Behold, The Lamb; The value of the sacrifice
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
-
John the Baptist's announcement of Jesus “Behold, the Lamb…” It is interesting to note under law, when the sinner came for atonement it was not the sinner that was examined. It was the sacrifice that was carefully examined to see if the sacrifice was worthy enough to make atonement for the sin. If the priest found one blemish or spot upon the animal brought for sacrifice it was disqualified! Examining the sacrifice and not the sinner was the shadow and pattern that carries important truth. Atonement could only come if the sacrifice was deemed perfect.
-
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Down through time the sacrifice provided atonement. God made atonement for Adam and Eve after their sin. God commanded an animal sacrifice from Abel and Cain. Here was a sacrifice for a man. When the children of Israel were leaving Egypt they each made an unblemished sacrifice for each family. King Solomon, when building a temple, made multiple sacrifices for the nation. However when Jesus came He was introduce as the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Behold the Lamb; understand the value of the sacrifice!
-
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
-
I want to turn your attention not to your sin but to the Lamb of God who paid the atoning price for your sin. We, the church world, have turned things around asking believers to not look upon the sacrifice for atonement. The Lamb is a perfect Lamb without blemish and without spot. What makes a believer without spot or blemish; the blood of the Lamb is the only washing that will suffice a holy God. The value of the sacrifice is great enough; God was appeased at the offering when Jesus poured out His soul as a sin offering! The wrath of God was poured out upon His own Son! Behold the Lamb!
-
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
Hebrews 7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
-
The greater sacrifice came down from heaven bringing an annulling of the former commandment. The law could make nothing perfect; however there is a bringing in of a better hope. A covenant that could do what the law could not. The better hope is that by which we draw near to God and there is no other way to draw near!
-
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
-
Jesus Christ, the Lamb, came full of grace and truth! From that very grace and truth we can receive from God. There is no other way to receive from God. Here John made the all important distinction the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came exclusively through Jesus Christ. It is so important to know the value of the Lamb. This Lamb came with grace (divine influence) and truth (separation from sin). The Lamb came with the divine influence necessary to bring us separation from our sin! When the Son sets you free from sin you are free indeed! What the law can not do behold the Lamb can do!
-
Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
-
These few verses here hold such great value; they say so much about the great value of the Lamb and His accomplishment! Please behold the Lamb who is a surety of a better covenant. The sureness comes from the evaluation of the greatness of the Lamb. He is able to save to the uttermost and He always intercedes for the one who will behold Him as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This High Priest is fitting for us as believers but is separate from sinners! The atoning work of the sacrifice is so great, Jesus looks good on you! He has separated you from your sin you have been imputed righteousness! Behold the Lamb of God.
-
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
-
The Lamb from heaven did not bring an updated covenant to the law of Moses; it is a better covenant established on better promises. This Lamb of God dealt with the sin in a way the old covenant could not deal with sin.
-
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
-
Jesus has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself! He appeared in the presence of God for us bearing the judgment for men. The sacrifice is great enough to bear the sin of the world. What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny! Does the sacrifice of the Lamb of God make the grade? It was and is the perfect sacrifice! He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. Those who value the greatness of the sacrifice Jesus will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation! What a promise!
-
1 Samuel 2:29 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'
-
Eli, the high priest, and his sons did not value the price of the sacrifice. They did not honor the value of the sacrifices the children of Israel had brought to God. God accused and judged them for kicking at His appointed sacrifice. I want to be so careful to fully esteem the holy sacrifice and provision God made for the world.
-
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
-
To value the Lamb and the greatness of the sacrifice is so important. This passage begins to lay out the value and difference of value between the old testament sacrifices and the supreme sacrifice of the covenant of grace and truth.
-
Under the law the worshiper could not approach in perfection! The blood of bulls and goats left a sin consciousness. Under the law there was a annual reminder of sins! What the law could not do Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, could and did do! Much like that of the old testament, in this new testament we must look at the quality of the sacrifice to determine if an atonement is possible and what does the atonement do for the believer.
-
Heb 9:9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
-
The fleshly ordinances of the law were only imposed until the time of reformation! Jesus is our reformation! The greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ obtained eternal redemption. The old covenant with the blood of bulls and goats did a work for the purifying of the flesh. The reformation of Jesus Christ brings a better result! Through the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself with out spot to God. This work cleanses your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. We obtain from the sacrifice of Jesus a purged conscience.
-
Please consider the Lamb; don’t fall short in considering the perfected spotless lamb and how that makes God approachable for the believer.
-
Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all! How high is your evaluation of the precious sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb of God! For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified! May we walk in the fullness of the reformation that Jesus Christ has provided for those who have come to Him! Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
-
-
No comments:
Post a Comment