An example from the Old Testament: “Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” Exodus 13:1313And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. (Exodus 13:13).
Let us go back 3000 years. Two men, a priest of God and a poor Israelite, stand in serious conversation. A little ass stands trembling beside them. “I want to know,” says the poor Israelite, “if there can be a merciful exception made in my favor this once. This feeble little thing is my firstborn donkey. I know full well what the law of God says about it, but I am hoping that mercy will be shown and the ass’s life will be spared. I am poor and I can’t afford to lose the little colt.”
“But,” answers the priest, firmly, “the law of the Lord is plain and unmistakable, ‘Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck.’ Where is the lamb?”
“Ah, sir, I do not have a lamb.”
“Then go and buy one and return, or the ass’s neck must be broken. The lamb must die, or the ass must die.”
“My hopes are crushed,” he cries, “for I am too poor to buy a lamb.”
A third person now joins them, and after hearing the poor man’s sad story, he turns to him and says kindly, “Cheer up, I can meet your need. We have in our house a little lamb who is ‘without blemish and without spot.’ It has never once strayed from home and is loved by all in the house. I will get this lamb.” He hurries away. Soon he is gently leading the little creature until both lamb and ass are standing side by side. The lamb is bound to the altar, its blood shed, and the fire consumes it.
The priest now turns to the poor man and says, “You can take your little colt home in safety — no broken neck for it now. The lamb has died instead of the ass, and so the ass righteously goes free, thanks to your friend.”
Do you not see in this story God’s picture of a sinner’s salvation? God’s claims as to sin demanded a “broken neck.” Righteous judgment must come on your guilty head unless there is a substitute approved by God.
You could not find any way to meet your need, but God Himself has provided the lamb in the person of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29). On to Calvary He went and “suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25). God displays His righteousness when He clears the guilty sinner who believes on Jesus.
Can you say, “Yes, as a guilty sinner, I have found the Lord Jesus to be the One I can safely trust; I do believe on Him”? Then, through the finished work of Christ, God sees you as if you had never sinned. What a wonderful way of salvation this is! God’s heart of love is satisfied, the glory of the Son of God is established, and the sinner is saved. God’s beloved Son has done all the work. He gets all the praise, and you and I will enjoy the company of the Blesser forever and ever.
Now you may be saying, “But, I don’t feel saved. One day I feel pretty sure and the next I have doubts.” Here is your mistake. Did you ever hear of a captain trying to find anchorage by fastening his anchor inside the ship? Never. It is always outside.
It may be you understand that it is Christ’s death alone that makes you safe, but you think that it is what you feel that makes you sure. Now take your Bible again to find out how a person gets