Jesus, the Lamb of God: God’s Perfect Gift at Christmas

This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, Mary’s Little Lamb.

It was no accident that Christ was born in Bethlehem. For centuries, shepherds had been raising Passover lambs in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a special breed, raised and nurtured to be spotless sacrifices. And this is where God’s perfect Lamb, the Lord Jesus, was born—as it had been prophesied for centuries.

A Messiah Prophesied at Passover

You may think, “God the Son doesn’t appear in the Old Testament.” Oh yes, He does—in prophecies, and in types and shadows throughout early human history.

The Spotless Lamb

The Hebrews had found themselves in bondage in Egypt. They needed to be redeemed, to be set free. God had a plan to redeem His people—and that plan was wrapped up in a little lamb.

On a certain day, each household was to kill a perfect, spotless lamb and put its blood on the lintels of their doors. (See Exodus 12:3-7.)

But how was this going to show God’s love and save God’s people?

The Saving Lamb

God was instituting Passover, when a lamb’s blood protected God’s people from God’s judgment.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:12-13).

They could have put poetry on the doorway; it would have done no good. They could have encrusted the door with jewels and gold. It would have done nothing. They could have put a perfect living lamb outside that door—but it would not have done what was needed.

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22).

The first Passover would lead to the first Christmas. All of this was to typify the day when Mary’s little Lamb would come, the perfect Son of God.

The Glory of God Incarnated at the First Christmas

Moses’ lamb only prophesied Mary’s Lamb. What did Jesus’ birth mean for us—when the true Lamb of God finally appeared in history?

John the Baptist knew that Jesus of Nazareth was this Lamb.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).

Son of God, the True Spotless Lamb

Jesus was a Lamb without spot, without blemish. He was the virgin-born Son of God. That little baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, was and is the eternal, uncreated, self-existing Word made flesh. The birth of Jesus Christ was when the infinite became an infant. God the Father sent God the Son to lie in a manger. This was God’s greatest gift to His Creation.

Messiah, the True Saving Lamb

Why was Jesus born of a virgin? So that He could be sinless.

Why was He sinless? So that He could make a blood atonement.

Remember, the Bible says it is blood that makes atonement for your sin. (See Hebrews 9:22.) If God would overlook our sin and say, “That’s all right, I forgive it; no need for atonement,” then God Himself would be unjust. God would be unholy.

There must be a sinless sacrifice. No child of Adam can satisfy that demand—because in Adam, all die.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).

A mother may have one blood type, and her baby child have another—because the blood line comes from the father. So while Mary was Jesus Christ’s earthly mother, God the Father was His heavenly Father, and the blood that flowed through the veins of baby Jesus was the very blood of God. This is why the Virgin Birth is fundamental to Christian doctrine.

There is no salvation without shedding of blood. We need God’s righteousness in human flesh: Immanuel, God with Us.

The Majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ

Christ Jesus won a victory at the cross. What does that mean for the future?

After Christ had ascended to Heaven, the Apostle John was caught up in a vision. He sees himself caught up into Heaven. He has a glimpse into glory.

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it (Revelation 5:1-4).

This seven-sealed book is the title deed to the Earth, the heavens, and the netherworld. It represents the right to rule. No angels in Heaven above, no politician, no religionist, no artist, no scientist, no philosopher, no military genius has the worthiness to open this scroll.

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

If today you have a broken heart, the same message is for you. Do not weep. Behold Him.

So let us behold the lamb of God where He is now.

Immanuel at the Throne of God

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth (Revelation 5:6).

John saw a small Lamb. This is not the ordinary word for lamb; it means a pet lamb, a baby lamb—something small and gentle.

He was a slain Lamb. Christ still bears the marks of the nails that held Him to the cross. Those are the emblems of redemption that He bears forever.

He is now a standing Lamb. Christ laid down in death in a grave, but the grave could not hold Him. He is now standing by the throne of God the Father, making intercession for us.

He is a strong Lamb, with seven horns. Horns in the Bible are emblematic of power, and seven is perfection. So yes, He is a little lamb—but do not miss His horns of perfect power. He is omnipotent, all-powerful.

He is a searching lamb. He has seven eyes. He is omniscient, all-knowing. He knows your thoughts. He sees every move that you make.

And He is the sovereign Lamb.

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (Revelation 5:7).

What right did He have to take that scroll? He has the right of creation. He made it all. He has the right of Calvary. He shed His blood for it. He has the right of conquest. He was raised from the dead. Mary’s Lamb was and is sovereign God.

The Christmas Story, the Gospel, and Eternal Life

And between the first Christmas and our eternal life, we worship Christ and preach the gift of God that the Christmas season memorializes:

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:11-14).

List of Scriptures Referenced in This Article

Luke 2:7-14; Exodus 12:3-7,12-13; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Revelation 5:1-7

More Bible Verses About God’s Christmas Gift

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23).

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).