A letter containing some recent family pictures left us with this feeling: surely the photographer did a good job with the touching up to cover some of the imperfections. This is a reminder to me of God's need for a lamb without blemish or imperfections. In Ex. 12, and then again in Lev. 1:33If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. (Leviticus 1:3) and 10, it tells us the burnt offering was required to be "without blemish.”
The peace offering of Lev. 3:11And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. (Leviticus 3:1) and 6 was also required to be "without blemish." Then the sin offering in Lev. 4 is also required to be "without blemish." Also the same is required in Lev. 5 and again in chapter 6. What repetition! Is it vain repetition? Why so emphatic?
If we are to bring an acceptable sacrifice, our Substitute must be "without blemish," no blemish, none at all—not merely no major defect, but no minor one either, not one inside or outside!
Men are still searching for a perfect diamond, one with no blemish. It seems that when one appears to be found all you need is a little more magnification and a brighter light and then some shadow or flaw appears.
I might select a lamb, and think it quite acceptable to my untrained eye. A farmer with some experience in raising sheep might have a more practiced eye and see some blemish that I do not see. Or, suppose the animal has passed these inspections and one calls a doctor of veterinary medicine for an opinion. The search for defects becomes more intensive, more critical. If all still appears well, and we think the matter to be vital, with implications for eternity, we might call in an internationally known veterinarian who has specialized in breeding lambs for over forty years. Can we still pass muster after the most modern techniques for x-ray and nuclear scans? Remember, we must have no blemish. The tolerance level is zero.
Scripture provides for no "tolerance level." It is an absolute demand for perfection, zero defect, "without blemish" inside or out.
The search through Adam's race comes up empty-handed, but God has provided Himself a lamb (Genesis 22). God has devised a scheme by which His banished ones need not be expelled. "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14). Here is the one perfect Man, the first and only man that fills the bill, the first and only one that meets the demand for zero defects, no blemish.
There we have it! Perfect inside and out—three witnesses. "A threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecc. 4:12.
If that is not enough, this should be the clincher—we have the Father's own voice expressing His approval of the Lamb of His own providing. The words are really grand, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." There is no hint of reservation here, just full, complete and absolute approval.
And do we want more proof of perfection? Though He bare our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)), He has been received up into glory where sin can never come. Blest proof of perfection!
Here is God's Lamb—no defect, no blemish—none other will do.
J. Ryan