The Lamb Of God
John 1: 29-35
INTRODUCTION:
1.) The entire Bible is an interesting book.
A.) It is written over a span of 1,600 years by 40
different authors, yet maintains a consistent line of thought with a focus on Jesus and his mission to bring the world back to God.
B.) One thread we see all through Scripture is the theme of The Lamb of God.
ba.) This morning want to just briefly focus on a few of these in Scripture.
I. THE LAMB OF GOD PREPARED FOR ABRAHAM.
1.) Genesis 22 starts with some of the most frightening words
that could ever be applied to anyone: "God tested Abraham."
A.) We are all familiar with that account how God tested the faith of Abraham by asking him to go and sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
2.) Abraham had great faith in God.
A.) The challenge given to Abraham was to the very limit of any father's faith in God.
aa.) Abraham proved himself faithful.
ab.) Gen. 22:5-8
B.) God certainly did provide a lamb for Abraham, and not his own Son.
ba.) Gen. 22:11-13
3.) The spot where this occurred is very significant.
A.) Many people see this as being near the very same spot where the Temple of God would later be built, and Jesus would be offered as a Sacrifice.
II. THE LAMB OF GOD CELEBRATED IN THE PASSOVER.
1.) The Lamb of God is seen in the Passover feast.
A.) Exodus chapters 12 & 13 describe this Passover.
B.) The Passover marked God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian captivity.
ba.) This also marked the "passing over" the houses of those who had sacrificed the Passover Lamb and sprinkled its blood on their wooden doorposts and mantles.
bb.) About 1,500 years after this God brought about his ultimate Pass over Lamb.
III. THE TRUE AND COMPLETE LAMB OF GOD COMES TO THE WORLD.
1.) The scene is the ministry and preaching of John the Baptist.
A.) John had been growing in popularity as a speaker, and many were going to him.
aa.) The religious leaders questioned John .
aa-1.) John 1:19-23
2.) The time comes for Jesus to take pre-eminence over John.
A.) On one occasion John saw Jesus come into his audience as he was speaking.
B.) John 1:29,36
3.) From that time on, Jesus was being revealed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
4.) I want to skip ahead to the time of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross.
5.) Many things were happening that day.
A.) The city was just starting to stir for the morning.
aa.) Some were still in bed.
ab.) Some were going through the streets
ac.) Many were going with their lambs preparing for the Passover feast.
B.) While these things are taking place, the blood curdling cries come from Jesus as the hammer drives those nails into the body of Jesus.
6.) Lets move past all these events on the cross to the time of the death of Jesus.
A.) Matt. 27:45-50
B.) Focus on one little detail: the time of death: the 9th. hour, or in our time 3:00 pm
ba.) Have you ever wondered why that detail is included, how they knew the time, or for that matter who cares?
bb.) We read through the account and skip over that as of little importance.
bc.) To the Jewish audience at the cross it would have been a significant detail.
C.) How they knew or noticed the time?
ca.) They knew and noticed the time because something very significant happened every day at 3:00 P.M.
cb.) Every day at this exact time of day a priest would blow on a horn to signal the time of sacrificing the Lamb for the sins of the people.
cc.) Soon as the trumpet blast sounded, a priest would slit the throat of a lamb and offer him as a sacrifice for sins.
D.) Hanging on the cross, Jesus would also have heard the sound of the trumpet blast, and at that moment announced "It is finished", and offered himself as the Lamb of God for the sins of the whole world.
E.) Even more significant this was done on the day when the Passover lamb was slain for the temporary removal of sins.
ea.) When Jesus said "It is finished" he delivered man from sin once and for all with no further need of a Passover lamb, or daily sacrifice for sin.
G.) Let us rejoice that we like John today can behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
ga.) Far more than merely beholding Christ gives us the opportunity to have our sins removed, and experience salvation.
