Introduction
The figure of Christ represents many different aspects and roles, similar to how he connects the identities of God, his son, and the Holy Spirit. For example, In John 1-3, Jesus is identified as the Word, the Spirit from heaven, and a Lamb of God, which connects to the themes of Genesis and Passover. This essay examines the identity of Jesus as the Word and the Lamb of God to explore the additional context it provides to the stories of Genesis and Passover.
Jesus as the Word
Firstly, the story of God can be divided into four stages – creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Furthermore, the stage of creation can be described through one word, “shalom,” meaning the peace on Earth created by God (The Arc of God’s Story 2). The importance of the Word is further emphasized in John 1:1, where the Word was the only thing with God in the beginning (John 1-3 1). The story of Genesis also illustrates the importance of the Word by explaining how God created the Earth and humankind with the power of words (Genesis 1).
On the other hand, the story of the Fall demonstrates that words also have a destructive power in God’s ability to curse and banish Adam and Eve for their sin (The Fall 1). Moreover, the fact that Adam and Eve were not the incarnations of God’s Word highlights their identities as priests of God (The Kingdom of God 1). Thus, combining the information about the importance of the Word, one can suggest that the Word carries a great power of creation, and its embodiment can rightfully be perceived as a representation of God.
The origins of Jesus in John 1-3 identify him as God’s Word that became flesh. The choice of words represents Christ’s identity as an authentic representation of God that carries a part of his power. Moreover, if the Word was the only thing with God initially, Christ’s identity as a Word can refer to his proximity to the creator of Earth and humankind. Therefore, Christ’s role as the Word of God emphasizes his powers, authority, and ability to dwell among humans as their creator.
Jesus as the Lamb of God
Next, Christ is also described as the Lamb of God in John 1-3. The description acts as a prediction of Jesus’s fate as God’s sacrifice. In the story of Exodus, the blood of the sacrificed lambs was used to protect people from the “angel of death” (Video Transcripts 3). The events from the evening of Passover, where the blood of lambs was put on doorframes of houses, represent God’s redemption of his people (Scripture Readings 7). Thus, lambs and their blood connected God and his people, giving them redemption.
The emphasis on Christ’s role as the Lamb of God represents his mission of giving people redemption. Similarly to the way lambs were sacrificed to protect God’s people, Jesus was sacrificed to atone for people’s sins. Therefore, the identity of the Lamb of God explains why God allowed Jesus to suffer to save people in the same way that lambs were forced to die in Passover for people’s redemption.
Conclusion
Therefore, exploring Christ’s different identities in John 1-3 provides additional context to his mission and his connections with making and God. Thus, Christ’s identity as the Word illustrates his power, authority, and connections with God and humankind. Furthermore, Christ’s description as the Lamb of God predicts his fate as a sacrifice for humankind’s redemption. It explains why God allowed his son’s suffering.
Works Cited
Genesis 1 New International Version (NIV).
John 1-3 New International Version (NIV).
Week 2: The Arc of God’s Story.
Week2: The Fall.
Week 2: The Kingdom of God.
Week 3: Scripture Readings.
Week 3: Video Transcripts.