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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 25th November 2007 AMCHRIST, THE LAMB OF GOD ! Pastor Colin Meadows Genesis 22:3-8, John 1:29, Revelation 5:1-14, Isaiah 53:4-7, 10-12, Rev 22:1-3
Ø The Robbs Jetty Judas Sheep! Many years ago there was an abattoir at Robbs Jetty near Coburn Sound. Sheep were unloaded from trucks and then led up the race to their final destination by a very tame sheep that the staff kept there. This sheep always turned off just before the final door and thus escaped the fate of the others. I remember hearing the story when I was there years ago doing a shearing course. This process went on for a long time until one fateful day the very clever sheep slipped up and forgot to make that important turn before the final gate. It thus went as a sacrificial lamb and joined the ranks of others which had made the same fateful journey. Today we have read and sung of the wonderful Lamb of God who willingly went to the cross for us all. He did not try to divert away and avoid his fate, leaving us alone. Rather his whole life was one of intentionally living and dying for us all. He took our place as the Lamb of God. Let us thus examine the amazing story of Christ, the Lamb of God, the one whom God provided from the beginning of time to take away our sins. Ø Christ the Substitute Lamb of God The wonderful book of Revelation is an unveiling of the amazing story which was previously hidden. There is a great story here – the essence of which is that God is in control and there is coming a day when he will draw down the shutters on human history and say ‘Enough’. At that time his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be revealed as the Lamb of God in all his wonder and glory and thus usher in the final judgment. This will be a time of reckoning for us all and no one will escape. We will either enter into the very presence of God or else we will go into eternal punishment. We have the opportunity during our time here on earth to make this crucial choice before our final departure. How do we ensure that we will enter God’s presence forever? The Bible says that we need to repent. This means to stop going our own way, to trust in the Lord Jesus and confess our sins and thus receive eternal life. Choose life now! Back in the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, Abraham was tested by God. He was told to go and offer up his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. This just didn’t seem to make sense - Isaac was the promised son, the one whom Abraham had longed for! It just didn’t seem right. But he obeyed and went. Many times in life, things may happen that don’t make sense. By faith, press on, even when you don’t understand. When Isaac, Abraham’s son, asked where the lamb was… Genesis 22:8 “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’” And God did provide, right at the last moment and at the right time. This is a clear picture to us all concerning the true Lamb of God who would come hundreds of years later. Yes, God is the one who provides the substitute to bridge the gap, to provide the way back into fellowship with him. No amount of effort on our part will make any difference. Let us give up trying and begin trusting. It is up to God and him alone. We need to accept by faith what He has done for us. He will provide the Lamb. Yes, Christ is the substitute lamb. Ø Christ the Sacrificial Lamb of God Christ is also the Sacrificial or Passover lamb. Long ago when the children of Israel were trapped in slavery in Egypt, God told them to prepare for rescue. He was about to bring about the great escape. He would set his people free from slavery in Egypt, not through their own efforts but in response to their simple act of faith. They were told to offer up a sacrificial lamb. Exodus 12:3 “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.” The animal was to be slaughtered, eaten and its blood put on the doorposts of the homes. The angel of God would come to judge but when he saw the blood on the homes he would pass over those families. The people were thus to respond in faith, acting on what God had told them. That is what the Apostle John referred to: John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” It is the same for us today. Christ our Sacrificial Lamb has been slain. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear. 1 Cor 5:7 “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Through his death on the cross, Christ completely fulfilled all that was hinted at in the old Jewish Passover ceremony. Christ the lamb of God was crucified on Passover Day. Yes, he is the Passover Lamb, the sacrificial lamb of God. Ø Christ the Silent Lamb of God One would think that such an amazing lamb would have been very vocal in declaring who he was and what he intended to do. We might have expected a massive show of strength that would demonstrate to all just who was in charge. Such was not the case. Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Christ the silent one, submitting to the pain and torment from others, taking ours sins in his body. Matthew 26:62 “Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus. ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent.” Jesus was silent for he was listening to another voice, that of his Father. We too can learn much from his example in this regard. Let us seek to be silent at those special times when God is seeking to speak to us. Christ didn’t need to speak or try to justify his actions. It is true for us too. There are times when we listen to others but there are special times when we need to be silent and listen carefully to the voice of the Father. Jesus was answerable to his Father and him alone and as such has left us an example to follow. 1 Peter 2:23 “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Let us thus learn from the amazing Silent Lamb of God. Ø Christ the Sinless Lamb of God The Passover Lamb was to be without spot or blemish, perfect in every way. Exodus 12:5 “The animals you choose must be one year old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.” The prophet Isaiah reminded his people of this truth as well. Isaiah 53:9 “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Christ lived a sinless, holy life. EJ Young comments concerning this verse in Isaiah, ‘The servant was given an honorable burial after his dishonorable death because of his perfect innocence.’ Christ was the sinless Lamb of God. As such he was able to take away our sin. We ourselves could not offer ourselves to God for our own sins for we are sinners! Sinners can’t save sinners! Only Christ could do this on our behalf. The Apostle Peter puts this very clearly concerning the sinless nature of Christ: 1 Peter 1:19, 2:22 “but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect…He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” Yes, Christ was the amazing sinless lamb of God. Have you responded to his gracious offer of forgiveness? Ø Christ the All Conquering Lamb of God In the book of Revelation we come to the final picture of this amazing lamb of God, the one who was slain but now stands before the Father in the throne room of heaven. The Apostle John was weeping for no one was there who seemed able to open the scroll to reveal what was coming in future days. Rev 5:6 “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.” This Lamb was worthy to take the scroll and open it to reveal the events that lay ahead. Rev 5:9-10 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and they will reign on the earth.” Jesus is thus the one who is worthy of every gram of our praise and worship. Rev 5:12 “”Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then every creature throughout the universe will sing: Rev 5:13 “’To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshipped.’” Christ will thus come as the all conquering Lamb of God. No force of evil will be able to withstand his power. Rev 17:14 “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is the Lord of lords and the King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Are you ready to meet this all conquering lamb? Have you submitted to Jesus as Lord of your life? Have you stepped over the line to follow him? Why not today make the choice to walk with Christ. There is another wonderful aspect to the picture of Christ as the Lamb of God. He refers to his followers as his lambs. Ø Christ calls us His lambs In the book of Revelation, a very special word for ‘lamb’ is used. 29 times the Apostle John uses this unique word in his revelation. It has the special meaning of ‘the Lamb who has conquered and overcome’. Elsewhere in the bible another word for lamb is used that refers to a lamb who will suffer and be offered as a sacrifice. Here in Revelation the meaning is different – this lamb has overcome and is victorious! That is what our Lord Jesus has done! He has won the victory. The battle is over – we just have the mopping up going on in the present time. Soon even that will end when Christ returns in power and glory. Hold on to that truth with all your heart! But what I find of further significant is this - this special word for the conquering lamb is used only one other time in the New Testament, in the gospel of John and it refers to us as his disciples. John 21:15 “Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’” Isn’t this so exciting, that Christ is referring to us as his conquered ones, the ones who have overcome. This is not because of what we have done but because of what Jesus has done on our behalf! Jesus told Peter to feed his conquered ones, the ones who had been set free by Christ. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We are now more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom 8:37). We who are in Christ Jesus are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come (1 Cor 5:17). It just gets better and better! Let us thus rejoice because the Lamb of God has overcome and He will enable us as his lambs to overcome. We can overcome because Christ has overcome! Jesus is our Substitute lamb of God. Jesus is our Sacrificial Lamb of God. Jesus is our Silent Lamb of God. Jesus is our Sinless Lamb of God. Jesus is the All Conquering Lamb of God. Bless his wonderful name!
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