Jesus, The Sin-Bearer, Is With Us Series

Sermon preached by Rev. Larry C. Brincefield on 12/12/04 at Belleview Church of the Nazarene.

Title: Advent 3: Jesus, the Sin-Bearer, with us or (From the Cradle to the Cross)

Text: John 1:29

Introduction

1. One day a little boy was excited to show his father what he could do…

So, he kept saying, “Lookit...daddy, lookit me….lookit, daddy, lookit”…

But daddy had his nose in the newspaper…

So the boy got even louder…

“Lookit, daddy….lookit me….look it…lookit…lookit”…

Finally, the dad could take it no longer; put his paper down and said…

“Okay…I’m lookit-ing”

2. I think that Dad paints the picture of many people at Christmas time…

We get distracted by all the trappings of life…

And we fail to notice the beauty of the true meaning of Christmas…

We’ve got our nose in just so much other activity…

Thankfully, we’ve got someone to tell us to “look”

Read Text: John 1:29

1. Look!!

A. According to Webster’s Look has various meanings…

to make sure or take care that something is done

to ascertain by the use of one’s eyes

to exercise the power of vision upon

to search for

to expect…

to anticipate..

to direct one’s attention

to direct the eyes

to gaze in wonder or surprise 1 ( http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=look )

B. John sees Jesus approaching...

and he turns to the crowd gathered around him and says, “look”.

“turn your eyes upon Jesus”…

“direct your attention to the Person I’ve been talking about”…

“get your eyes off me…

“get your eyes off the problems that you are facing…

Get your eyes off all the busyness that you are involved in…

And, direct your eyes upon Jesus…

Gaze in wonder and surprise at the Son of God”!

C. And John’s message is certainly appropriate for us today…

We need to “look”…

Really LOOK!

We need to make sure that we focus our attention upon Jesus…

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the Babe in the Manger…

For all the sale flyers…

Shopping specials…

And wrapping paper…

Don’t get me wrong, it’s like I mentioned last week…

It’s a question of balance…

There’s nothing wrong with shopping for presents …

And enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts…

But if that is were our FOCUS is…

Then we need John’s proclamation to “LOOK”…

Because we need to make sure that we can SEE Jesus…

Sure, enjoy the times with family and friends…

Enjoy the shopping and the music and the lights…

But also make sure you enjoy some time with Jesus!

Make sure you take the time to “gaze in wonder and surprise” upon Jesus…

“and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim…

In the light of His glory and grace”2 (Helen H. Lemmel “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”)

2. Jesus is the Lamb of God

A. John says, “Look, the Lamb of God”

This Christmas, I want you to gaze upon Baby Jesus in the manger…

But I hope that you will focus your vision even more…

So that you can see beyond just the Baby in the manger…

But so that you can see the shadow of the cross…

Falling across the manger.

B. When John calls Jesus, “the Lamb of God”…

It is referring to the sacrificial lamb…

The people of Jesus’ day would be quite familiar with the idea of lambs and sacrifice…

A poem I found by Eric Curts tells it well

little baby in the hay

let me watch You sleeping away

such innocence i’ve never seen

it tears me up to think of Your destiny

little baby i can’t help but think

do You know the cup You’ll have to drink

little fingers, little hands

will be scarred for this wretched man

did You know

that You’d lay down Your life

did You know

You would be a sacrifice

did You know

that You would go

from a cradle to the cross

from a cradle to the cross

little baby open Your eyes

and see the ones for whom You’ll give Your life

peaceful face, full of love

is now pure white, but will then be stained with blood

little baby, free of blame

You will carry all of my shame

little baby wrapped in cloth

You’ll be disgraced and hung on a cross

did You know

You’d have nails through Your hands

did You know

You’d be rejected by man

did You know

You’d wear a crown of thorns

did You know

You’d be beaten and scorned

did You know

You’d pay the price

did You know

You’d save my life

did You know

that You would go

from a cradle to the cross

from a cradle to the cross

little baby, You can’t speak a word

but crying from Your eyes i see my coming Lord

little baby, somehow You know