Monday, April 6th

Leading us into Holy Week are our friends at Luther Seminary:

Related Scripture: Exodus 12:1–4, [5–10], 11–14

John the Baptizer bore witness to Jesus with
the words, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The
mysterious title “Lamb of God” recalled the
merciful deliverance of the exodus, in which
every household was to sacrifice a “whole lamb …
without blemish.” With some of the blood of the
lamb they were to mark each house, so that the
angel of death might pass over that household.
And they were to eat the lamb dressed for a
journey, ready to escape—traveling clothes on,
boots laced up, staff in hand.

John’s words of witness also foretold Christ’s
sacrificial death—according to the Gospel of
John, Jesus was crucified at noon on the day of
preparation for the Passover celebration, the
exact time when the lamb was sacrificed. The
symbolism is clear: Jesus’ death sets us free from
the power of sin, death, and every force that
defies God’s love.

Prayer:
Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before
me; help me walk from day to day with its shadow o’er
me. Amen.