Chico Alliance Church
“God’s Lamb”
I. Initial presentation of the Word and His witness 1:1-34
A. Introduction of the Eternal Word, Jesus 1:1-5
B. Introduction of the witness - John the Baptist 1:6-8
C. Relationship of the Word to men 1:9-18
1. He enlightens men as the true light 9
2. He entered the world he created 10a
3. He was not recognized or received by everyone 10b-11
4. He is the only object of trust for new birth and sonship 12-13
5. He took on frail humanity in order to live among men 14a
Emmanuel -- “God WITH us” who would become God IN us.
Just as Jesus enjoyed being WITH the Father He came to earth to be WITH us. The eternal word inserted Himself not only in the confines of a human frame but also into the framework of time and space. Even though Jesus enjoyed a glorious existence with the full exercise of his divinity, Jesus did not consider his glorious position and existence as something to be clutched at all costs but rather willingly “emptied Himself” by taking on frail humanity. Jesus, at a point in time, actively and willingly “emptied” Himself. The world literally means “to make empty”. The context is Jesus’ environment and position not his person. He does not become less than what he was before but gives up his former privileges, glory and independence and position as the 2nd person of the Trinity.
Why?
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Cor. 8:9
Even though Jesus took on flesh, it still did not hide the glory of who he was on the inside.
If fact, they were witness to the magnificence of his glory on the mount of transfiguration.
6. His divine glory was recognized by His disciples 1:14b
7. He existed before all men 15
8. He intensely impacted those around Him 16
John further describes the impact of Jesus on them personally. John reminds us that they did not just observe or witness his glory, they all personally experienced the impact of his life. The glory and magnitude of His divine character poured out on them. John describes that benefit in the phrase “grace (favor) against grace (favor).” Grace is a towering term in Scripture. It attempts to describe an attribute of God that is too immense for any one definition. The basic idea is favor or blessing granted to someone apart from personal merit. i.e. “serpent for a fish”
John powerfully proclaims the impact of Jesus on him and the other disciples. Christ continually exchanged grace for grace. He demonstrated one act of grace replacing another; over and over again. Just as new manna appeared every morning to the people of Israel His mercies, His demonstrations of grace were new every morning. The disciples continually enjoyed experience after experience of Christ’s grace.
This experience was not intended only for the disciples but all who desire to follow Christ.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. Ephes. 1:7-8
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Ephes. 2:6-9
9. Grace and truth were realized through Him 17
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
10. He came to explain the Father to men 18
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18
How did Jesus explain the Father? Jesus not only spoke the words but demonstrated the character and glory of the Eternal Father. Jesus came that we might see God’s compassion, his passion for relationship, His power, his grace, his faithfulness, his mercy, his forgiveness, his touch.
Every gospel story demonstrated the very essence of God.
• Gently relating to the little children.
• Granting forgiveness to a frightened adulterous woman presented to a mob of men for judgment.
• Feeding the hungry.
• Healing those crippled with life-long disabilities.
• Speaking words of hope.
• Offering genuine life to those in despair.
Like a continual melodic theme, this close identification of Jesus with the Father resounds through the book.
John begins his symphony with majestic themes concerning the Deity of Christ.
John adds melodic themes regarding the relationship of Christ to the world of men.
Nestled in the revelation of the gathering of some of the early disciples John introduces a final theme that will occur throughout the symphony.
John 1:29-37
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Understanding the significance of this phrase or concept requires a bit of understanding concerning the role of lambs and sacrificial system from the Old Testament. We first encounter sacrifice in Genesis directly following the first act of rebellion against the Creator.
God hints at the future sacrifice of the seed of the woman within the context of the curse.
• Animals were sacrificed to cover the first family’s nakedness.
• Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice from his flock.
• In the story of Abraham and potential sacrifice of his only son, God highlights again his promise to provide an eternally acceptable sacrifice.
• The whole Passover celebration was to commemorate the salvation of Israel from their bondage to Egypt and the presence of the curse of death on the land though the sacrifice of a lamb.
• God later prescribed an elaborate, detailed system of sacrifice for dealing with continual sin in Exodus and Leviticus.
• Every element of that system finds ultimate reality in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Every person hearing John the Baptist’s proclamation would have understood the implication, if not the immediate reality of what he was saying. This is God’s Lamb sent to deal with the sin blocking relationship with a Holy God.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
The sacrifice of Jesus, God’s perfect Lamb, is the only acceptable remedy for sin against God. The Eternal God not only declared the penalty for our rebellion but the cure. Only in utter arrogance do we presume to dictate the terms of restored relationship. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 Jn 5:12
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Powerful truth that must be acted upon.
To those who have never received Him.
What will you do with Jesus, God’s Lamb? If you long for restore relationship with God you must receive Jesus God’s lamb.
• Recognize your complete inability to pay the penalty for your sin.
• Come in humility to the Lamb of God acknowledging both your need and desire to restore relationship with the living God through the work of Christ so that you too may personally experience his fullness and the wonder of continual manifestations of grace upon grace.
To those who have received Him.
Two passages powerfully present our faithful action in light of His selfless sacrifice.
Hebrews 10
And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”
He then says, “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”
Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer offering for sin.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
1st Peter 1, one who fully understood the wonder of forgiveness in the face of failure challenges us to consider our life in light of the Lamb of God.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work ,conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; KNOWING that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
Our response here is clear though not complete.
• Draw near to God in continually relationship
• Hold fast your confession to the end
• Love from the heart and stimulate others to love and do good
• Prepare mentally for action
• Keep sober
• Fix your hope on God’s grace.
• Don’t be conformed to this world
• Be holy in all your behavior
• Conduct yourselves in fear while on this earth
All motivated by the realization that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Life and power are in the blood sacrifice of Christ
Nothing but blood of Christ will bring life.
Only by the blood of the Lamb will we stand before God.
Glory to the Lamb
