September 12 - Who Is the Lamb of God?

GracetoYou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me”’” (John 1:29–30).

On the day after he spoke to the delegation, John “saw Jesus coming to him.” In keeping with his role as a herald, John immediately called the crowd’s attention to Him, exclaiming “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

The concept of a sacrificial Lamb was a familiar one to the Jewish people. All through Israel’s history, God had revealed clearly that sin and separation from Him could be removed only by blood sacrifices (cf. Lev. 17:11). They were also aware that Isaiah’s prophecy likened Messiah to “a lamb that is led to slaughter” (Isa. 53:7). Though Israel sought a Messiah who would be a prophet, king, and conqueror, God had to send them a Lamb. And He did.

The title “Lamb of God” foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross for “the sin of the world.” With that brief statement John made it clear that the Messiah had come to deal with sin. The Old Testament is filled with the reality that the problem is sin—a problem at the heart of every person (Jer. 17:9). All men are sinful and incapable of changing the future or the present, or of repaying God for the sins of the past.

So who is the Lamb of God? He is Jesus, the only One who has the remedy to your sin problem.

Ask Yourself

We know that our sin, though dealt with ultimately and eternally, continues to be a problem for us to face and address. Are you surprised at the strength and tenacity it still wields within you? How do you go about quieting its ferocious appetite and considering yourself dead to it (See Rom. 6:11)?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[Migraine]

All men are sinful and incapable of changing the future or the present

The sinful part I get; but the incapable-of-changing part puzzles me.

[ealgeone]

We are still prone to sin. No one can completely eliminate sin from their life.

[guardian_of_liberty]

I believe John was referring to God’s Plan. God has a plan for this world/reality. Ultimately to gather a People for Himself. Although a man can influence his future in the material world, he can not inflence God’s plan for his goal.

[Texas Eagle]

(Rom. 6: 6-11) Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.

What I get from this verse is that we should dwell on the righteousness we inherited upon Christ's resurrection instead of brooding on the sinfulness we inherited from Adam's actions.

The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so he is. So, if you see yourself a sinner, you're going to sin. If you see yourself as righteous, you will do right things.

It's my experience that most American churches spend far too much time bashing people with feelings of guilt and condemnation and far too little time reminding people that Jesus set them free from that mindset. It's all in how you see yourself. Do we occasionally sin? Yes. Does that make us sinners? No. It makes us human. Humans that were redeemed by Christ.

Stop beating yourself up. If you make a mistake (i.e., sin), own up to it and strive not to do it again.

[Cronos]

"Lamb of God, You take away the sins of hte world, have mercy on us" - we are transported as at the Mass/Divine Liturgy to the heavenly Divine Liturgy as we see in the book of Revelation

Lord, God, Savior, Messiah, King, Priest, Prophet and Lamb

Remember that it was as John notes "it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour" 19:14 - this was the sixth hour when the levites were beginning to slaughter the Passover lambs

This is then the moment the sacrifice of the Lamb of God

None of Jesus' bones were broken "that the Scripture might be fulfilled" - as in Exodus 12:45The Eucharist - as we read in Luke 24:30-35 "he was known to them in the breaking of the bread"

the centrality of the Eucharist is evident in Acts 2:42, and Corinthians chapter 11: "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' 1 Cor 11:23-25

Any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement upon himself" 1 Cor 11:29

The Didache written around AD 50 talks of this - it uses the word "sacrifice" four times to describe the Eucharast "This is the sacrifice that was spoken of by the Lord"

Drom the Didache we also learn that hte usual day of the liturgy was the Lord's day and the same words said in AD 50 is said today in the Mass/Divine Liturgy

As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and gathered together, became one, so may Your Church be gathered together from teh ends of the eath into Your Kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
The Mass is the descendent of the todah of ancxient Israel - the thanksgiving

Come to Mass!