Jesus, More Than a Man (Jesus, The Lamb)

Main Text: John 1:29, 36, Revelation 5:6

Behold the Lamb of God - 2 times

* The Lamb Was - John said he was. John 1:1 was before Genesis 1:1.

* The Lamb Came - The Incarnation happened - The Son of God became the Son of Man so that we could become sons and daughters of God.

When we couldn’t get to where He was, He came to where we were.

Where did He come to? He didn’t come to a palace, or a hospital. He came to a stable!

Why did the Lord choose a baby lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes? Why was this so significant?

Tradition says these were no ordinary shepherds.

They were Levitical shepherds, trained and tasked with the responsibility of tending and
guarding the flocks used for sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem.

WHAT ABOUT THIS STABLE?

When it was time for one of their flock to give birth, the shepherds would bring the sheep into one of the caves surrounding Bethlehem that were used for this purpose.

These birthing caves were kept in a state of ritual purity since these lambs were destined to be used as sacrifices in the temple. In fact, many of the male lambs born around Bethlehem would be used for the Passover.

He was born in one of the many caves used for birthing these sacrificial lambs, because He
Himself would be the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.

SWADDLING CLOTHS

These shepherds were responsible for making sure that the new-born lambs did not contract defects, for only animals without spot or blemish could be used as a sacrifice in the temple. Baby lambs are very clumsy when they are born, so many scholars believe that these shepherds would swaddle their newborn lambs in order to prevent these future sacrificial lambs from becoming blemished by injuring themselves on jagged parts of the cave.

Illustration - Phillip Yancey - he would feed his fish in the aquarium. Every time he would feed them they would see him and swim away. He said he would talk to his fish and try to get them to understand he was there for them and he didn’t want to harm them. Every time he would got feed them they would swim away. He said there was no way those fish would know how much he loved them and cared for them. Unless, He became a fish. Then he could swim among them and explain to them how much he loved them.

The Lamb came to live among us.

John 1:14

* The Lamb Grew - He went through all the stages of life including teenage years.

Luke 2:39 - we don’t know much about His teenage years.

Illustration - remember going to family reunions. Old ladies pinching you cheeks. “He’s so cute.”

* The Lamb Walked - about the age of 30 He laid down the carpenter tools for the last time and He walked to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

John 1:29

He walked all over the Galilee in the north.

One day He walked on Galilee.

He walked all over Judea in the south.

One day He walked through Samaria and stopped at a well to talk to a woman.

He walked in and out of synagogues. He walked in and out of temples. He walked in and out of villages.

One day He walked down the Via Delorosa and walked to a place called Mt. Calvary and died for your sins and my sins.

Three days later He walked out of that borrowed tomb.

The first time the word “lamb” is used in the whole Bible - Gen. 22 at a place called Mt. Moriah.

The son was carrying the firewood. They get to the top and the son says, “here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb?”

“God will provide the Lamb.”

God did provide the Lamb.

The first time the word “lamb” is used in the New Testament -

Matthew doesn’t use the word “lamb.”
Mark doesn’t use it.
Luke uses it one time and it refers to many lamb.

The first time it is used is John 1:29. Its like John could hear Isaac’s question. Where is the
Lamb?

When Abel killed the lamb on the altar in Genesis, it was one lamb for one man.

When a father would kill a lamb at Passover, it was one lamb for one family.

On the Day of Atonement, just once a year, the High Priest would go into the Holy Place and he would offer up a lamb for the whole nation.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world.”

Whosoever will!!!!!

Many have rejected Him.

If many have rejected Him, a nation can receive Him.

Many nations have rejected Him.

If many nations have rejected Him, your family and friends can still receive Him.

Many families have rejected Him.

If many families and friends have rejected Him, you can have this Jesus.

* The Lamb Talked - Jesus had a lot to say, but the closer He got to the Cross, the less He talked.

Six different times He stood in courtrooms on trial. Isaiah said that He would not open His
mouth.

“If you’re going to be crucified, die Christ-like.”

On the Cross - He said, “Father, forgive them.”

On the Cross - He said, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me.”

That wasn’t the last thing He said. The last thing He said was, “IT IS FINISHED! Father, into
Your hands I commit My Spirit.”

It is finished - in the Greek - “PAID IN FULL.”

Only here does He say, “Father.” He died a substitutionary death. He took my place. He took your place.

He paid a debt that He did not own, because I owed a debt I could not pay!

* The Lamb Died

He dies in Matthew 27, but there is a Matthew 28.

He dies in Mark 15, but there is a Mark 16.

He dies in Luke 23, but there is a Luke 24.

He dies in John 19, but there was a John 20 and 21.

He died on Friday, there was silence on Saturday.

He died on Friday, but Sunday came.

Too many people still living in Friday, He’s not still on the Cross.

Others are living in Saturday, He’s not still in the borrowed tomb.

Sunday He Rose. He didn’t roll the stone away for He could get out. He rolled the stone away so others could get in and see that He is not here! He has risen!

Because He lives, I can live.

* He Lives and He Reigns

* He Sat At The Right Hand of The Father

Revelation 5:6

* He Stood!!!!!
It doesn’t matter how bad this old world gets, The Lamb Stands!!

Acts 7:54-55 - Stephen saw him standing. Maybe He stands to welcome His children home!

There is coming a time He will stand, not just to welcome one, but welcome His Bride, us, the Church.

The Lord hasn’t raptured the Church yet because there is still a work for the Church.

Do you know that in Acts when the Holy Spirit fell, the disciples were not up there seeking Him to come.

They were up there in that upper room because they were scared that they would be next. They were hiding. You know who wasn’t up there with them? Thomas, yea, Doubting Thomas. Thomas wasn’t afraid.

That’s what’s going to make up this end time church. People that are not afraid of anything.
I believe the revival that is coming will bring in souls of people that didn’t believe in the
resurrection. He showing Himself to Muslims in record numbers around the world.

Thomas didn’t ask to see His face. Thomas asked to see His body, His hands and the wounds in his side.

The church seeks His face. We want to see the glory.

People that don’t believe want to see His body.

He’s appearing to people, but where’s His body?

That’s us, That’s the Church. We’re His body.

The church has been preaching a false message. We give them a false hope and a false gospel.

They don’t want to hear about how He will make you prosper.

They don’t want to hear all the foolishness we are.

They want to see your scars.

Too many preachers preaching out of their success, trying to convince you.

My wounds have been better teachers than my successes.

The world can relate to, “I’ve been through hell and back and i am still standing.”

On this Resurrection Sunday, He is not just the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world. He is the Lion that overcomes.

He is not defeated. He is victorious.

He hasn’t just taken your sins away, He put a Lion inside of your lungs, the Holy Ghost who goes before you. You don’t have to be scared. You have a Lion inside of you.