Jesus: The Lamb Of God

John 1:29-36

Jesus, The Lamb of God

Woodlawn Baptist Church

December 2001

Introduction

This week we will all be celebrating Christmas with our friends and families, eating too much and exchanging gifts. Before we do, I want to share with you a message about the greatest gift ever given. Of course you know I am speaking about the gift given from God to man, His Son Jesus Christ.

In the Bible Jesus is called by many names, four of which we have considered since Thanksgiving. We have seen Jesus as the Son of man; as the Son of God; as the Prince of Peace, and as the Dayspring from on high. Today I want to turn your thoughts to a title bestowed upon Jesus by John the Baptist, the Lamb of God.

You are all too familiar with the story. Because of the sin of Adam, the entire human population was and is born in a state of sin; the world is lost. But God is holy and righteous and cannot accept man in his sinful state, and therefore must punish sin. But God loved man, so He sent His Son to take our sin upon Him to make us acceptable. Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins, for the Bible tells us that there is no putting away of sins without a sacrifice, and there was only one sacrifice that could atone for the sins of mankind, and that was Jesus Christ himself.

He was fully God, yet made fully man. He yielded up His life in order that we might live; the Just for the unjust; the Sinless for the sinful. Any man, woman, boy or girl, anywhere in the world, who will trust himself to Christ, God’s great sacrifice, shall be saved, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

You know the story. It has become "old hat." You know the ins and outs of it and could repeat it in your sleep. But today I want to make an appeal to you much like the one John made to those who were in his presence that day long ago when Jesus came into their presence and he proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

I want to plead with you today, in the power of the Holy Spirit who is in our presence this morning, to turn your eyes away from the fruitless search for peace and life, for comfort and security, to the precious Lamb of God! Many of you have looked far and wide for that thing in your life that will bring joy and satisfaction, and you know in the depths of your heart it will be found in Jesus, but you have begun to stray and look elsewhere, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

There is a hymn that we don’t often sing that goes like this:

"I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah! The message unto you I’ll give;

’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah! It is only that you look and live.

I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah! A message, O my friend for you;

’Tis a message from above, Hallelujah! Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true.

I will tell you how I came, Hallelujah! To Jesus when He made me whole:

’Twas believing on His name, Hallelujah! I trusted and He saved my soul.

Look and live my brother live. Look to Jesus now and live;

’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah! It is only that you look and live."

Have you beheld the Lamb of God lately? Can you say with all honesty that you have looked upon Jesus? Have you found salvation from the Lord? Have you found His peace in your soul? Have you found the joy that only comes from beholding, from turning away from all else to follow the Lamb of God who didn’t just take away the sins of the whole world, He took away your sins?

What greater wonder could there be to look upon than God Himself, in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, and know that it is He who was given as the offering for our sin? The angels beheld the Lamb of God. They marveled and sang praises to God as they beheld Him. God Himself beheld His Son, the Lamb of God. He gave Him to die for you and for me.

When John said, "Behold the Lamb of God," I think He meant more than just, "look over there at that man." He meant for them to consider Jesus, to think on Him, to study Him, and to know Him. Look Him up and down. He is God. Do you understand who He is and what He has done? Do you know His great love and compassion for your soul? Have you experienced His forgiveness and His grace?