Behold The Lamb Of God

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD

This morning I want to walk you through the Passover story, which is one of the most powerful events found in the word of God. As believers in Christ, we celebrate a part of the Passover every year when we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message of the cross and the meaning of the cross is found in the Passover story. Most of you know the Passover story, but this morning I want you to see it through the eyes of a lamb and what the Lamb means for us as believers in Christ.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (NKJV)

Behold the Lamb of God…

When John the Baptist made this bold revelation, the Jewish people were shocked with utter amazement. They were shocked because they knew the only thing you could do with a lamb was to kill it for a sacrifice. And yet this is the announcement John made in revealing the unique identity of Jesus.

Out of all that John could have said about Jesus he called Jesus the Lamb of God. Think about this for just a moment. Think of all that John could have said; He could have said, behold the Promised Messiah. He could have said behold the Prophet like unto Moses; behold the Prince of Peace, or behold the Lord of all lords or even the Son of God. He could have said all of these and more, but instead John introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

The message of Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God is huge. When you understand the picture of the lamb, what the lamb means, and who the lamb is, you will have a greater appreciation of the meaning behind your eternal salvation.

From the book of Exodus we find the details that describe the significance of the lamb.

PASSOVER AND THE COMING JUDGMENT

The first thing we need to know about the Passover is to understand the reality of judgment. Every person faces the terrible judgment of God. God in His infinite mercy made a way so that we could escape His judgment and wrath upon our sin. The Passover event was the beginning of God’s plan to save us from our sins so that we could spend eternity in His kingdom. So as you hear this message, realize this was God’s way of preparing the world for the coming His Son, the Lamb of God.

Exodus 12:12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (NIV)

First, I want you to get a clear picture of what is taking place here. Up to this point, Egypt has just endured 9 terrible plagues of judgment that were orchestrated by the hand of God to display His glory and might. However as bad as those 9 plagues were, they were nothing compared to the judgment they were about to experience. God was about to send a 10th plague, a plague so terrible that it would be historic for all time.

Exodus 11:4 "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt--worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. (NIV)

Let’s look at this for a moment. There are several powerful principles in these verses but I only have enough time to give you one. Enough to help you understand what is happening here.

In God’s eyes there is a distinctive difference between those who believe in Him and those who do not. That principle still holds true to this day. There is an eternal difference between those who love the Lord and those who do not; and the difference between those two is eternal life and eternal death.

Let me show you what this looks like in this story.

Egypt represents unbelievers. Egypt represents those who reject God and refuse to believe God has the power to bring judgment. In our society today, there are many who mock and ridicule the truth that God has the power to bring judgment on a nation.