The Lamb of God
John the Baptizer called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In John 3:16 Jesus makes plain that He was sent to this world, not just for the Jews but for the entire world.
So, what does this have to do with Easter Sunday? Plenty! You see, Christ rising from the tomb on Sunday Morning did not seal my salvation as so many think. My salvation was sealed when Christ uttered the words “It is finished” on Friday afternoon.
Caiaphas the High Priest had it correct when he prophesied, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:49b, 50.)
Notice what Caiaphas said, that “One Man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish.” He was referring to Jesus and that Jesus should die, so that the whole nation could continue to live.
Each day in the Jewish system of worship a lamb would be brought by the head of the family to the temple in Jerusalem. The head of the family would place his right hand upon this spotless lamb and confess his sins upon the lamb and then was required to kill it and then that lamb would be sacrificed on the altar of Sacrifice. The little lamb was a symbol of Christ and how our sin were transferred to Him so that by His death, the whole world might be saved.
On Friday afternoon Christ spoke in a loud audible voice for all to hear, “It is finished” and he breathed his last. He died as he were a common criminal hung in shame upon a wooden cross. By his death he set us free from the burden of sin. By His resurrection he proved he had won the victory over sin and the penalty of sin, which is eternal separation from God the Father by death.
The victory over sin was won on Friday afternoon when Christ Said it is finished, his resurrection proves that the victory over death has been won.
Joshua in the old testament offered a choice before the people. He asked them who are you going to serve. The text reads this way. “Now therefore, fear (love and show reverence toward) the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to served the LORD, chose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But for me and my7 house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14, 15).
So on this Easter morning I ask of you and of myself, “Whom do we serve? The one who died for our sins and was resurrected for our sins, or do we serve only ourselves?” “Chose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
John the Baptizer called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In John 3:16 Jesus makes plain that He was sent to this world, not just for the Jews but for the entire world.
So, what does this have to do with Easter Sunday. Plenty! You see, Christ rising from the tomb on Sunday Morning did not seal my salvation as so many think. My salvation was sealed when Christ uttered the words “It is finished” on Friday afternoon.
Caiaphas the High Priest had it correct when he prophesied, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish” )John 11:49b, 50.
Notice what Caiaphas said, that “One Man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish.” He was referring to Jesus and that Jesus should die, so that the whole nation could continue to live.
Each day in the Jewish system of worship a lamb would be brought by the head of the family to the temple in Jerusalem. The head of the family would place his right hand upon this spotless lamb and confess his sins upon the lamb and then was required to kill it and then that lamb would be sacrificed. The little lamb was a symbol of Christ and how our sin were transferred to Him so that by His death, the whole world might be saved.
On Friday afternoon Christ spoke in a loud audible voice for all to hear, “It is finished” and he breathed his last. He did as he were a common criminal hung in shame upon a wooden cross. By his death he set us free from the burden of sin. By His resurrection he proved he had won the victory over sin and the penalty of sin, which is eternal separation from God the Father by death.
The victory over sin was won on Friday afternoon when Christ Said it is finished, his resurrection proves that the victory over death has been won.
Joshua in the old testament offered a choice before the people. He asked them who are you going to serve. The text reads this way. “Now therefore, fear (love and show reverence toward) the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to served the LORD, chose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But for me and my7 house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14, 15).
So on this Easter morning I ask of you and of myself, “Whom do we serve? The one who died for our sins and was resurrected for our sins, or do we serve only ourselves?” “Chose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The Bible In Your Hand 