January 11 – The Light of Redemption

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! – John 1:29 (KJV)

When humanity fell into sin, God revealed a plan of infinite love and sacrifice to redeem the sinner. Nothing less than the death of His beloved Son could atone for human transgression. The immeasurable goodness of God was displayed in providing such a ransom for the guilty, and Adam stood in awe as the promise of salvation unfolded before him. Through this divine plan, a ray of hope pierced the darkness of his future. The institution of sacrifices and offerings became a vivid reminder of the coming Redeemer, teaching the sinner the nature of sin, the consequences of disobedience, and the surpassing value of God’s provision.

Without sin, humanity would never have encountered death. But in the act of offering an innocent sacrifice with his own hands, the sinner confronted the reality of sin’s wages—a death that pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, the Son of God. This act revealed the immutable nature of God’s law and led the transgressor to confess his guilt and rely on the merits of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Taking humanity’s place, Christ bore the curse that rightfully belonged to sinners. He upheld the holiness and eternal authority of the law, demonstrating that God’s justice and mercy are inseparable. The Father entrusted the redemption of the world to Christ, so that through Him the law’s claims could be fully satisfied, and its principles magnified before the universe.

The sacrifices of animals in the ancient system pointed forward to the spotless offering of God’s Son. At the cross, the shadow met its substance, and the typical system ended. The ultimate sacrifice had been made, fulfilling the plan of redemption initiated from the foundation of the world.

Christ is the center of the great plan of salvation, encompassing every age of human history. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8, KJV). Through every trial and dispensation, He is the Redeemer of Adam’s fallen race. The Scriptures affirm, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, KJV).

Let us reflect on the unfathomable love of God revealed in the gift of His Son. May the cross ever remind us of the cost of sin and the hope we have through the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins and offers us eternal life.