Jesus, the Lamb of God and Savior

When He entered the world, Jesus was just a baby, born to Mary. Yet, even before His birth, His purpose was clear. An angel had revealed to Mary and Joseph what they should name Him:
"You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

The name "Jesus" was simple, yet profound. What was challenging, however, was the mission He was given: to save His people from their sins. How could such a monumental task be placed on a tiny, newborn child?

For centuries, God’s people offered animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. Thousands upon thousands of bulls, sheep, goats, doves, and pigeons were sacrificed—animals without blemish, whose blood served as the payment for sin. As the Scriptures say:
"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Hebrews 9:22)

These sacrifices had to be repeated constantly, year after year. But could this little child—born in Bethlehem—truly provide the final answer to the problem of sin?

The answer came again, this time to shepherds tending their flocks at night.
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

The angel's message was clear: a Savior had been born. But how could one individual carry the weight of sin for all of God's people?

As Jesus grew from a child into a man, the answer became clearer. One day, as John the Baptist saw Him approaching, he proclaimed:
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

For hundreds of years, lambs had been used as sin offerings—perfect, unblemished creatures whose sacrifice symbolized cleansing from sin. But this was different. John identified Jesus as the ultimate Lamb, sent by God Himself.

The titles given to Jesus throughout the Scriptures reveal His divine nature and mission. Names hold meaning in the Bible, and each name of Jesus reflects His character and role:

• Master
• Immanuel—God with Us
• Light of the World
• Prince of Peace
• Overcomer
• The Way, the Truth, and the Life
• The Good Shepherd

These names do more than describe a man born to Mary; they echo the very names of God:

• The Way, the Truth, the Life—El Emeth, the LORD God of Truth
• Master—Adonai, Lord
• Immanuel, God with Us—Yahweh-Shammah, the LORD Is There
• Light of the World—Yahweh-Or, the LORD Is Light
• Prince of Peace—Yahweh-Shalom, the LORD Is Peace
• Overcomer—Yahweh-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts
• The Good Shepherd—Yahweh-Rohi, the LORD My Shepherd

These divine titles reveal that Jesus is not just a remarkable human; He is God Himself. As the perfect, sinless Lamb of God, He was crucified to bear the sins of His people. But death did not have the final say. Because He is God, He conquered death and rose again, becoming the living Lamb of God. His sacrifice is the ultimate, once-and-for-all offering for sin:
"But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:26)

Mary, Joseph, and John the Baptist recognized who Jesus truly was. The question remains: do you? Have you accepted Him as the Lamb of God who has paid for your sins? Are you placing your trust in Him as your Savior, the One who came to deliver you from sin and reconcile you to God?