Scripture Reading: Exodus 2:23-25, Exodus 6:13, Exodus 12:1-3, Exodus 12:6-14, Exodus 12:21-27, Exodus 12:50-51, Psalm 40:17, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, John 1:29
I don’t know if it’s childlike faith, the familiarity of the story, or just exhaustion at the end of the year, but at Advent I tend to stop asking questions. The story of Jesus’s conception and birth has become as normal to me as my own Christmas traditions. I don’t really think much about the details because…I know this one.
In the New Testament, John identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Why is it that calling Jesus “the Lamb of God” can feel so normal?
At Advent, words and phrases like garland, virgin birth, Christmas trees, conceived by the Spirit, cinnamon rolls, and the Lamb of God all seem to fit seamlessly into the same paragraphs with ease. Some of these things really are not like the others, but don’t they feel that way at this time of year?
“The Lamb of God” has become just another one of Jesus’s names to me. It’s all too easy to say, “that’s just who He is!” without asking many questions, especially at Advent.
It’s tempting to think that reading about Jesus as our Passover Lamb matters more for our Easter reflections than our Advent ones. And in the chaos of December, it feels easier to push my theological reflections to the Lenten season when I have new-year energy. But this Advent, I’m going to take advantage of the perspective this season brings. We can look backward through the story, from end to beginning. And then we can marvel in belief that Jesus would still come, knowing all He would endure as the one and only Lamb of God.
Prophet, priest, and king. Those are some of the main roles we tend to think of Jesus coming to fulfill at Advent. It’s not hard to imagine someone wanting to come as king. I can even conceive of someone wanting to come as a prophet or a priest. But to imagine someone coming as a sacrificial lamb? Who chooses to come for that? Jesus.
And as we reflect on the passover event in Exodus, we’re reminded of where the language originated. But the lambs in the passover didn’t sign up for it. A birth and death not in their will or power. But Jesus, our Passover Lamb, wasn’t surprised by humanity’s need when He put on flesh and came to earth. This was the plan all along. Who comes for that? Jesus.
In the past, when I’ve thought about Jesus as the Lamb of God, I’ve been caught up in what it means for me. But this year, through the lens of Advent, I’m seeing instead what it shows me about the heart of Jesus.
“Like a lamb led to the slaughter,” He still came (Isaiah 53:7).
Written by Hannah Little
