In ancient Israel when a family selected a newborn lamb for sacrifice they were commanded to bring it into their house for four days, from the 10th day until the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish lunar calendar.
The children in the household would not doubt treat it like a pet. Kids would become as attached to that lamb as anyone gets attached to their dog or cat. They probably didn’t dress it up in doll clothes or push it around in a stroller like some, but still it became like a member of the family. The lamb would join them in their daily activities, including meals.
When it came time for their annual sacrifice, it hurt to take that lamb to the Temple and have it killed to cover up their sins. No doubt the kids would wail and cry because their family pet was going to be killed. It was meant to hurt. That’s what “sacrifice” means.
There’s a passage in the Bible where King David is commanded to acquire a property, build an altar, and sacrifice an oxen. The guy who owned the place told David he’d provide the place, firewood, even the oxen. But David said he couldn’t sacrifice something to God that didn’t cost him anything.
So David paid for the land, bought the materials to build the altar, and likely built that altar himself. He then spent more money for the animal and fuel for the burnt offering.
Sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt. God has many times indicated He doesn’t delight in the sacrifice itself, but in the devotion that prompted it. (The Northern Kingdom still offered sacrifices, but God wasn’t impressed because they were only paying lip service, not reverence.)
Back to the sacrificial lamb.
Jesus told John in the book of Revelation that He’s knocking, and anyone who opens the door and lets Him in, that He’d come in and they’d eat together.
Jesus is the Lamb of God. He’s knocking. Invite Him in, and let Him join you in your daily activities. Not just on Sunday for church services. He wants to be part of every aspect of your life.
Let Jesus in. Live with Him, and Him with you.
