It's been a difficult week. I want to apologize for not getting the next chapter of the book posted. I will resume that next week. I have been having a lot of health problems, so please keep praying that I will get to feeling better. I hope that you are all doing well.
We have been in the midst of an ongoing series of messages dealing with the names and titles of Jesus found in the Bible. This week, we continue with our series looking at the fact that in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. What does this mean for us?
We see Jesus called the Lamb of God initially in the Gospel of John. John the Baptist had been preaching and baptizing people at the Jordan River. One day, Jesus came down to where John was preaching. When John saw Jesus, John said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." What was John talking about?
John is referring to the sacrifice that was required for sin and to an occurrence in the life of Abraham. First of all, a lamb without spot or blemish was required to be sacrificed in order for the people in the Old Testament to receive forgiveness of sins. The blood of this lamb covered the peoples' sin for the year on the day of atonement. Each year, a new sacrifice needed to be made.
The second reference John is making is to Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was called to sacrifice his son Isaac. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel stopped him. Abraham's attention was directed to where a ram was caught in a thicket. God had provided a sacrifice, so Isaac did not have to be the sacrifice.
While the blood of the animal sacrifices could cover up sin, it was not the final and once for all sacrifice for sin. In order to once and for all deal with sin, God sent His Son into the world to be the sacrifice for sin. Jesus was the Lamb of God sent to be the sinless one who would bear our sins in His body on the cross. Whoever puts his or her faith and trust in the Lord Jesus will receive forgiveness of their sins. Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin.
We also see Jesus referred to as the Lamb in the book of Revelation. Jesus is the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. Because He was willing to sacrifice Himself, Jesus as the Lamb of God is worthy to receive all glory, laud, honor and praise both now and forevermore. Worthy is the Lamb!
Jesus is the Lamb of God. He has died so that you and I might be redeemed. I hope that you will trust in what Jesus has done for you today. He is the atoning sacrifice for sin. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray that I will get to feeling better.
Continue to pray for those affected by the tornadoes and floods here in the United States. Pray that they will get the aid that they need in order to recover.
Pray for an end to the Canadian wildfires.
Let us all pray for peace. Ukraine needs to be at the top of our prayer list.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bosnia and Tunisia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will try as hard as I can to post the next chapter of the book. I will post the message on Friday. May God bless you all.
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