Where Is The Lamb Of God?
Good Morning Friends,
Billy Sunday, a famous evangelist of the last century is credited with saying that there are 256 names in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because Jesus is infinitely beyond just one title and one devotional. So, as we contemplate the baptism of Jesus and the names of Jesus, which is tradition on this day, you might be thinking your cup is overflowing. But honestly, I have never counted all the names, and do not intend to do that this morning. However, I have included more than a few in today’s message. And of all the titles Jesus has been given in Scripture the Son and the Lamb of God seems to be the most common. In the book of Revelation for example Jesus is called the Lamb more than 25 times. And here in the gospel of John, we find John the Baptist being the first one to name Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in his testimony that Jesus is the Son of God.
A lot of it tracks back to a story in Genesis involving Isaac and Abraham and a question asked by Isaac. Where Is The Lamb Of God?
Scripture: If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.
1 John 2:29-3:6 (NRSV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:29-34 (NRSV)
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:6-8 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus has been called the Alpha and Omega, the Advocate, the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith, the Bread of Life, the Beloved Son of God, the Bridegroom, the Cornerstone, Deliverer, Faithful and True, the Good Shepherd, the Great High Priest, the Head of the Church, the Holy Servant, the I Am, Our Hope, Peace, Redeemer, Rock, Savior, Son of Man, Supreme Creator Over All, Immanuel, the King of Kings, the Light of the World, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord of All, the Mediator , the Messiah, Resurrection and the Life, The Door, The Way, The Word , the True Vine , Truth, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, Our Hope, Peace, Redeemer, Rock, Savior, Son of Man, Supreme Creator Over All. So, we have a choice of how we will greet Jesus on His return. So, meditate on the one you will use. Rejoice in the images God uses to describe Jesus. But also as an instruction contemplate the Trinity in relationship to the meaning behind the Lamb of God title. Here we might just realize that, as our sacrifice, Jesus did not fight His death, He conquered it. He volunteered to take your place and mine and He went to the cross like a lamb innocent and blameless and pure going to the slaughter to pay the price for our sins. The short answer to today’s question friends, is that God will provide.
Pray God is revealed to us in a way that changes our life. Pray we trust that God will provide what we need when we need it. Pray we realize that God will be God but that that does not leave much room for us to be selfish. Pray we live life even now in the way God intended it to be. Pray we have a life based upon the purity of love for God demonstrated in our love for each other.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 