Abel Hernandez

Lamb of God

As I was studying John this past week, I was amazed on how quickly we are introduced not only to who Jesus is and was, but also what he came to do for you and I. John begins with identifying that Jesus was God. That He was in the beginning and desired to dwell among us.

This can be breathtaking. You may ask yourselves; how can a God of the universe want to dwell with us. I mean, if we are being honest with ourselves, we are not much to be proud of. But God doesn’t see us as so. He sees us as His children who are deserving of relationship and fellowship with our Father. In fact, he desires to dwell with us so much, that he came in human form to be ultimately identified as the Lamb of God.

Shortly after being told who Jesus was, we are then introduced to John the Baptist referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God. The Lamb had a few characteristics and truths attached to His description. He was with us from the beginning, God reveals to us who He is, and the Lamb will ultimately be sacrificed for you and me.

The Lamb is perfect. The Lamb is without sin. But why without sin and why perfect? Well first and foremost, sinners cannot save sinners. We may try to do so all we want, but the truth of the matter is that we are unable to fill a void that God can. We must ask ourselves at some point in our lives, where do we go from here. Well, God secures that destiny for us. If we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need a savior. As Paul reminds, our hope would be in vain.

Jesus came to save us. His children. He came not to be served but to serve and be a ransom for many. But why do this?? It’s a simple answer, but complex and hard to understand at times. He did it because he Loves us. He desired for us to be saved and therefore did not only what he could do, but what he would do. That’s who God is. That’s who Jesus our Savior is.

But many of us at times may have doubts. Well remember this. Jesus doesn’t kick you off his team for those times you struggle with fear, doubt, or even sin. He comes and reminds us again of who He is. We see this as Thomas doubted. We also see this as Peter didn’t believe he deserved his grace after he had denied Jesus. But in all that chaos of doubt, Jesus shows up. He pursues us.

Brothers and sisters, Let’s remember why John called Him the Lamb of God. It’s so that we know that Jesus came to be sacrificed for you and me. So that we may have hope and feel secure in our eternity. He did this because we are worth it. Not because we deserve it but because He was and is gracious and merciful. Now, let’s go out and teach, preach, and share why we have hope. May others come to know the great gift we have in Jesus. Let’s remember why we worship our God. It’s because of what He has done.

John 1 19-34
John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Galatians 2 19-21
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

1 John 3 4-5
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”