"The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)
While our group was in Israel, we were
enjoying the view of Bethlehem from what is called the “Shepherd’s
Field.” Just at that moment, a young Arab girl came up to us with a tiny,
two-day old lamb in her arms. She encouraged us to hold the lamb, which we did
with great delight. Several of us gave her shekels for the joy she gave to us,
but she didn't seem to be in it for the shekels – somehow she appeared to be
genuinely pleased that we loved her little lamb.
That's how it is with God the Father.
His Son, Jesus Christ, is "The Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The Father is genuinely pleased with
the Son, the "Lamb of God." The words in today’s
verse were spoken by John the Baptist, but John was a prophet (a person who
reveals the heart of God), and those words came directly from the heart of the
Spirit of God. Just like that little girl, who was delighted that we took
pleasure in her lamb, God the Father is delighted when we receive His Son.
Within the past few years, we have
attended Seders that differ somewhat from one another, but they are all
interesting. The "Seder"
is the Passover Meal and that was what Jesus and His disciples participated in,
shortly before He died for our sins. We call that meal the "Last
Supper." It was indeed the last supper Jesus was to enjoy with His
disciples before His death, but that "death" was not the end for Him, any more
than death is the end for you and me.
After His resurrection, Jesus ate
breakfast with His disciples (John 21:15 & context) on the shore of the Sea of
Galilee. He was not dead, He was ALIVE, and we who love Him, know His presence
in our hearts; recognizing that His LIFE is available to all who simply
breathe "yes" to the Son of God. He is definitely alive and He longs to share
His life with you and me.
It was sad that He had to die, and for
many years I had difficulty reading about His death. At one of the Seders we
attended, they prepared and served an excellent lamb. It tasted – wonderful –
and it simply MELTED in our mouths. And yet, I found myself recalling that
little, two-day old lamb in Israel, and felt a touch of sadness that such a
delightful little creature had to die in order for us to enjoy that meal.
We see the process of life coming out
of death all around us. Most people eat two or three meals a day, and though it
does not often come into our thinking, something had to die in order for us to
live. The hamburger, the hot dog, the steak, the fish – an animal that has just
as much right to live as that lamb in Israel, now dies, and it dies for a
purpose – that you might live another day. Your life is sustained because of the
death of another being.
You might say, "Well, I'm a
vegetarian", but the fruits and vegetables you have eaten, all ceased to exist
because you ate them. They died that you might live. The apple you ate contained
seeds that might have become whole groves of apple trees. Yet that apple ceased
to exist because of your need. You might react to that and comment, "well, I’ll
quit eating altogether and nothing will die because of me anymore!" But that
wouldn't solve anything, because God has given you life for a purpose, and He
intends for you to live, or you wouldn't be here. He wants you to have life.
All of this death on your behalf has a
purpose – We are supposed to NOTICE that something died in order for us to go on
a little bit further. Something ends in order that you may begin. We are to
understand that Jesus died in order that you might LIVE – forever! But He who died
is ALIVE, and He is ABLE to rescue you from sin and death.
The death of our bodies is temporary.
We sinned as a race; death came because of our sin, and we are in need of the
healing touch of God. No one else could reach us, down in the pit into which our
race has fallen. But praise be to God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has RISEN from the dead,
and He reaches down to the bottomless places we have fallen into, RESCUING
people like you and me.
His hand is reached out to you. Will
you take it?
Life can be tough. Isaiah
49:14-16, starts out with the cry, "The Lord has forsaken
me, and my Lord has forgotten me." But in the next verse, the Lord
responds, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not
have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not
forget you." You may think otherwise, but He has not forgotten you.
The Lord concludes that section with
the awful, awesome, wonderful phrase, "See, I have
inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:16). Jesus Christ
was crucified for you and me, and His death was so that you and I might be forgiven. He
paid the price for us all. He paid for our pride and our murderous thoughts. He
paid for our gossip and petty thievery. The penalty for adultery is paid with
His blood. He is ALIVE, as seen by many after His death, and He is living in the
hearts of His people right now.
He IS "the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He is the
One you have needed all this time. He is alive and He is seated at the right
hand of God the Father, and He is praying for you at this moment. His prayers
are answered and only He can satisfy that deep, lonely need at the center of
your very being.
He loves you. His death for you proves
that. He didn't need to die. All on earth have a death sentence hanging over
us, and if you don't believe that, go look at a cemetery and discover that
everyone who is born – dies. And yet, just as Christ who died, LIVES right now,
those who have faith in Him will live also. Sin causes death, and death comes out of
sin, but Jesus is the One "who takes away the sin of the
world" (John 1:29). He is not only alive, but He also LOVES – you.
Jesus, we need You right now. We
are empty, Lord, and we are hungry for redemption. We are lonely, Lord, and we
need Your touch. Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for it was our sins that killed You. "Lamb
of God," we receive You now. We have sinned, Lord, and only YOU can make
us whole. We give ourselves to You right now, and we TRUST in Your Holy Name.
Thank You, Lord, for saving us, and for loving us so much. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Charitable donations to support this ministry are greatly appreciated
and may be sent to:
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131 USA
