Getting to Know Jesus by Name #46: Lamb

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John the Baptist had been waiting to meet the Messiah.  God had told him he would, and how he would know that it was Him, so when that happened, of all the names he could have used to introduce Him, he chose Lamb of God.  The next day he did the very same thing.  Obviously, there was a picture John had in mind.  A "lamb" was specifically "a young sheep", which in Israel was often used as a "sacrifice: the act of giving up something you want to keep, especially in order to get or do something else or help someone."*  This name speaks so much of purpose, value, and intent.  God sacrificed His sone to get us back, to help us out, because He values our relationship with Him so much.  Jesus as a "young sheep" was just setting out on His commitment to do just that.  The length of His path would be brief but complete, just like the lambs offered for sacrifice, but it would be full of intent and value - enough to pay for the sins of us all. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus)