The Spotless Lamb
Passover in Israel was celebrated every year according to the Old Testament Law. This is the time of the year beginning with Palm Sunday in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 and Daniel 9, the prophecy that Jesus would ride into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. On that Passover, Jesus Christ himself became the spotless Passover lamb of God.
Those of us who have died to the world in order to live for Christ, convict the world of sin and separation from God. To confess is to “speak the same thing.” It means to align my heart with God’s heart, my will with God’s will and my word with His word.
Before the Passover feast was the inspection of the lamb. This is the “trial” of Jesus when they “inspected” Jesus Christ the lamb of God. They found him without spot and without blemish. The “inspectors” we’re mad at Jesus because he convicted them of their separation from God. The Pharisee’s had asked Jesus, “Who gave you authority to do these things?” Jesus replied, “I’ll tell you who gave me authority if you can answer this question: “was John’s baptism from heaven?” They couldn’t answer Jesus’ question because they would be wrong if they answered either yes or no. If they answered yes, then the question is “then why don’t you follow his doctrine? He said that I’m the messiah.” If they said, no, then they feared the people because John was popular with the people.
Why do we need to concentrate on the “spotless lamb of God?” Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
Churchinanity has taken “holiness” out of the church. It’s too controversial a subject. Holiness is not sinless perfection. Holiness means to separate according to the purpose intended by the Designer. Jesus’ holy purpose was the cross. The cross of Christ was God’s purpose for his only begotten son.
Likewise, the cross of Christ is also our purpose for this life. When Jesus gave the “upper room discourse” at the “last supper” he said the Holy Spirit will come after me. In order to be raised in righteousness we must recon ourselves dead to sin. According to Psalm 91, Jesus made his father his dwelling place. He needed his father’s strength to be able to withstand the crushing weight of the sin of the world.
The requirement to approach the cross of Christ is to die to our sin nature in order to live for him. Confession unto salvation is to change lords: to turn from my selfish nature to the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If you lost everything in this world, would you still have everything in Christ? For what shall it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul?
At the cross, the Roman soldiers did not kill Jesus. He willingly laid down his life as the perfect and spotless lamb of God. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael