Sunday, February 18, 2007

Behold, the Lamb!



It's Sunday morning. In about an hour I get to teach on one of the most amazing passages in the entire bible!

John 1: 29- "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John the Baptist made this proclamation as Jesus walked by one day. It was one of the most amazing proclamations of all times. Jesus, a lamb? In one specific way he was- he came for one purpose...to take away the sin of the world. He didn't come just to cover it, he came to take it away and he did. But did you notice he said sin not sins? Why? John was telling us that Jesus' work took care of the entire sin problem of mankind. And he didn't do it for just a few; he did it for the world, the KOSMOS in Greek, everyone! What an amazing statement! At the beginning of John we see by John's testimony how Jesus' life will end, as a sacrifice for sin.

How wonderful! How amazing! All we have to do is believe in him and trust him for what he has done. It's a free gift, available for "whosoever will come". If you haven't trusted him yet I invite you to trust him as your savior, your lamb sacrificed. There is no other payment for sin that God will accept.

How can we ever say thank you enough for what he has done? In fact he tells us in Rev. 5. Take a few moments in quiet to read this chapter, its amazing!

Rev 5:1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"
Rev 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Rev 5:4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
Rev 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
Rev 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Rev 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Rev 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
Rev 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
Rev 5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
Rev 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
Rev 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.

4 comments:

Schweers' Mom said...

In all the many times I've read that verse, I've NEVER noticed that it said SIN and not SINS. Profound, Mike. Can't wait to hear more!

Kathy said...

I've been singing and humming "Behold the lamb of God....behold the Lamb"....awesome way to end the message.

And I agree with you about the Genesis backflash. I think the nation of Israel understood the Lamb of God phrase because of Abraham and Issac.

Don't you love the way John takes every opportunity to bring out symbols, phrases, jogging memory and tradition to point to Jesus as "The One"?

Behold the Lamb!

Samantha Louise said...

So how did it go on sunday? :)

Mike Messerli said...

Sam,

thanks for asking. I am, by far, the worse judge of my own messages, but I had fun, and my content was good. I'm told it went really well. If you want to listen to it you can hear it at www.crossroadsbible.org/ and then click on the sermons button. I would love to have your opinion. thanks.