THE LAMB OF GOD WITHOUT DEFECT

BIBLE TEXT: Ezekiel 46:11-24

Reading through the above passage, the lamb of God without defect is brought clearly into view.  There is a mental image of the temple of God on a busy Sabbath day. Ezekiel's prophecy here visualizes what obtains on the festive days (vs11). The direction and orderliness of activities. Worship of God is not in any way a quiet event. He wants it to be an active occasion where all his children are genuinely involved, body, soul and spirit. 

Interestingly, the lamb of God is mentioned, specially, in verse 13. It reads: 

"Everyday you are to provide  a year old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the lord; morning by morning you shall provide it" (NIV) 

What, therefore, is the significance of this lamb without defect? The Lamb without defect refers to Jesus; the lamb of God (John 1:29). He is the one lamb whose blood takes away the sins of the world. 

Reckon that in the old covenant, a lamb without defect is to be sacrificed as burnt offering each day, (Exodus 29:38-42) on the Sabbath, the first day of each month, during the passover, at the feast of  weeks, Trumpets, Atonement and feast of tabernacles respectively. (see Numbers 28:9-36). This passage therefore points out the centrality of the lamb and its focal point in the celebrations. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Nevertheless, these ordinary lambs regularly presented and sacrificed on their own had no efficacy to wash away man's sins. 

By the eternal laws of God; it is "an eye for an eye". A son of God for a son of God. Jesus is the perfect lamb prepared by God from the foundations of the earth to confront and solve the issue of sin occasioned by Adam. Therefore, these yearlings to be sacrificed regularly represents a pointer to Jesus' work on the cross and a reminder to us the worshippers the cost at which we were cleansed. The effect is that all who name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ must be careful to depart from iniquity as they are daily reminded of the lamb without defect which paid the price for their sins.