At this season of the year, we want to turn our attention to our Lord’s death and sacrifice.
We want to see the Passover picture and its concepts throughout the scriptures not only during the Memorial season, but all of the year because we live the reality every day.
1 Peter 1:13–21 ESV
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
We would like to focus on the phrase, “without mark or blemish”.
“Well you know that it was no perishable stuff, like gold or silver, that brought your freedom from the empty folly of your traditional ways [enabling you to be called]. The price was paid in precious blood, as it were of a lamb without mark or blemish – the blood of Christ.” (NEB)
Question:
Discuss Jesus’s perfect human sacrifice.
- Why did his human sacrifice have to be perfect?
- How was his human perfection demonstrated?
- How precious does the value of his sacrifice make our calling?
Discussion Summary:
Verses 13-21 describe the Christian’s call to holiness by God the Father (verse 15). This call can only happen once a sinner has been reconciled to God. This reconciliation is possible because of the sacrifice of Jesus. He paid the price for us. “Through him (Jesus)…your faith and hope are in God (the Father). Verse 21
Jesus’ sacrifice was “without mark or blemish.” This is referring to the requirement of all the animal sacrifices in the tabernacle and temple. The Israelites were not allowed to bring their old, sick or injured animals to be given to God. (As an example, see Exodus 12:5). These sacrifices were pictures of Jesus’ own sacrificial death. (Hebrews 9:12)
The price of Jesus’ sacrifice was applied against perfect Father Adam’s sin. This price “redeemed” or “ransomed” or “bought back” Adam and all of his children. (Romans 5:19) All people are in this sinful condition because of Adam and now all can be reconciled to God because of Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26, Philippians 2:8)
We are told that Jesus committed no sin. (1 Peter 2:22) Consider the following quote:
“Even a scholar as hostile to Christianity as David Strauss, after long meditations on the Gospel, recognized that the harmony of Jesus’ spirit was not the result of an inner crisis, but of the natural unfolding of the powers inherent in him. “All characters,” wrote Strauss, “purified by struggle and strong upheavals, such as Paul, Augustine, Luther, have preserved indelible traces of such struggle, their image breathes something harsh and gloomy. Jesus has nothing of the kind. He appears to us at once as a perfect nature, obeying only his own law, recognizing and establishing himself in his own consciousness, having no need to turn and begin a new life.”
The value of Jesus’ sacrifice is shown by John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son.” The knowledge of the cost should engender in us a life of reverence toward God, “stand in awe of him (God the Father) while you live out your time on earth.” (1 Peter 1:17 NEB).
We are now called and able to reshape our lives, our characters, our beings (verse 14). “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
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