THE LAMB OF GOD
#227 THE LAMB OF GOD
Scripture John 1:29-34 Orig. 4/4/1968
Rewr. 12/14/1988
Passage: 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! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[a]
Purpose: To preach a Christmas message relating the birth of Christ to the salvation offered.
Keywords: Christ as Saviour Lord’s Supper Communion Christmas Salvation
Timeline/Series: Nature of Christ Revival Christmas
Introduction
The Book of Exodus tells us the story of the Hebrew Passover. Thus, we learn the story of the place of the LAMB in the traditions of these ancient people. In fact, Passover is the oldest, continuously observed festival known to mankind. (N25p77). It commemorates the occasion (14 Nisan-M./A.) when, “at midnight, by the light of a full moon, the Israelites were able to leave Egypt,” “free at last.”
The lamb (sheh: sheep/goat) played a vital part. On 10th Nisan the lamb was acquired, kept with family until the day of the 14th. It was then killed. It furnished a meal for the family, and blood was to be placed on the outer door of the family dwelling. It would be this blood that the death (Passover) angel would use in assessing the faith of the family residing within. When there was no blood, the first-born sons of those homes were smitten.
Imagine the consternation of the children within those homes. Lambs were brought among the family. For three days they were like pets. Abruptly, they were taken and slaughtered for food and sacrifice. The father would, of course, try to help the children understand that the lamb must die to protect the integrity of that family in relation to God. Don’t lose sight, however, that this was a means to finalize the release of the Israelites from Egypt.
Thus, John’s opening chapter does not describe the birth of Jesus. He presents Christ, full-grown, but still, “the lamb.” John will later record that the crucifixion takes place about 3:00pm on the day of preparation, the eve of 14th Nisan, when the lambs for Passover were dying. So the LAMB, born to sinlessness, come to cleanse, strong to save, is now on the scene, no longer a forlorn hope, but a very present reality. See G. Campbell Morgan.
I. Born the Lamb, the Sinless Jesus: “The Lamb of God.” Galatians 4:4 “God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Hebrews 4:15, “. . . but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
The first guideline for the selection of a lamb was “without blemish.” Not much care is given to such concerns. People are more picky about Christmas tree.
The need for such a perfect sacrifice stood in human sin. The creature has denied the sovereignty of the Creator. There is the factor called “original sin.” Romans 5:19 “As by one man’s offense, many were made sinners.”
But of greater consequence is the sin of commission. Romans 3:19 “What the law says, it says to those under the law, that . . . all the world may become guilty before God.”
Man’s sin has violated the righteousness of God. Do we presume that righteous, holy God will do nothing? Parents are expected to admonish and punish their children. Honesty testifies that we learn more from applied punishment. It becomes abuse only when administered without a potential to learn. God’s purpose is not vindictive, but that we may learn. Should He then overlook the travesty of sin? We generally think not until it is our own sin in question. When the moral order violated is godly perfection, the punishment must match the offense,
Thus, only a perfect sacrifice for such wrong can bring restoration. Hebrews 10:12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” The depth of man’s sin is plumbed. The height of God’s righteousness is vindicated.
The manner of appeasement is God’s own Son. Electronic devices are used today, but in the old country store we could see this application writ large every day. Goods were bought in bulk, measured against a weight of certified volume.
II. Born the Lamb, Come to Cleanse: “The lamb of God that taketh away sin.” The picture of the lamb is so accommodating. Sin seems almost to have us in its power. We are as vulnerable to the wolf of sin as the lamb to the wolf of flesh. Child can’t put back what they tear down.
Jesus played out in so many real ways this condescension to humanity. Romans 8:3 “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
Thus it is that Jesus speaks to the need in all of us: The lamb who takes the cares of the world upon himself; the lamb, to whom a learned Hebrew came seeking His wisdom; the lamb, to whom sailors on a foundering ship came, seeking His buoyancy; the lamb, who at a Samaritan well offered His living water to a thirsty soul; the lamb, down from the mountain, who puts His hand where none would and cleanses the leper.
He who would cleanse must be himself clean. He was the lamb who knew the gnawing hunger of destitution. (Forty days in the wilderness.) He knew what it was to seem to be weary, alone, without hope. “He was bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh.” He was the lamb, cast aside of men, but taken up of God. He was the lamb who faced the terror of God-forsakenness, that we might not.
III. Born the Lamb, Strong to Save: “The lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
A salvation unique in all the world, imputed by God Himself: it will never be deserved, it cannot be reversed. Ephesians 2:8f “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” It is a transaction of grace given impetus by the love of God.
A salvation that is of Christ. Man’s standing before God is the problem. Consider Matthew 5. Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit/ they that mourn/ the meek/ those who hunger and thirst after righteousness/ the pure in heart/ the peacemakers/ those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. “You are the salt of the earth” v13. “You are the light of the world” v14. “Your righteousness must exceed the scribes and pharisees” v19-20. Taking a life is sin, but so are anger and hard-heartedness v21. Not only adultery but lust v27. They are admonished (v38) to go the “second mile” in v43 “to love their enemies,” and in v48 counselled to “be perfect, . . . as their Father in heaven is perfect.”
Thus come the options we are given. In Christ, by grace through faith, earned by the merit of perfection. Romans 4:4f “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”
Conclusion
So, in the fullness of time, God brought the sacrificial lamb, Christ, into His own house. For a brief time, He made His presence known. The children of faith were drawn to Him, loved Him. But the Father, to provide meat of spiritual nourishment, and blood to stay the hand of the avenging angel, had to take the lamb and slaughter it. It is so simple it is almost complicated. The blood must be placed above the door of the human heart. Have you done so? Do it now!