This expression long since become conventional wisdom in the modern world.Most often it is used with a certain tinge of skepticism, mockery of a man.First of all, it speaks about a certain loss of the original meaning of the phrase "Lamb of God."The true meaning of it today know the unit speakers.
Who is the lamb
very sound, spelling suggests its antiquity, a certain obsolescence.The very form of expression is associated with the distant past and, of course, the sacred texts.So, who is this is the lamb?
Surprisingly, but originally the word is not concealed in itself is nothing extraordinary.Lamb - it's just the old name lamb.However, any person more or less familiar with Christian doctrine, to ask about why the lamb is usually referred to as the son of God.
appeal to the Old Testament
If you dig a little deeper interpretation of the standard, it can be seen that the first mention of lamb within the biblical worldview is found in the Old Testament and, accordingly, in the Torah.That lamb was offered as a holy sacrifice to the Lord.
This raises the question: "Why lamb to the slaughter?"Why does not the calf, or, for example, a deer?It's all in the nature of this animal.The peculiarity of this herbivore is that the lamb completely voluntarily goes to his own death.Unlike other representatives of fauna, he did not resist their fate.Moreover, he even, in a sense helps her, craning his neck, as if for the greater convenience of his killer.
incredible submission of an animal, a strange biological features, and caused association with absolute obedience, sacrificial lamb, strengthening it in the memory of mankind.
Lamb New Testament
Despite this, most often associated with the lamb is not an animal, he gave the goats.For the majority of the lamb - is the son of God.Man, far from the biblical view of the world, it would be difficult to understand why an object of worship, the main figure in the religion called lamb.
People are more sophisticated can easily spend an analogy between the sacrificial act of Jesus and the Old Testament slaughter.In fact, in the history of Christ is repeated almost exactly the original plot.Only in this case, the victim was much larger, much larger for the sins of mankind.
Like obedient lamb, Jesus completely voluntarily went to Calvary, to take on the cross of human imperfection.
quite obvious analogy can be traced along the inside clean.Like a lamb, the Son of God did not have time to know sin, he was completely clean before the execution.It is also a death in the name of life.
even more depth
If closely examine the biblical triad of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we can pay attention to its internal unity.Despite the different names and incarnation, in fact, all three events are one.Thus, going up to Golgotha, Jesus sacrificed not only themselves.Along with him were brought to the victim and the other two incarnations of the Lord.
turns out that the lamb - a concept much more capacious than you would imagine at first glance.
Divine Sacrifice in Jewish culture
Although Christianity learned a lot from the Torah, there are significant differences.An example of this phenomenon can serve as an understanding of the lamb.Initially, the values were identical, but with the development of religion they parted.Christianity has suffered such a successful way of Jesus, and then to God Himself.In the second case, the properties were transferred to the Jewish people, which is destined to atone for the past centuries.
image across cultures
Due to the fact that the lamb - it is a symbol largely Christian, it is obvious that it accepted certain culture.It should be noted that in various countries the symbol of sacrifice and obedience has been adapted to my own.
Italians and Bulgarians, for example, decided to bake a lamb on a spit entirely after the holidays.In Russia operates another tradition in the Orthodox holidays decided to cook cakes and cookies in the shape of sheep.The victim in this case is brought symbolic and slaughter of animals for this purpose is not required.
Lamb in art
It is obvious that such a multi-faceted, a powerful symbol could not be reflected in the arts.In addition to numerous references in the literature, this image is often found in painting.It is noteworthy that almost every picture, depicting the birth of Christ is present and lamb.
If you take particular cases, quite a famous painting "The Adoration of the Lamb," written by Jan van Eykom in 1432 depicting a sacred animal, and the famous Roerich.The Prado Museum is kept as an exhibit picture of Francisco de Zurbaran "the Lamb of God."
Thus, we examined the state of affairs today.But we can safely say that in the future the word "lamb" will continue to evolve, acquire new values, additional shades.For now, the lamb is one of the basic, fundamental religious symbols.
