Jesus, The Lamb of God

Introduction

Our time together today will focus on Jesus as our Savior. We will use songs, scriptures, and words to focus on the intent of God to bring us into relationship with him. With hearts focused on bringing honor to God, let’s begin with prayer.

A time of prayer will lead us into the throne room of God.

God’s Plan

We begin with songs that focus on Jesus, such as “Jesus, Name Above All Names” and “There’s Something About That Name.”

God and Jesus had a plan before the beginning of time. Jesus would be the lamb that would save the world. Let’s make the obvious obvious. This means that God already had in mind using animal sacrifice. It means the shedding of blood was already a part of God’s plan before creation. It means that before creation, Jesus knew that a cross was ahead. It means that God’s plan included bringing Jesus into this world to identify with humanity in profound ways. All of this was laid out before the creation. If this is true before the creation of the world, do you think that God thought about you? Of course. There is no reason for a lamb without humans to be aware. God thought of each of us. Jesus declares in Matthew 10:30 that God even knows the number of hairs on our head. We come today to worship the God who plans and planned for us.

God’s plan was for Jesus to enter this world as a baby. But not a baby of privilege or wealth, but a baby born to parents who loved God and who were laborers. Luke 2:4-15 describes this humble birth.

We celebrate with songs such as “Joy to the World” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

From birth to ministry we know very little. We do know that at age 12 he was amazing Jewish leaders with his knowledge and wisdom and we also know that he was obedient to his parents. But it is at the beginning of his ministry that the plan of God accelerates to its fulfillment in Christ.

Jesus’ cousin, John announces to his followers that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one who will take away the sins of the world. Several things to note about John’s announcement. First, John uses the word “The” not “a” to describe Jesus. Jesus is not just any lamb. He is “the” lamb. Second, he has been chosen specifically by God to serve as the answer for the world’s sin. Isaiah 53:7 speaks of the lamb that is led to the slaughter. 1 Peter 1:19 declares that Jesus was the lamb without defect—a clear reference to the quality of the sacrifice that God required for sin to be forgiven. No longer animal, but human being—God in the flesh. The Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

But beyond this sacrificial image, John clearly places Jesus in the role of Passover Lamb. The one that was slain leading to deliverance from Egyptian captivity. The blood of that lamb was spread on the doorframes of houses so that the firstborn was saved. John will make this connection in John 19:36 when Jesus is crucified and not one of his bones is broken.

But there is another allusion that is included. This is the allusion found in Genesis 22. Abraham is told to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to God. God stops that event and instead provides a substitute ram to take Isaac’s place. In Genesis 22:2, Abraham is told to take his son, his only Son, Isaac. In John 3:16 we are told that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. What God stopped Abraham from doing, He allowed to happen so that our sins and the sins of the world could be taken away.

We pause to share in the Lord’s Supper together as a reminder that it was God’s plan that His lamb would take away our sins.

We sing songs such as “Lamb of God” and “You Are My All in All.”

Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is shared as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

The Resurrection

God’s lamb is slain, but God did not allow his Son to remain in the grave. It is the resurrection that speaks to God’s greatest part of his plan. To sacrifice a lamb for sin was not unusual but to bring life back to the lamb was unheard of. Jesus rose from the dead and it is because of that resurrection that we have salvation. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that without the resurrection we are a people to be pitied for our faith is useless without the resurrection.

The Return

The plan of God is not complete. The plan that was laid out before time began will find its full completion when the Lamb of God returns to claim us as his people. Listen to a series of verses from Revelation in which the Lamb is praised and seen as the one who returns in triumph. Jesus is the Lamb slain so that we could have salvation and the day will come when the lamb will return to bring those who love him to live with him forever.

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