BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD

photo taken this morning on APRIL 6, 2012

 

 And the angel said unto me:

Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!

Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

I Nephi 11:21

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The above photo was taken this morning on my way to work. This unblemished lamb was in a field of white snow near our home. There is something special about this weekend. I feel it is sacred. Here are a few important things to consider about today and this sacred weekend.

• Today is April 6, 2012. It is Good Friday
• The Lord’s church was established on April 6, 1830.
• The four cornerstones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid on April 6, 1853. It was dedicated on April 6, 1893 (40 years later)
• The St. George Temple was dedicated on April 6 , first temple to be completed in Utah.
• Many believe April 6th marks Christ’s Birth into the Mortal World
• It also marks the day when Christ was crucified .. the same day (14th Day of Nisan) the Paschal Lamb would be slaughtered for the Jewish Passover.
• Today begins Pesach meaning “to Pass Over”… commemorating when the Israelites were freed from slavery.
• The 15th Day of Nisan (Tomorrow) is the Seder meal or Passover Feast and Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
• Tonight is a full moon which marks the first full moon after the Spring Equinox making this Sunday, Easter.
• This Sunday morning, Christians around the world celebrate Easter, the day of rebirth, the hope of New Life through Christ’s resurrection.

For the first time, our family is going to observe Passover this year. Tomorrow night we will have our first Passover meal. There is so much to learn about the significance of the Passover and the sacredness of the symbolism.. I thought I would share just a couple of thoughts about one of the central symbols… THE LAMB.

  

The Symbolism of the Paschal Lamb:

• On the 10th day of Nisan each family was to select a lamb. (symbolic of the same day of Christ Triumphant Entry)
• The lamb was to be male, at least one year old, and perfect without spot or blemish.
• The lamb was brought into the family home for 4 days. This gave time for the family to bond and have attachment with the lamb, making the sacrifice more poignant.
• The lamb was killed on the 14th day of Nissan. Exact time and day of Christ’s death. Lamb was roasted on an upright pomegranate stick. Another stick inside it’s chest cavity. (symbolic of the cross) It was to be done by sundown and no bones broken. (just as Christ was)
• They were to take the blood and “strike” it on 2 side posts and upper post, go inside, shut their doors and not come out until morning. This was done by using a Hyssop branch which is a healing herb that treats leprosy (a death and decaying disease). Symbolic of the Israelites when they were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord protected them from the destroying angels.

Just as a sidenote that I learned from a friend:

  

A lamb is very easy to kill. One account I read concerned a butcher who had been asked to slaughter a family’s Passover lamb. The butcher anticipated a routine experience, as he had slaughtered many animals. He related how after slitting the small creature’s throat, the little lamb turned and licked the blood off of the butcher’s hands. This hardened butcher deeply moved and forever changed. The tender licking of the blood from the man’s hand was a sign of unconditional love and forgiveness.