A Lamb Goes Into the Wilderness

A meditation for Lent 1 on Paul Gerhardt’s hymn “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth”

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“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

In the paradise of Eden, man is tempted with not having enough. But man, in his passion for some fruit which looked pleasing to the eyes, took it and ate. This fruit was the food of death. In so eating, he doomed the entire human race which descended from him to toil in the barren wilderness of this world and, if left un-atoned for, to be doomed to hell.

As a temporary and imperfect solution, God commanded that a lamb be sent into the wilderness once per year on the Day of Atonement. The high priest, who was responsible for the people, placed his hands upon the lamb and offered absolution for the people by transferring their sins to the lamb.

The lamb was called עֲזָאזֵֽל (Azazel), commonly translated as “scapegoat.” In modern Hebrew, the words lekh la-azazel correspond to the English phrase “go to hell,” which is exactly what the Israelites wanted to happen to their sins.

But this solution was never enough.

Finally, Jesus, the truly spotless and perfect Lamb of God came into the world. Immediately after being baptized and being confirmed as the one with whom God is pleased, Jesus heads out into the wilderness. Willingly.  Uncomplaining forth. The guilt of all men bearing. Laden with the sins of earth. None else the burden sharing.

Of course, this isn’t easy. As Jesus refrains from eating for 40 days, he grows weak and faint. It is at this most vulnerable time that he is tempted by the devil in the same way that the first man was tempted. With food. But this Man doesn’t give in.

Again, later on the cross, as the devil hurls even more temptations at Jesus for him to give in and come down, Jesus doesn’t. He has a different sort of passion than the first man did.

Jesus is motivated not by what is best for him, but what is best for us. He bears shame and stripes and wounds and death, not to mention the wrath of God himself against sin. This Lamb suffers hell on the cross and dies.

But this Lamb returns.

He returns, having freed men from the fear of death, from guilt, and from condemnation. He fasts so we can feast. He goes into the wilderness so we can enter Paradise. He dies so we can live. By his holy Passion, we shall share the fruit of his salvation.

1. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
The guilt of all men bearing;
And laden with the sins of earth,
None else the burden sharing!
Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
That spotless life to offer;
Bears shame and stripes, and wounds and death,
Anguish and mockery, and saith,
“Willing all this I suffer.”

2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great Friend,
The Lamb of God, our Savior;
Him God the Father chose to send
To gain for us His favor.
“Go forth, My Son,” the Father saith,
“And free men from the fear of death,
From guilt and condemnation.
The wrath and stripes are hard to bear,
But by Thy Passion men shall share
The fruit of Thy salvation.”

Hymn 331 in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary.
By Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76; Tr. Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis, 1942, and H. Bartels, b. 1929, alt.