Behold the Lamb of God

April 26,2009

Introduction

Last Sunday we talked about Paul saying that he preached nothing amomg them except Jesus Christ and Him crucifid.

Two weeks ago, we talked about the events on the road to Emmaus and what followed after the two arrived with Jesus. It was a time of renewed energy and hope. The depression and despair had been replaced with excitement and joy. It was in some respects, the peak of the story. There is much to be said about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ that we did not get into at that time.

We also said that Paul had said: "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Cor 2:2 NKJV) We went on to talk about the humble spirit that Jesus had that led to calvary.

This morning, another related topic. In John, we read this of John the Baptist "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! {30} "This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" :(John 1:29-30 NKJV)

What we want to focus on is the satement: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Body

I. When was the concept of "The Lamb of God" first mentioned in the Bible?

A. The first sacrifice that we know of was that offered by Cain and Abel.

(Gen 4:3-5 NKJV) "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. {4} Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, {5} but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."

1. The details are very few.

2. Was Abel’s sacrifice unacceptable because it did not involve a life?

3. We don’t have all the answers that we would like to have.

B. Then there is the Passover.

1. To leap ahead, Paul tells us that Christ is our Passover.

(1 Cor 5:7 NKJV) "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."

2. The Jews understood the importance of the Passover.

II. What was the Passover?

A. It was the passing over of the "death Angel" as He came through Egypt.

(Exo 12:12-14 NKJV) "'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. {13} 'Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. {14} 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance."

B. It was to be prepared in a special way.

(Exo 12:43-46 NKJV) "And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. {44} "But every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. {45} "A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. {46} "In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones."

1. Only those of God’s people were to eat.

a. Does this give a good basis for saying only Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper?

b. I know of no such restriction in the New Testament concerning Christians.

2. Not a bone was to broken.

a. Especially fitting of Jesus.

 

(John 19:31-34 NKJV) "Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. {32} Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. {33} But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. {34} But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out."

 

b. How appropriate that Jesus became our passover Lamb.


C. Jesus ate the Passover with His apostles.



(Luke 22:15-16 NKJV) "Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; {16} "for I say to you, I
will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.""

1. This is His last Passover.
2. He is the fulfillment of the Passover: until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of
God


III. What was the Passover lamb?



A. It lost its life for the saving of the lives of the first born of Israel.
B. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, is the One Who stood in our place.
C. Jesus is the one Who set us free.



Conclusion



I. We have the gospel: the good news.

II. The the joy and the excitement of the Emmaus meeting.

III. It only benefits those who are God’s people.

IV. Have you accepted His sacrifice by accepting His blood in baptism?
 

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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