper!
When we enter the restoration of all things, it will be celebrated with a great feast called the marriage supper of the lamb. We see this picture in Revelation 19:6-9, “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” These the same words we hear every Sunday during the Eucharistic liturgy.
The the first animal sacrifice cover the shame of Adam and Eve and the many sacrifices of lambs throughout the Old testament to make atonement for the sins of the people of Israel are all pointing towards the ultimate Lamb who alone could take the sins of the world upon himself, be crushed by their darkness and weight, and yet then rise victoriously over sin, death, and the devil!
Praise be to the Lamb of God!