BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!

Crucifixion day has passed.  Jesus has been placed in a new tomb.  I always wonder how people felt that day.  Did they whisper to themselves about the events?  Did they mourn the passing of the Jesus who was their friend and healer?   Was it a day of gossiping about the events?  Did they just treat the day like another day?   I always think of the lives changed by Jesus while he walked on earth--the ones I mentioned in earlier posts--the woman healed of her issue of blood, the lame man, the blind man, even Barabbas who now walked free.  I wonder if Barabbas made a change in his life or if he continued in sin.  I like to think he made a change.

Today I wanted us to reflect on the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  

Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem.  I learned in my study that it was in the fields outside of Bethlehem that many of the Passover sacrificial lambs were raised.   So it's fitting that the final Passover Lamb would be born in a stable in Bethlehem--Mary's Little Lamb. 

Moving back to Exodus, God's plan to redeem and save the Israelites in bondage was a lamb.  On the contrary, the symbol of Egypt was a coiled snake.   There's a big example there of the war between the good and the evil.

A lamb is one of the most gentle and meek animals on earth.  A lamb is defenseless, has no fangs or claws, cannot run or fight, and is not scary to anything.  A lamb is quite a picture of Jesus!  He was made only of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance--fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

The lamb was to be set apart four days.  Jesus was crucified at the Passover and he entered Jerusalem four days prior.  Coincidence that the lamb was set apart four days and that Jesus entered Jerusalem four days prior to crucifixion?  Nah.

The Israelites were told to roast the whole lamb and eat it all.  We are to accept all of Jesus and the substance his Word and love provides will fill us and equip us for the battle of sin.  We can be filled and strengthened for days ahead that are good and the ones that are bad.  We will be equipped through eternity!   We need ALL of and Jesus is ALL we need.

I did think on eating the lamb with bitter herbs and thought of the correlation to the bitterness of bondage.  The bondage of sin is great and bitter.  We have to know that Christ is sweetness to our soul if sin be bitter to us.    Eating the lamb with loins girded, shoes on your feet, and staff in your hand represents to me always being ready to do the Lord's bidding and letting nothing hinder.

The blood was applied on the doorpost of each Israelite house so it was visible and when the angel came and saw the blood applied, it passed over that house.  It wouldn't have worked for them just to have a lamb outside, there would have been no blood involved.  Hebrews 9:22 says "...without shedding of blood there is no remission."    Salvation in our lives is the belief of the work of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.  

Just as that Passover lamb in Egypt, Jesus is our special lamb, our sacrificial lamb, our slain lamb and our saving lamb.

Just as the Israelites did back in Egypt, let us bow our heads and hearts in worship!

Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 5:7...

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us..."

Today, let us in our hearts "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world" and rejoice!

Sunday's coming!

Consider....