He was not born into the most prestigious family. He was not a particularly handsome man, nor was He very popular in His hometown. His closest friends were fishermen, and He spent much of His time with the sick and outcast of society. He was a sorrowful man who was rejected by His own people. He was loved by many but hated by most, and He was abused and brutally murdered by His enemies. Yet, He was the greatest man who ever lived. He was loving, and kind, and generous. He fed the hungry and healed the sick. He was a servant to all, even those who mocked Him and harmed Him. He chose to leave the splendors of Heaven in order to become God in the flesh. He chose to humble Himself and endure a most horrifying death. After which, He arose from the grave and sat down on the throne at the right hand of God, where He rules His kingdom to this day. He is the Son of God. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is Jesus, our Savior (c.f. Isa. 53; Phil. 2; John 1; etc.).
Before the Lord created man and placed him in the garden, He knew that man would sin. He knew that sin would drive a wedge between Himself and His creation (Isa. 59:1-2), and He knew that it had to be dealt with. Thus, in Genesis 3:15 God began revealing to man that which had been hidden in His mind from eternity (Eph. 3:11)–His Divine scheme of redemption, the salvation of mankind, through Jesus the Christ, to the glory of God. This Divine arrangement included one very important component—blood. Hebrews 9:22 says, “…and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” During the Mosaic dispensation God required the blood of bulls and goats. But, that was only a temporary solution. The Law of Moses was only a shadow of something better. Under that covenant sacrifices were offered continually, year after year. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:1-4). The ultimate solution to the problem of sin was not the blood of a lamb; it was the blood of The Lamb. Thus, when John saw Jesus coming, he appropriately proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).