The Agnus Dei In Exodus 12, we read the account of how God delivered the people of Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. After nine previous plagues, God sent a tenth and final plague: the angel of death. This angel would claim the life of the first-born male of every household. In this time of great tragedy and terror, fear would have certainly seized the hearts of all! Our gracious God offered a hope-filled promise to the people of Israel. He would allow a lamb without blemish to take the place of the firstborn male of any household. If that lamb was sacrificed, and its blood painted across the doorpost of the home, that lamb’s death would count as sufficient, and the firstborn male would be spared. From that time forth, the lamb became a reminder of God’s grace. Each year, at Passover, a lamb would be sacrificed to God, as the people continued to seek His forgiveness and grace. The image of the sacrificial lamb would have held an important place in John the Baptist’s heart. In John 1, he sees Jesus passing by. Having recently baptized Jesus – and hearing the voice of the Father declaring Him to be His Son – he recognized Jesus to be the Messiah. Thus, he lifted up his voice and declared “Behold! The Lamb of God; the one who takes away the sins of the world!” John knew that Jesus would be like the Passover Lamb. He would die in our place and His blood would be spilled on the cross. On Maundy Thursday, as Jesus celebrated the Passover with His Disciples, He foretold His upcoming death on the cross. He assured them His blood would be spilled for them as He gave them the cup saying “drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” In the Lutheran Liturgy, most of what we sing is taken directly from the Scriptures. We fill our praises to God with Words which we know are pleasing to Him as the very words we sing are words which He first spoke to us. As we prepare to receive the blessed blood of Jesus, in, with, and under the simple wine, we repeat John the Baptist’s confession; O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world! We add to these words a simple prayer; have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, grace us Thy peace. Beginning on Sunday, October 4, we will sing these words at Our Savior each Communion Sunday during our Heritage Service, just after the Words of Institution. As we sing this confession together, we reflect on how Jesus is our sacrificial, Passover Lamb, who spills His own blood to spare us from death.