The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

THE LAMB WHO REMOVES THE WORLD’S SIN

At the dedication of the new temple, the Israelites offered hundreds of sin offerings to atone for their sins, including twelve goats to atone for each of the twelve tribes. Atonement means that these sacrifices received the judgment of God that the people of Israel deserved because of their sin. Then, in connection with the dedication of the new temple, the returned exiles celebrated the Passover. The Passover recalled how the Lord passed over the Israelite houses in Egypt and did not kill their firstborn. Death had already happened in that house when a lamb was killed in the firstborn’s place (Ex 12). However, these activities — sacrifice and Passover — were merely provisional because they could not deal with the people’s sin problem once for all. All of these slaughtered animals pointed forward to the final Passover Lamb — Jesus Christ — who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29; 1Co 5:7).

Jesus, I thank you that we no longer have to go through a yearly ritual that temporarily absolves us from our sins. Thank you for setting us free from ritual and free from sin once and for all. Amen.