Lamb Selection Day
Unto the Lamb x GREENHOUSE Prayer Room
“The next day, when the large crowd who had come to the Passover feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees [in homage to Him as King] and went out to meet Him, and they began shouting and kept shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed (celebrated, praised) is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; just as it is written [in Scripture], ‘Do not fear, Daughter of Zion; Behold, Your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ His disciples did not understand [the meaning of] these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified and exalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.”
John 12:12-16 (Amplified Bible)
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. It begins what is referred to as Holy Week or Passion Week, where the reality of the cross nears day by day.
Imagine the tension held in Heaven as Christ entered those city gates on that Sunday.
Praise be to the Word made flesh, nearing the complete fulfillment of what He’s spoken and the complete redemption of those He’s created. And woe to the Father, watching His one and only Son be offered to death at the hands of His creation, who lay palm leaves at His feet but have yet to receive the revelation of His true identity.
Glory to God who is King of the Universe and victorious over the bondage of sin. And sorrow has settled on the hearts of those who truly love Him, acknowledging the cost of eternal reconciliation that was not His to carry yet could only be paid by the price of His blood.
Hallelujah belongs to the One who was obedient to the point of death— knowing what was set before Him yet still encouraged to lay down His life by the mere thought of the inheritance of His suffering. And the suffering continues in His heart at the mere thought of those who refuse to accept this gift that came at such a high cost.
The tension held in Heaven to see the Lord Almighty rightfully praised but the offering of the Father’s Passover Lamb grievously overlooked.
It was not “either, or.” It was “both, and.” When you look deeper at Palm Sunday, you’ll see that this triumphant procession held more weight than seen at face value.
On Palm Sunday, God was abiding by His commandment to the Israelites:
“While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: ‘From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.’” (Exodus 12:1-7)
While the Israelites were still in Egypt, which is synonymous with slavery and bondage, God gave them some instructions. On the tenth of Nisan, the Israelites were to choose a lamb that would be enough to satisfy their household. They would carefully inspect the lamb to be sure it was perfect— without blemish or defect. Once the lamb had been fully inspected, they would anoint its feet and ankles with oil and then bring the lamb into their home. This lamb would live with the family and would receive “special care” for 4 additional days. During this time, the family would get to know the lamb and love the lamb. Two days before the Passover, they would anoint the lamb with oil again, this time by pouring oil on its head. By the evening of the fourteenth day, the family would have developed a deep bond with their lamb. However, they were instructed to prepare the lamb to be sacrificed. At the ninth hour after dawn (which translates to around 3 PM), they would slaughter their lamb. They would cook and eat every part of their lamb. Then, using a bunch of hyssop (which symbolizes cleansing and purification), the household would proceed to smear the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their home.
Why?
“‘On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.’” (Exodus 12:12-13)
The judgment of God would settle on Egypt. His wrath would be manifested through the death of what defined the legacy of every household— the firstborn son. To protect themselves from God’s judgment, the Israelites are instructed to use the blood of a lamb. The blood had to be costly so they were instructed first to develop a relationship with the lamb. When God passed through, He’d recognize His chosen by the blood of a perfect lamb. The lamb’s blood marked the Israelites thus freeing their households from the penalty of God’s wrath— death. As the story continues, we see that this final plague allowed for Israel’s deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and fully freed them into the care of Yahweh.
Those familiar with the events of Holy Week as written in the Gospels may be beginning to see parallels. But I want to focus primarily on Lamb Selection Day which parallels Palm Sunday.
God commanded the Israelites to remember the night when the Angel of Death “passed over,” sparing their households and emancipating them from Egypt. This event, the Passover, is a holiday to be observed every year by every generation. It’s a celebration of redemption, covenant, new life, and new identity. Beginning back when the Israelites (finally) made it to the Promised Land, Jews would travel to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Millions of Jews make this journey every year. As a result, the roads leading to Jerusalem are extremely crowded during this season. Imagine the crowds of people flooding the streets with all they would need to begin the 7-day festival. When arriving in Jerusalem, families would rush to the Temple where the Sadducees— religious leaders in charge of Temple sacrifices— were selling lambs. The Sadducees owned fields in Bethlehem and hired shepherds to tend those fields and raise lambs specifically for sacrifice. The shepherds would then transport the lambs to Jerusalem ahead of the Passover celebration.
Imagine the lines of people gathered to purchase their lamb. The most comparable scenario in Western culture would be the supermarket around Thanksgiving, as families search for a perfect-sized Turkey. Or even farms around Christmas, as families search for a perfect-sized tree. It is a time of frantic busyness coupled with pure joy for the season.
Households would line up at the Sheep Gate to purchase their lamb. The Sheep Gate was the first gate to be built when Nehemiah commissioned the reconstruction of the Temple (Nehemiah 3). The Sheep Gate was rebuilt by the High Priest and his fellow priests. It was the only gate to be consecrated and set apart as holy for it would be the gate where sacrifices are inspected and brought into the Temple. The Sheep Gate also led to Golgatha. Sadducees would inspect lambs at this gate before they were sold to ensure they were without blemish or defect.
The scene is set. Now, imagine the arrival of Jesus as He enters Jerusalem with His disciples through the East Gate, riding on a colt.
Whenever Jesus would enter the city of Jerusalem, He would enter through the Sheep Gate. Jesus even healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda, where lambs were cleansed before being brought into the Temple. But on Lamb Selection Day, the day of His triumphant entry, Jesus chose to enter through the East Gate. The East Gate is also referred to as the “Beautiful Gate” and it is one of only two gates in Old City Jerusalem that could be used as access points into the city. The Beautiful Gate faced the Mount of Olives, where the Garden of Gethsemane is located. This gate was also on the royal or priestly side of the city.
However, great significance rests in the simple direction of this gate.
Ezekiel prophesies that the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway. In chapter 44 of his namesake book of the Bible, Ezekiel speaks more about this vision. The Lord spoke to him saying that the east gateway in the outer wall of the temple area will remain closed and never again be opened because the God of Israel had entered there. Today, the Beautiful Gate that Jesus walked through has been closed off. It was sealed shut by order of Suleiman the Magnificent, a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, in 1540 AD. The Jews believed the Messiah had not yet come and the Sultan wanted to prevent His entry so he decided to seal the gate believed to be the access point of the Messiah. Little did he know that he was fulfilling prophecy. Today, the original gate is buried underground and a new Eastern Gate has been built on top of it.
In verse 3 of that same chapter, Ezekiel identifies who the Lord distinguishes as the only one permitted to pass through the eastern gateway. Only the “prince himself.” Ezekiel speaks more about this “prince” in chapter 46.
“When the prince offers a voluntary burnt offering or peace offering to the Lord, the east gateway to the inner courtyard will be opened for him, and he will offer his sacrifices as he does on Sabbath days. Then he will leave, and the gateway will be shut behind him.” (Ezekiel 46:12)
This “prince” is Christ and the sacrifice was His life.
Jesus enters the Beautiful Gate, at the east of Jerusalem, fulfilling these prophecies and more. He is symbolically bringing the glory of God to His temple through the offering of His life. After He entered, the gate was sealed. He deserved the praise of royalty as He is the Prince prophesied in the Old Testament. He will return through the Beautiful Gate at His Second Coming— radiating in glory, enthroned, and receiving the fullness of His inheritance through the final healing of all those who believe. Zechariah 14:4 prophesies the exact location of Christ’s return—
“On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.”
There’s so much more that could be dissected about Jesus’ glorious entrance. But remember the tension I mentioned earlier?
Jesus was also entering Jerusalem as His Father’s Passover Lamb. Riding on a colt, He joined the procession of bleating lambs walking out of the Temple and into their respective households.
Like the shepherds hired by the Sadducees, the Father birthed His Lamb in Bethlehem and raised It for the specific purpose of sacrifice. The Father inspected His Lamb and found It to be perfect, without blemish or defect. The Father cherished His Lamb as it is His only. He delivered His Lamb to Jerusalem through the East Gate on Lamb Selection Day, allowing the entire household to also inspect His Lamb. Once taken in, the Father’s Lamb was anointed with oil on His feet and His head.
By the evening of the fourth day, the household would prepare to sacrifice the Father’s Lamb. Because the Father loves His Lamb, the sacrifice is truly costly. During the Passover feast, bread and wine were used to describe the suffering this Lamb must endure. Those in attendance emblematically ate every part of the Father’s Lamb, demonstrating their belief in the Lamb’s purposeful life and death. The Lamb would then be betrayed with a kiss and sold into the hands of those the Father allowed.
The following day, the Father would once again present His Lamb to the household— this time, on a cross. The Father’s Lamb would now enter through the Sheep Gate, carrying Its cross to Golgotha. A hyssop branch would not be dipped in the blood of the Father’s Lamb but instead soaked in sour wine. The Father’s Lamb would drink from it, representing complete cleansing and purification. Upon swallowing this wine, the Father’s Lamb would proclaim, “Tetelestai!” or “It is finished,” making a declaration of eternal salvation from God’s judgment— not only for those He’s chosen but also for those who have chosen Him. Finally, at the ninth hour after dawn (around 3 PM), the Lamb would die. Under the covering of this Lamb’s blood, an entire household would be saved from the penalty of God’s wrath— death.
On Lamb Selection Day, Jesus was the Father’s selection.
What took place in Exodus was a foreshadowing of what God would do through Jesus. When you use His blood to mark the doorposts of your household (your heart), you are delivered from the bondage of Egypt (sin) and freed into the care of Yahweh. The blood of Jesus marks you as God’s chosen and allows you to be spared from the passing of the Angel of Death. When Jesus entered through the East Gate on Lamb Selection Day, He was making two announcements. First, He was announcing that the glory of God has come to bring forth the fulfillment of God’s mysterious plan, set in motion since the beginning of time. Second, He was presenting Himself as the true Passover Lamb whose blood brings forth eternal salvation for all those who have faith in its power. He was announcing that each household would now only need one lamb, the same lamb, for all eternity— Christ and Christ alone.
This Palm Sunday, we have the opportunity to make Jesus our selection. Just as He was the Father’s Lamb, He is ours.
May John the Baptist’s proclamation be our own—
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
May we share in the revelation of Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7—
“Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.”
May we join the voices of angels, living beings, and elders as they gather around the throne of God and sing—
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches; and wisdom and strength; and honor and glory and blessing.”
I originally planned to release this on Sunday. As a Palm Sunday-related post, I wanted to shift my schedule to commemorate the actual day. But the Holy Spirit spoke plainly:
“Release this on Saturday so they’ll know why they’re worshipping Me on Sunday.”
We now live on the other side of mystery, where the plan of God has been revealed to us. Those laying palm trees at Jesus’ feet did not understand the gravity of the moment. They cried out “Hosanna,” which translates to “God, save us,” yet were clueless as to what He had come to save them from. Even the disciples could not discern what they were witnessing. It wasn’t until Jesus returned to His glory that they began to understand.
Knowing that the mysteries of God have been made known to you through His Son, how will you respond?
Will your worship shift?
Will your commitment shift?
Will you finally accept His sacrifice?
The Passover Lamb thought of you in His suffering. The Bible says Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. That joy was reconciliation with you. If you are willing to accept His gift, repeat this guided prayer:
“God, I thank You for Your greatest gift to me. Your prized Passover Lamb. A Lamb without blemish or defect that would be slaughtered for my freedom and deliverance. I thank You for His blood that cleanses me from my sin— once for all time— and protects me from the consequence of death. I want to know this Lamb. I want to live a life worthy of the suffering of this Lamb. I want Jesus to be my Savior and Lord, granting me salvation and leading me on the path of repentance. In Your name, I pray. Amen.”
Welcome home! The Father has heard your cry of “Hosanna” and all of Heaven is rejoicing at the revelation you’ve received through His Passover Lamb!
I’d love to guide you on this journey with Jesus. Please let me know if you’ve prayed this prayer by completing the form below.
