24 Bible Study on the Lamb of God

The term “Lamb of God” is one of the most profound and significant titles attributed to Jesus Christ in the Bible. It encapsulates key themes of sacrifice, redemption, and atonement, central to the Christian faith. Understanding the biblical context of the “Lamb of God” leads to a deeper appreciation of God’s plan for salvation and the purpose of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In this article, we will explore 24 Bible verses that reference the Lamb of God, tracing its meaning from the Old Testament to its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament.

Introduction

Throughout Scripture, the image of the lamb is used to symbolize innocence, purity, and sacrifice. In the Old Testament, lambs were offered as sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins, pointing toward a future, perfect sacrifice. The “Lamb of God” is introduced in the New Testament, most notably by John the Baptist, who identifies Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, sent to take away the sins of the world.

The concept of the Lamb goes back to the Passover in the book of Exodus, where a lamb’s blood was smeared on the doorposts to protect the Israelites from the final plague in Egypt. This event foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who would shed His blood for the salvation of humanity. As we study the Bible, we can see that Jesus is the fulfillment of these sacrificial themes and that His death on the cross represents the ultimate and final atonement for sin.

In this article, we will look at 32 Bible verses that highlight the Lamb of God, revealing both its Old Testament roots and its New Testament fulfillment.

Old Testament Foundations: The Lamb as a Sacrifice

1. Genesis 22:8

“Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.”

In this pivotal moment when Abraham was tested by God to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham prophetically declares that God will provide the Lamb. This foreshadows Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who would be provided as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

2. Exodus 12:3-5

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.”

The lamb chosen for the Passover was to be perfect and without defect, symbolizing the sinless nature of Christ, the true Lamb of God.

3. Exodus 12:13

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”

The blood of the lamb saved the Israelites during the Passover, a shadow of the salvation provided through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

4. Leviticus 4:32

“If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.”

Lambs were used as sin offerings, representing a substitute for the sinner. This sacrificial act pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb without blemish, who would take away the sins of the world.

5. Isaiah 53:7

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, describing Him as a lamb led to the slaughter. This prophetic passage clearly points to Jesus Christ, who would suffer and die for the sins of humanity.

6. Isaiah 53:3

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

This verse describes the suffering of the Messiah, who would be rejected by men but would be the Lamb that would bear the sins of the world.

7. Jeremiah 11:19

“But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree and its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.'”

The imagery of a lamb led to the slaughter is again used to describe the suffering servant, which foreshadows Jesus’ death.

8. Daniel 9:26

“After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.”

This verse points to the death of the Messiah, the Anointed One, who would be cut off for the sins of the world, ultimately fulfilling the role of the sacrificial lamb.

The Lamb in the New Testament: Jesus as the Lamb of God

9. John 1:29

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'”

John the Baptist clearly identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, fulfilling the sacrificial role foretold in the Old Testament.

10. John 1:36

“When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!'”

Once again, John the Baptist emphasizes that Jesus is the Lamb of God, pointing to His sacrificial death.

11. John 19:36

“These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.'”

This verse connects Jesus’ crucifixion to the Old Testament prophecy that no bones of the sacrificial lamb should be broken (Exodus 12:46), highlighting Jesus as the true Lamb of God.

12. Acts 8:32-35

“The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.’ … Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”

Philip explains to the Ethiopian eunuch that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is Jesus, the Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins.

13. Revelation 5:6

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

The Lamb of God, symbolizing Jesus, is presented in heaven as the central figure in God’s eternal plan, worthy to open the scroll and enact God’s judgments.

14. Revelation 5:9

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.'”

The Lamb’s sacrifice is central to the redemption of humanity, purchased through His blood.

15. Revelation 7:9-10

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'”

The Lamb of God is the object of worship in heaven, as all nations recognize His sacrificial role in salvation.

16. Revelation 7:14

“I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'”

The blood of the Lamb is the means by which believers are cleansed and made righteous before God.

17. Revelation 12:11

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

The victory of believers over Satan is achieved through the sacrificial blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

18. Revelation 13:8

“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”

Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, is the central figure in the eternal plan of salvation, and those who belong to Him are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

19. Revelation 14:1

“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

The Lamb stands victorious, and those who belong to Him are marked as His own.

20. Revelation 15:3

“And they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.'”

The Lamb is worshiped in heaven, and His deeds are praised for their greatness and justice.

21. Revelation 17:14

“They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Despite opposition, the Lamb will triumph because of His divine authority as the Lord of lords and King of kings.

22. Revelation 19:7-9

“‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.'”

The Lamb’s ultimate victory is celebrated in the marriage feast of the Lamb, where the Church, His bride, is united with Him.

23. Revelation 21:22-23

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

In the new Jerusalem, the Lamb Himself is the source of light and the center of worship, signifying His eternal reign.

24. Revelation 22:1-3

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.”

The Lamb brings eternal life and healing to the nations, completing the redemptive work He began.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, the Lamb is a powerful symbol of sacrifice, innocence, and redemption. From the Passover lamb in Exodus to the ultimate Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world, we see the unfolding of God’s plan for salvation. Through His death on the cross, Jesus, the Lamb of God, provides the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His victory over death and sin is celebrated in heaven and awaits us in the eternal kingdom.

The Lamb of God is not just a title for Jesus—it represents the heart of the gospel message. By His blood, we are redeemed, and through His sacrifice, we find forgiveness and eternal life. As we study the Lamb of God, we are reminded of God’s love, justice, and grace, and we are called to respond in worship and obedience to the Lamb who was slain for our sins.