In the Old Testament, we are shown countless times that the Israelites were required to offer blood sacrifices to God to cover their sins. They had to do this again and again. When God instructed them to do this He was saying three things:
1. Sin is a serious matter
2. Sin requires payment
3. God will accept a substitute for our lives.
When the Israelites offered their sacrifice to God, it had to be pure and spotless, without any blemish.
"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats," Exodus 12:5
"Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed." Luke 22:7
Thankfully, God had a bigger plan, something greater than anyone knew!
"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 1:29
"Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1 Corinthians 5:7
God sent Jesus Christ to the earth to live a sinless life, show everyone the way to Him and die on the cross-pure, spotless and without blemish. He became our sin and rose again victorious over death three days later! Because of His sacrifice, we no longer have to bring a lamb for slaughter. Jesus was that lamb for the whole world!