The Lamb that was Slain
Description
Judas stumbles down the hill toward the field where he intends to hang himself. On the path, near the twisted trunk of a tree, lies the mutilated carcass of a donkey. The flies are swarming all around. Judas flings the rope up over a branch. The bloodied, slain donkey is the last thing he sees before he dies.
Symbolism
The ancient Hebrew people were instructed by God to offer unblemished male lambs as a sacrifice to atone for sin. Lambs were slain by the priests daily at the morning and the evening sacrifice (Ex. 29:38–42), on the Sabbath day (Num. 28:9), at national feasts (28:11; 29:2, 13-40; Lev. 23:18–20), and on many other occasions (1 Chr. 29:21; 2 Chr. 29:21; Lev. 9:3; 14:10–25). The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be led like a lamb to the slaughter.
When Jesus began his public ministry, he was introduced by John the Baptist with the pronouncement: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29, 35). The Bible is clear that Jesus – the Lamb of God – was slain as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The mutilated lamb in the movie points to this imagery.
The script
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed … but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
