The Lamb of God

1. Background

2. Read Exodus 12:1-13.

1) After hundreds of years of captivity a deliverer had come.

2) 9 plagues had been sent upon the land of Egypt: blood, frogs, lice, flies, disease of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, darkness.

3) Pharaoh still refused to release them.

4) The 10th plague was coming and the Israelites needed to prepare.

5) On a spring day, Moses called for a meeting of the elders of the people.

6) In ten days they were to take a male lamb. Spotless. They were to separate it from the other livestock and keep it with them for four days and on the 14th day kill it.

7) They were then to take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood of the lamb and paint the lintel/header and door posts/jambs with the blood.

8) That night God would pass over Egypt to take the life of the firstborn of every house. But when He saw the blood, he would pass over the houses of the children of Israel.

3. Read: John 1:29, 36

1) Approximately 1500 years later, John the Baptizer began his ministry.

2) Most likely, John began his ministry during the springtime in the beginning of the year when the water was flowing in the River Jordan.

3) The mind of the people would recently have been drawn to the passover.

4) With this context in mind, John points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.”

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The lamb was to be consecrated/dedicated to God.

i. It was to be separated from the other animals (Exodus 12:5).

ii. They were to care for it for four days (Exodus 12:3, 6).

iii. It was to be given to God; it was the Lord’s Passover (Exodus 12:11).

2. Why is Jesus God’s dedicated Lamb?

i. Because He is the one chosen of God – 1 Peter 2:4 Peter says of Jesus “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious….”

ii. Because He fully consecrated himself to doing God’s will. He said “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)

iii. Because He fully dedicated himself to the sanctification of man. Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

1. The lamb was to be without blemish.

i. A male of one year, flawless.

ii. We learn from Leviticus 22:22-24 that it was not to be blind, broken, maimed, crushed, bruised, scabbed, or having more than the normal amount of body parts.

2. Jesus is the Lamb without blemish or spot.

i. He knew no sin. Heb.4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

ii. Because he knew no sin, he can bear the sins of mankind. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb.9:28).

1. The children of Israel were commanded what to do with the lamb.

i. Kill the lamb in their house as a sacrifice to God (Exodus 12:6).

ii. Roast the lamb whole over fire (Exodus 12:9).

iii. Eat the lamb (Exodus 12:8).

iv. Burn whatever was left and leave nothing (Exodus 12:10).

2. Jesus is our perfect sacrifice today.

i. He sacrificed His station. Phil.2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

ii. He sacrificed His livelihood. “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matt.8:20).

iii. He sacrificed His very life. Hebrews 7:26, 27 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”

iv. “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor.5:7).

1. The lamb that was slain provided salvation.

i. God promised to kill all the first born in Egypt (Exodus 12:12).

ii. There was only one way to prevent death from entering the house.

iii. They had to take the blood of the lamb and put it on their doorways (Exodus 12:7).

iv. God said, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13).

1) Was the power to save in the door?

2) Was the power to save in the hyssop brush that put the blood on the door?

3) Was the power to save in the man’s work of applying the blood to the door?

4) The power was in the blood, but if not applied, then it would have done no good.

v. Death visited every house upon which the blood was not applied.

2. Jesus is salvation today!

i. Acts 4:12 — In no other name is there salvation.

ii. The power of Jesus salvation today is in His blood. Jesus said, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

iii. The sin of mankind merits eternal death.

iv. However, when God sees Christ’s blood He will pass over us and grant us LIFE!

3. The blood did not cover them if they did not apply it; it will not cover us if we do not apply it.

i. How do we apply the blood today?

ii. We apply the blood of Christ to our life through baptism into Christ.

iii. Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

iv. Jesus shed His blood in His death; baptism brings us into the death of Christ where we can contact that blood.

v. Jesus’ blood is the source of the power; baptism is the application of that power.

vi. That is why Acts 2:38 says that baptism is for the remission of sins.

vii. Just as the power of salvation was not in that doorway, the hyssop bunch, or the one who painted the blood on the door for the Israelites so also the power of salvation is not in the water, baptistery, or preacher.

viii. The power is in the blood.

1. Read Revelation 5 – Worthy Is the Lamb!

2. The Lamb of God stands before you this very morning.

i. He is God’s Lamb, sanctified – there is no other through whom you may come for salvation. Acts 4:12

ii. He is the Lamb without blemish, spotless – He has left for us a perfect example.

iii. He is the Sacrificial Lamb – He has given His all for us; will you give your all for Him?

iv. He is the Lamb of Salvation – Will you receive the salvation that he offers today by applying the blood to your life?

3. Invitation

i. If you are a Christian but have fallen away

1) If you sin willfully, there remains no more sacrifice for your sin (Hebrews 10:26).

2) Repent and bring the Lamb of God back into your life.

ii. If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

1) The Lamb of God was slain for you to bring you out of sin and into salvation!

2) Paul declared, “Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

3) Oh will you not come to the blood of the Lamb this very hour?