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Agnus Dei, Lamb of God

Read: Mark 15:15, “Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

This morning, my devotions took me to the first 25 verses of Mark 15. I was listening to some worship songs as I read this scripture, and the first one I was listening to was “Agnus Dei” by Michael W. Smith. “Agnus Dei” means “Lamb of God.”

The Lamb of God is handed over

The portion of Mark that I was reading is the account of Jesus before Pilate. Jesus had been led before Pilate, after a totally illegal trial that included a group of several false witnesses who blatantly violated the Law of God.

And now the entire religious leadership of Israel, from the High Priest to the lowest Levite, were all in one accord that the Nazarene was guilty and needed to be put to death for blasphemy. “How dare this Carpenter declare Himself to be the Christ of God!”

No matter how hard Pilate tried to appease the crowd, they chose the Holy One of God over a murderer named Barabbas to be crucified. And the words they uttered will be forever embedded in history.

Here is what they said: “Crucify Him!” And then Pilate “handed Him over.”

Meaning of “handed over”

Before we go too much further, I want to just make a few comments about this verb “handed over.” It is consistently used in the New Testament to describe an action that means a person or persons “delivered up” for serious consequences.

It is used to describe Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. And in the Old Testament in the Septuagint (the Greek translation) it is implied when God says to Israel, “their own way have I brought upon their heads.”

Interestingly, it is also used in Romans 1:24 (NASB), when God says, “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.”

Jesus is our Living Hope

The next worship song I listened to was Phil Wickham’s “Living Hope.” And these words from the second verse caused my heart and head to bow before the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Read them with me please.

Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope


Oh dear, redeemed, precious child of God, rejoice with me today for all that our Beautiful Savior has done. You and I are His forever!

Blessings and prayers,
Pastor Gene

1 Comment


Rob - April 10th, 2020 at 10:04pm

Thank you Pastor Gene for sharing.

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