We’re exploring the many reasons why Jesus died on a cross:
1. To demonstrate God’s extravagant love.
2. To identify with human misery.
3. To put an end to blood Sacrifice.
Last weekend’s message, “Jesus, the Servant,” explored a fourth reason: that Jesus’ life and death was about setting an example to his followers that we should also live to serve others.
Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28).
The night before his crucifixion, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, giving an example that his followers should do as he has done.
The apostle Paul tells us to adopt the same mindset as Jesus who humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Christians, and the churches we belong to, are to live and behave with humility. We are to serve others, particularly those on the margins of society; to love and care for people and the world that God created. We are not here to dominate or control. Following Jesus means that we will live and love as he does. And so, that’s another reason Jesus died. Let’s discover more!
Text: John 10:11-18
In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. In talking to these guys Jesus uses a figure of speech about shepherds and sheep “but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.” (John 10:6). So, he had another crack at it:
John 10:11-15, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
He then speaks more about his impending death and resurrection: I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
We find the shepherd sheep language throughout the NT:
Matthew 9:36, he had compassion on [people], because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
On the night of his arrest he told his followers, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” (Matthew 26:31).
And so, Jesus is like a shepherd who loves, tends, and cares for his sheep, his people. But then something amazing happens on that first Good Friday, when the shepherd became a lamb. Think about that for a moment. Jesus, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The shepherd becomes the sacrificial lamb.
This is something that had been foretold by John the Baptist right at the start of Jesus’ ministry, “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Paul call Jesus, “our Passover lamb, [who] has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Peter tells us that we are “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:19
As we saw in last weekend’s message, the first century Jews were looking for a Messiah, a leader, a King, a prophet, or a great warrior. But what they got was a lamb!
Q. Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God?
Q. What did people in Jesus’ day think of when they heard the word “lamb?”
Q. What did a lamb symbolise?
In Bible days, the lamb denoted sacrifice.
We still use the saying of being a sacrificial lamb. A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person when they are sacrificed for the common good. It has the meaning of someone being blamed for the wrong done by another (also, scapegoat, fall guy, whipping boy, straw man, stooge or patsy).
In the Amazon basin when farmers are leading cattle across a river suspected of having piranhas, they will sometimes sacrifice a sick or injured cow downstream before letting the herd enter the water.
Q. Why was Jesus a lamb?
Why did John the Baptist say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The Bible teaches that the blood of animals was only a temporary measure to deal with human imperfection. Only a perfect human being could permanently deal with and erase human sin. The writer to the Hebrews puts it this way:
“When Christ came to the world, He said to God, “You do not want animals killed or gifts given in worship. You have made My body ready to give as a gift. You are not pleased with animals that have been killed or burned and given as gifts on the altar to take away sin.” (Hebrews 10:5-6).
Jesus was to be the ultimate sacrificial Lamb of God who would give HIS life to take away the sins of the entire world – including yours and mine. And that’s what we celebrate on Good Friday, and that is why Good Friday is GOOD. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins.
But then, something wonderful happens as we see if Revelation 7:17, For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
The Good Shepherd becomes the sacrificial Lamb who in turn becomes the Shepherd.
Discussion Questions
In John 10, Jesus says five times that he lays down his life for the sheep, his people. Discuss the ways that you have, and could, lay your life down for others.
In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul calls Jesus, “our Passover lamb, [who] has been sacrificed.” Read Passover story in Exodus 12. What parallels do you see between this story and that of Jesus?
Why could only a perfect human being permanently deal with and erase human sin? Consider Hebrews 10:5-6 in your discussion.
John the Baptist said “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Discuss the concept of salvation in Jesus being universal in nature.
Read and discuss Revelation 7:17.
Other Scriptures to read and discuss: Acts 8:32; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4.