MLC Sermon Notes Note 0902

Behold the Lamb of God

Reading: Exodus 12

1. Introduction

Many times in the past we have spoken and written of the Saviour: his name, Y'shua, Yahshua or Emmanuel, his power over principalities in heaven and earth, over the human body, the human mind and even the natural elements. We've considered his work, his message, his healing powers and the poverty he gladly accepted in order to save mankind. We've considered several important questions others have asked him or about him:

"Art thou he that is to come, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)
"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?" (John 18:37)
"Then said they unto him, Who art thou?" (John 1:22)
"And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" (Mark 15:12)

We've considered the questions the Saviour asked others:

"Whom do men say that I am?" (Mark 8:27)

"Whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ."

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
"What will ye that I shall do unto you?" (Matthew 20:32)

Today we will take the spiritual microscope and study one verse in Scripture and follow the advice of John the Baptist when he said:

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)

2. The Son of God

Almighty Yahweh is referred to in scripture as our Heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days, the Most High - EL SHADDAI, the Holy One of Israel and I AM. Yahweh has a Son, an only begotten Son: one who issued from His spiritual body just as surely as an earthly son issues from his earthly father's physical body. Yeshua is that Son. Yehshua is not just a good man, a great prophet or leader who did mighty miracles in the distant past and who taught mankind many wonderful truths. He is the Son of the Almighty God! He is God's only begotten son: which means he was not created as the angels were: not adopted like one adopts an orphan, but he was 'begotten' of his Father. He is also the 'express image' of his heavenly Father. This means that his motives, thoughts, words, deeds and the principles by which he lived were identical to his Father's. In fact Jesus was the express image, a visible expression of his Father's character. To be sure they are two separate individuals, who inhabit two separate bodies; but they are in total agreement, they have one purpose, one set of doctrines and one plan. The prophet Daniel describes a meeting of these two Beings in these words. Notice their descriptions a)The Ancient of days and b) the Son of Man.

The Father and the Son

Daniel 7:9-14

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
And there was given him (the Son of man) dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

Why did the Father, the Ancient of Days, hand over total authority to His Son? The answer is because He was totally satisfied with His Son's performance. The Apostle Matthew tells of this when he heard the Father testify of His Son's performance.

Matthew 3:17

"And lo a voice from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The Son tells us in the following words of his Father's plan to save mankind.

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

3. The Sacrificial Lamb

Besides being the only begotten Son of the Most High, a position which itself is of inestimable worth, Yahshua is the Lamb of God! He is Yahweh's sacrifice for sin. He alone can take away your sins, my sins and the sins of the entire world. What does this mean to us? It means this:

The wages of sin (transgression of Yahweh's law) is death - eternal death!
Yahweh does not want any human being, however guilty he/she may be, to suffer that penalty.
So He provided a way of escape: someone who would die in the guilty sinner's place.
That someone was His only begotten Son Yahshua; who agreed with his Father's plan.
To demonstrate the plan of salvation the animal sacrificial system of the Old Testament was designed. It was to be a model, the type, a living drama, an object lesson, a spiritual blueprint of the reality to come. the reality was Jesus Christ's death on calvary. To obtain forgiveness for sin, the sinner was to take the blood of a sacrifice, confess his/her sins over it and forgiveness was granted. Before Calvary this forgiveness was provisional: after Calvary it was guaranteed.
When the Saviour, the real Lamb of God sacrificed his life he paid the price for your sins and mine. Our forgiveness, our salvation, our redemption, our inheritance was assured.
It now remains for us to accept by faith these guaranteed spiritual provisions.

This is the Plan of Salvation. There is no other.

Yahweh's provision for man's salvation has been made. Yet, strange as it may seem, the Father (the ram) is making a greater sacrifice than His Son (the lamb) did; a sacrifice He has kept secret from the whole universe (Gen.22:8-13). Secret, because no mind in heaven or earth can properly understand the instense sorrow, pain and separation that sin produced between Yahweh and His creation. Secret also because He - the Father - is far too modest a person than to tell of His own sacrifice in the plan of salvation: a sacrifice in which He beggared Himself in order to save His human race from annihilation. But that is another subject.

4. "That taketh away the sins of the world"

It is possible to speak at length on the subject of sin and its cure. A thousand facts, arguments and illustrations present themselves; the subject is vast. But today I will concentrate on just one aspect: that Yeshua is the only remedy for sin. Yes in every area of human disorder, he alone is the answer. Other answers to man's problems may present themselves; be tried and for a time may even appear to work. But sooner or later all man-made efforts will end in disaster: failure so complete that every thinking mind will eventually admit that man is unable to save himself from any of his many problems. Consider just a few areas where mankind faces massive problems:

Political Peace: The human race balances on the brink of another world war: a war which would cripple the economies of all nations. Areas of current unrest include: the former Soviet Union, Africa, Afghanistan, Ceylon, the far east, Bosnia, Ireland, China and the Middle East. Every week we hear of yet another flare up; often in places of which many of us have never heard.
Health: AIDS and possibly even more deadly diseases are an increasing threat. The world's puny medical resources could never hope to cure multiplied millions of sick and diseased folk.
The Environment: Planet earth is dying. The air we breath, the water we drink and the soil on which we grow our food, is becoming polluted - sick! Nothing we can do - however valiantly we try - can reverse the destructive effects of modern industrial farming on earth's eco-systems. Everyone knows this.
Unemployment: Unemployment is a major problem in virtually every country on earth. Within weeks whole communities could find themselves out of work. The closure of a single factory often spells disaster for a community or town. Unemployment spawns many other social ills, too numerous to mention.
Government: Corrupt governments, corrupt officials, impotent laws and short-sighted plans have totally disrupted many nations of the world. The citizens of many countries have become ungovernable.
Social Problems: Broken homes, violence, drunkenness, adultery, divorce, rape, incest, burglary, drug abuse, homelessness, starvation and widespread poverty. The list is long and growing.

5. Behold

It is at this time - amid all these dead-end circumstances - I ask you to behold Yeshua. His name means the Salvation of Yahweh. He is the answer to life's problems. He alone can pull you out of all your troubles and grant you forgiveness, peace of mind and spiritual prosperity in this world: and life eternal in the world to come. The word 'behold' means look at, scrutinise, consider, concentrate on - Y'shua, Yahweh's Lamb. The Apostles all advise us to do the same thing: to behold and seriously consider the Saviour.

Matthew 12:18	"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles."
Hebrews 3:1	"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus"
Revelation 3:20	"Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in His throne."

Consider also these things:

The catalogue of disaster sin has brought about in this world.
The amazing sacrifice Yahweh made in sending His only begotten Son to pay the price for sin. Have you accepted His offer of mercy? Do not delay doing so.
The still secret cost to Himself the Father made in order to save men and angels from annihilation. It will take an eternity to appreciate this still hidden price.
The present offer of free salvation through His Son that Yahweh is making to you.
Acceptance means adoption into the family of God. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath shown unto us, that we should be called the Sons of God!" (1 John 3:1)

Consider these things. Don't just dismiss them from your mind. Think about them. Talk about them to your loved ones. Pray about them. Nothing in heaven or earth can compare with their importance. Your top priority at this very moment should be to accept salvation. You cannot afford to throw away the free gift of eternal life. It's infinitely more important than you or I can remotely imagine. But it's true. Yahweh's Word guarantees your salvation if you put your trust in Him. This guarantee comes to you free of charge through the merits of the Lamb of God - Yeshua the Messiah!