A Life Transformed By The Lamb Series

John Hiebert was a bank robber. It is said that he had robbed more than 30 banks in his lifetime before getting caught and put into prison. In prison he became a Christian simply through reading one of the prison Bibles and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One day he wrote to his mother. “Mother, I have found a friend so dear to my heart, He has rescued me from my own desires and saved me from my sin. My friend’s name is Jesus, and He has transformed my life.” John Hiebert got out of prison and he became a missionary with Sudan Inland Missions and then he started a Bible school, called Zabolo in Nigeria. His Bible school has trained thousands of Pastors, teachers and evangelists for over fifty years. What a transformation. And this is what we are talking about today—transformation. The title of our message this week is a Life Transformed by the Lamb.

We have been in a series about the Lamb of God for the past 3 weeks now; 3 weeks ago we noticed John’s invitation to Look at the Lamb in John 1 verses 29-36, the next week we saw the two disciples desire to live with the Lamb in verses 37-39, then last week’s title was Lead Others to the Lamb, which we saw Andrew doing in verses 40-42. We saw last week how spending time with Jesus Christ caused Andrew to go and seek out his brother and lead him to Jesus. We mentioned that this is normal when Christians are so ignited by their own contact with Christ that they in turn set other fires. And this week’s message is called a Life Transformed by the Lamb, which we can get from verse 42:

And Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42 (NIV)

Now let us notice two specific truths about Jesus Christ. Let’s notice:

1. The omniscience of the Lamb

2. The omnipotence of the Lamb

First, the omniscience of the Lamb. Omniscience simply means “all-knowing.” As God, Jesus knows everything, there is nothing He does not know. He is omniscient. Where do we get that? Well this is the first time that Jesus meets Simon, they had not been introduced before, and right away Jesus says, “You are Simon.” And not only “you are Simon”, but “your father’s name is John.” Jesus, having never met Simon says, “You are Simon, son of John.” How did He know? He knows everything. This is one of the confirming proofs that Jesus Christ is God, is that He is omniscient.

Apply: Jesus Christ knows everything about us. He knows our names. He knows our father and mother’s names. He knows our addresss. He knows our heart and He knows our thoughts. After Jesus heals a paralyzed man in Matthew 9 the Pharisees start whining about Him and the Bible says, “knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “why do think evil in your hearts?” He knew their thoughts. He knew their hearts. He knew Simon and his father, before they ever met on this earth. He knew what Simon would become. He knew the end of Simon’s life. Jesus is omniscient.

But not only is this Lamb omniscient, He is also omnipotent. Omnipotent means “all powerful.” Not only is Jesus all-knowing, He is all-powerful. Where do we get that? Well Jesus was able to change Simon into Peter. The name Simon means “sinking sand”, the name Peter means “solid rock.” So Sinking Sand would be transformed into Solid Rock, by the all-powerful Lamb. Simon would become Peter. But let me suggest to you that it is not the mere name change that is in view here, as names in the Bible reflect the character of the person. What we have stated here before us is that Simon himself would be transformed into Peter, through His relationship with Christ. Simon would become a Life Transformed by the Lamb!

I have to tell you that I love that Jesus Christ can do this. I love how He changes people. I love how He is able to transform our lives, to literally make us into different people.

Augustine had lived a very immoral life prior to his conversion, and one day after He came to know Jesus he was walking along and one of his familiar prostitutes was walking toward him. When he walked right on by she turned to him and said, “Augustine, it is I. And he replied, “Yes, but it is not I.” Augustine was a Life Transformed by the Lamb. Simon Peter was a life transformed by the Lamb. See Jesus is able to do this. He is all powerful. He is omniscient and He is Omnipotent. He knows us and He can change us.