The lamb is a fairly unlikely symbol for religious triumph, but the Bible uses it to indicate that Jesus was a humble sacrifice for the sins of the world and now rules as king in the heavenly realm and will one day be revealed as Lord of all. The slaughtered lamb is the ruler sitting on the throne, according to the startling imagery of Revelation 5:6.
What does this image suggest to Christians about the nature of rulership, authority and power? What kind of message does it send that a slain Lamb is Lord of all?
Second, it suggests that might is not right; gentleness, humility, purity, love, care and beauty (lamb-like qualities) are the true instruments of power. These are the qualities that properly align with the contours of the universe.
Third, the kind of rule that God intends will surprise us. It’s a surprise to see a lamb on a throne, let alone a slain lamb. It’s an image that confuses and delights us. As Paul Barnett notes*, when John the Baptist announces Jesus’ arrival (“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”), he was also announcing that the temple system of Judaism was no longer necessary: this one perfect Lamb would be a sufficient ‘payment’ for sin. That was, and still is, stunning and hard-to-accept news.
I am always deeply moved by how in the Bible much symbolic power is invested in plain, earthy things: trees, wine, bread. The lamb imagery is a superb example of how God’s plans for the universe can be made clear using straightforward images that everyone can understand.
If you are enjoying lamb on Australia Day, give it some spiritual significance as well as national significance. It’s not just a clever ad campaign, but also a reminder to Christians of the kind of God we worship.
*Paul Barnett, John: the Shepherd King (Aquila Press, 2005), p.19.
Feature image: Flickr_manthatcooks
lamb chops image: Flickr_alxyz
Jesus lamb of God image: Flickr_nickinexsilio
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