The Lamb Without Blemish
Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:13-21
You were redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
The lamb sacrificed for the Passover had to be a lamb “without defect” (Exodus 12:5). This ritual pointed to the perfect and complete sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for us many years later.
There is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood. But the blood of lambs cannot truly atone for sin. On Passover night, when the lamb was sacrificed and its blood was sprinkled on the doorframe, that pointed to the Lamb of God, “without blemish or defect,” who died for our sins and shed his blood on the cross so that we might be redeemed from sin and death and cleansed from all impurity.
The lamb for sacrifice could not have any defects. This pointed to Jesus Christ, who was without sin but suffered and took on the curse of sin for us. He died for our sins—the just for the unjust. His death was substitutionary. He suffered the blow of the law that we should suffer. He drank the cup of wrath that we should drink. He died our death to give us his life.
O God, we exalt your great name for the great mercy you have shown us. We deserved all of the punishment for our sin. But Christ suffered in the place of us all. Praise be to you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Hernandes Lopes
Hernandes became the Portuguese ministry leader for Today's sister Portuguese ministry in 2010. He also serves as the director of the organization Luz Para o Caminho (Light for the Way), an organization formed in partnership between ReFrame and the Presbyterian
Church of Brazil. Hernandes has authored more than 160 books and is a popular and respected conference speaker in Brazil. Hernandes graduated from Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Brazil and earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in
Jackson, MS.
Hernandes and his wife, Tinha, have two adult children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!