The Easter Lamb

The Easter Lamb was a tradition of the Jews, from the times of the Old Testament – it was an old, symbolic ritual, established by Moses following the divine commandment, in order to protect the children of the Jews from death, when the last of the 10 plagues, the death of the first newborns during the 3 days of darkness, had smitten Egypt.

And when, under the guidance of Moses, they came out of Egypt, free from the slavery of Pharaoh, the Jews celebrated, for the first time, the Passover (Pesach = to pass over), joyous that the angel of death has passed them, and that they have been freed from an long earthly, physical, slavery.

The Easter lamb was a symbol (as many rituals were, back then, symbols, preparations for important things to come), which envisioned the coming of Jesus, His sacrifice for cleansing the sins of the whole world.

When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John, the greatest of the prophets, said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes upon Himself the sins of the world.”

And certain things should have changed, starting with that moment.

However, even today, most Christian priests still recommend to eat – and eat together with the majority of Christians – lambs for Easter… maitaining this remnant of a barbaric ritual…

forgetting that Jesus cast out of the Temple, with the whip, those who sold birds and animals to be sacrificed for Passover – and also lambs, which were the main sacrifice…

forgetting that He has come to put an end to bloody sacrifices, to establish an age of kindness, of love and compassion

The Easter lamb symbolized Jesus. The only way to eat lamb for Easter is in the Holy Sacraments – there, the Lamb of God has sacrificed Himself in order to cleanse our sins, to free us from suffering and death.