The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Day 32, Sacrificing Lambs in the Old Testament

Not only was a lamb sacrificed for Passover, the following occasions also required the death of a lamb.

  1. Redeeming the firstborn of your livestock.
  2. Redeem a firstborn son.
  3. The daily prayer offerings. Two lambs killed for the sins of the people every single day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
  4. If a person had a specific sin they wanted to confess, they had to sacrifice a lamb.
  5. A cleansing for the priests.
  6. As the cleansing offering for the woman who had just given birth.
  7. As cleansing for after having healed from a skin disease like leprosy.
  8. As a wave or a trespass offering.
  9. As a freewill offering.
  10. For each of the holy feasts or celebrations.
  11. As an offering to sanctify leaders.
  12. To seek forgiveness for unintentional or unrecognized sin.
  13. To honor the Sabbath.
  14. To celebrate a new month.
  15. To consecrate a holy building or office.

I’m sure there are more reasons to sacrifice a lamb in the Scripture. If you add it up, there were lots and lots of lambs killed to fulfill the law. But none of them could do more than fulfill the requirement of the moment. As soon as one lamb was killed, one atonement made, sin began anew and the next lamb was in line for the slaughter. Lots and lots of lambs. Millions of lambs to atone for a variety of situations or purify or cleanse or express gratitude.

My point is that Jesus answers all of them. As he approached the Jordan River, John the Baptist saw him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The Lamb of God answers all our needs.

He redeems our firstborn and all that we value when we submit it to him. He centers our prayers and focuses our days. He was our sacrifice for all our sins—past, present and future. He cleanses us for sins we never noticed or recognized as contrary to the will of God. He cleanses our very standing in heaven to make us right with God the Father. He is the reason we give offerings and rejoice. His presence in our lives gives honor and joy to those who love him.

Because as the Lamb of God, he accomplishes so much, in the end of times, he will again be identified as the Lamb. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)

A Sixty-Day Countdown to Christmas


More Days

Introduction to The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Holding Jesus

Day 3, A Sketch of Simeon

Simeon Was a Godly Man

Day 5, Simeon's Testimony

Day 6, Prophecies for the Gentiles

Day 7, Blessing to Nations

Day 8, A Holy People

Day 9, Welcoming God's Firstborn

Day 10, The Name of Simeon

Day 11, Staying Alive

Day 12, Following the Spirit

Day 13, Taking Up Jesus

Day 14, God's Slave

Day 15, True Peace

Day 16, Seeing Reality

Day 17, The Intent of the Law

Day 18, For All Peoples

Day 19, Making Mary and Joseph Marvel

Day 20, A Blessing

Day 21, Hinting at the Rest of the Story

Day 22, Mary Will Grieve

Day 23, Making Simeon into Simeon

Day 24, Prophet to the Prophets

Day 25, A Priest Like Melchizedek

Day 26, Destined for Sacrifice

Day 27, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 1

Day 28, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 2

Day 29, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, Part 3

Day 30, Jesus as the Lamb (con.)

Day 31, Simeon as a Man of Gratitude

Day 32, Sacrificing Lambs in the Old Testament

Day 33, The Silent Lamb

Day 34, The Messiah as Light

Day 35, Jesus the Stumbling Block

Day 36, Jesus as the Rock

Day 37, The Precious Cornerstone

Day 38, The Stone in Zion

Day 39, The Cornerstone and the Gate

Day 40, The Stone of Judgment

Day 41, Into Zion First

Day 42, Restoring the Booth of David

Day 43, Forgotten Stones

Day 44, Blessed to Receive

Day 45, Crown Him with Many Crowns

Day 46, Identifying the Son of God

Day 47, The Best Storyteller Ever

Day 48, In Bethlehem, the City of David

Day 49, Born a King

Day 50, The Living Jesus

Day 51, The Mountain Tree (Part 1)

Day 52, The Mountain Tree (Part 2)

Day 53, The Root of Jesse

Day 54, David's Branch

Day 55, The Cursed Tree

Day 56, Time Fulfilled

Day 58 through 60

Day 57, Born David's King