The frequent figure of the lamb in Scripture conveys two main impressions to the reader. First, in those passages recording the sacrificial rites of primitive monotheistic worship, it presents the touching defenselessness of the lamb. Secondly, the figure illustrates the innocence and purity of the Christ, the divine nature of God, the Father, which all men in their true being express.
In Genesis we read of Abel's destruction by Cain, his brother. Abel's sacrifice to God of a lamb indicated his reflection to some extent of the Christly qualities of innocence and purity. Yet these qualities appeared to make him defenseless against Cain's animality, opposition to spirituality, envy, and earthliness.
Many centuries later Isaiah used the figure of a slain lamb when depicting a coming Saviour to the exiled Hebrews in Babylon. He wrote, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."Isa. 53:7; The murder of Abel foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus, who was the human appearing of the divine idea, or Son of God. And indeed John the Baptist twice used the term "Lamb of God" for Jesus (see John 1:29, 36).
