The Lamb

Near the Black Forest is a very ancient Church. Many years ago it was noticed that the tower of this Church was becoming unsafe, and the people of the district decided that it should be pulled down and re-built. A man known to be a clever architect and sculptor, was commissioned to design and erect a new one. One day, when
this architect visited the Church to see how the work was proceeding, he had occasion to climb to the highest
part of the scaffolding. On reaching this, he trod on a plank which had been insecurely fixed, and fell heavily
to the ground. The workmen, in great alarm, hurried as quickly as possible to where the architect lay, apparently lifeless. In fact, they quite expected to find that he was dead, but were more than surprised to discover that he was only a little stunned by the fall, and not really hurt.

The reason for this wonderful escape from death they soon discovered, for under him was stretched the lifeless body of a lamb. He had fallen on the little creature, and its small body had acted as a buffer and broken the fall of the architect. The lamb had died instead of the man. The architect, being truly thankful that he had experienced such a marvelous escape, asked for, and obtained, permission to carve an image of the lamb in the stonework over the entrance to the tower. The carving was done, and all who saw it would thus be reminded of the lamb who died instead of a man.

A lovely illustration of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us all! Man fell from his high state of purity and innocence—lost his first estate, and tempted by the evil one, fell. Man earned the wages of sin, which is death, but Jesus Christ came to this sinful earth and died in man's stead, that all who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "He gave Himself for us." "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world."