Advent at Ararat 2024 - Day 17: The Lord provided for Himself a Lamb.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Looking again at this portion of the biblical record concerning the birth of our Lord, we now consider this question: “Why shepherds?”

Of all the people in the world at that point in time, what was it about the shepherds that made them the appropriate recipients of the greatest announcement that has ever—or will ever—be made?

Interestingly, it is said that in the time of Jesus, Bethlehem was the place where the lambs were raised for Temple sacrifice. Indeed, every firstborn male lamb born in that area was considered holy and was to be considered for sacrifice. I say that it would be “considered” for sacrifice, because the acceptable lambs had to also be perfect, without blemish.

Now, whether or not it is the historical case that this was the area where the sacrificial lambs were raised, it does not take away from the fact that the people hearing this wonderful announcement, were definitely shepherds.

And, consider that Jesus identified Himself with lowly shepherds when He referenced Himself as the Good Shepherd.

“”I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.“”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now, you are probably familiar with the story of Abraham and how that when tested by God, Abraham fully intended to sacrifice Isaac.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We know that when Isaac made the observation that although they had all the wood and things needed to make the fire for the sacrifice, they had not brought a lamb to sacrifice, Abraham offers a very prophetic answer to his son’s question:

“But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, the Lord did provide a sacrifice for Abraham to offer; but that ram caught in the thicket was only a symbol of what the Lord would one day do to redeem lost humanity.

“And He [the Angel of the Lord] said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, John the Baptist boldly declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God:

“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 ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes! The Lord provided for Himself a sacrifice by taking on flesh and living a sinless life so that He could be offered as the only sacrifice capable of atoning for the sins of the world.

For today let us meditate on the unfathomable love of our Father, illustrated in His offering His only begotten Son as the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins.

Additionally, let us consider that in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord—appearing as a sacrificed Lamb—is the only One worthy to open the seals on the scroll, setting in motion the events of the Last Days.

“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.” 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. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Make no mistake, Jesus will soon return—no longer as a Lamb for the slaughter—but as the conquering King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!