As I mentioned previously, many of these more recent posts are reprints of articles published in brotherhood bulletins and papers from many years ago. They were given to me by my dad and I've put them on here because I feel it's the best way to get these messages to as many people as possible.
The article below appeared in the March 1974 edition of the "Christian Courier" which was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and edited by Wayne Jackson. The copy my dad gave me has a note he wrote which states, "Good sermon thought." Even though this might be considered lengthy by some, I agree that it is a great lesson.
John the Baptizer once introduced Jesus thusly: "Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) On the following day, John in company with two of his disciples, saw Jesus walking nearby and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" More than thirty times in the New Testament, Christ is figuratively designated as a Lamb. In a variety of ways the metaphor is quite appropriate to our wonderful Lord.
A SINLESS LAMB - In connection with the selection of a Passover lamb while in Egyptian bondage, Moses instructed: "Your lamb shall be without blemish" (Exodus 12:5). This lamb was of course, symbolic and pointed to the blemishless Christ. As Peter majestically affirms, our redemption results not from the price of material things, "but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ" (First Peter 1:19). The New Testament abounds with allusions to the spotless perfection of the Son of God. Christ Himself could unashamedly claim: "I do always the things that are pleasing to Him (God)" (John 8:29). Inspired New Testament writers plainly affirm of Jesus that "in Him is no sin" (First John 3:5), that He "knew no sin" (Second Corinthians 5:21), indeed, that He "did no sin" (First Peter 2:22). It is interesting to observe the contrast between the character of Christ and that of Christians as evidenced by a comparison of First John 3:9 and First Peter 2:22. In the former verse John says that the child of God "doeth no sin." The verb does not imply that the Christian never sins at all (Cf. First John 1:8), rather the Greek present tense implies that the child of God does not habitually practice sinning as a way of life. However, as Peter declares that the Lord "did no sin", he employs the aorist form of the verb, meaning Christ never committed a single sin! And it is precisely because He was sinless that He could be our sin-bearer; the innocent for the guilty! Praise God for His sinless Lamb!
A SORROWFUL LAMB - Isaiah describes the Lamb of God as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). Twice the New Testament records Jesus Christ weeping. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. The Greek word for wept (edakrusen - aorist tense) suggests the Lord suddenly burst into tears. Many have sought to speculate as to why our Master silently wept on this occasion. some think it was out of sympathy for His saddened friends. Others think Christ was grieved at the thought of bringing Lazarus back from death to the cares of life again (the Jews did later seek to kill Lazarus [John 12:10]). And still others feel that Jesus was burdened upon reflecting how sin (and through sin, death [Romans 5:12]) could so crush the human being. All of these thoughts may be involved.
Again, in Luke 19:41 it is stated that as Jesus drew near Jerusalem "He saw the city and wept over it." Unlike the former instance, the term for wept here is eklausen which signifies to weep aloud. Here the Lord lamented for His own people and for the horrible destruction which was to come upon them because of their rejection of Him. Oh how the boundless love of Christ is revealed by His tears!
A SUFFERING LAMB - Our Lord drank deeply of the dregs of suffering. His physical suffering was great. the Psalmist graphically described it: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and Thou hast brought me into the dust of death" (Psalm 22:14-15). But the Savior suffered mentally as well. It pained Him to know that men would so despise Him and thus reproach His Heavenly Father. He exclaimed: "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men and despised of all the people" (Psalm 22:6). Note how the prophets considered the rejection of Christ to be an insult to God Himself (Zechariah 11:13). And great was the suffering of Christ in contemplation of the cross. How His holy soul recoiled at the prospect of having to bear the penalty of the world's sin, and thus, for a while be separated from God (Matthew 26:39f; 27:46).
A SILENT LAMB - Isaiah prophesies of Christ: "He was oppressed, yet when He was afflicted He opened not His mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) did not come as a banner waving, loud mouthed rebel rouser. It was foretold of Him: "He will not cry, nor lift up His voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street" (Isaiah 42:2). He never taught His disciples to throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. When Jesus was personally abused he did not retaliate, and in this He is our noble example (First Peter 2:21-22).
A SACRIFICED LAMB - Paul declares of the Savior: "For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ" (First Corinthians 5:7). Concerning the death of Christ, the New Testament affirms the following elements: (a) the fact of it; (b) the manner of it; (c) the purpose of it; (d) the extent of it; and (e) the result of it. Consider these points for a moment. That a man named Jesus actually lived and died in 1st century Palestine the New Testament records, the Jewish Talmud admits and secular history verifies. Christ's death was by crucifixion (Psalm 22:16) which thus involved the shedding of His blood which contained His life (Cf. Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 26:28; Leviticus 17:11). he exchanged His life for ours! Christ died in order to atone for human transgression. it is interesting to observe how the New Testament writers stress the substitutionary nature of the Lamb's death by the use of various prepositions. Jesus gave His life a ransom for (anti) many (Matthew 20:28). he poured out His blood for (peri) many for (eis) remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). He became a curse for (huper) us (Galatians 3:13). Also the blessed Savior delivers us out of (ek) this evil world (Galatians 1:4) and continues to cleanse us from (apo) all sin as we walk in the light (First John 1:7). The extent of Christ's death was universal (Titus 2:11), i.e., the benefits of His death are available to all, yet only those who obey Him are recipients of such (Hebrews 5:9). Finally, the result of Jesus' death is that we might ultimately be glorified with Him (Romans 8:16).
A SUPREME LAMB - The most predominate usage of the title "Lamb" for the Son of God is found in the Book of Revelation. Actually, the theme of that book is the victory and supremacy of the Lamb. In Revelation 4, John the apostle is permitted to look into Heaven to the very throne of God. Around the throne worshipping the Almighty were the twenty four elders and the four living creatures. As John continued to observe, he saw a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, and heavenly beings began to sing praise unto the Lamb. With a great voice ten thousand times ten thousand exclaimed: "Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Yes, Christ IS worthy. He died, but now He is alive for evermore and He has the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:7). And when all of His enemies have been destroyed, the last of which is death (First Corinthians 15:26), He will deliver the kingdom to His Father. This is the LAMB OF GOD!
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