Recently I gave a sermon, in our church service, based on the use of the word – ‘BEHOLD!’ This word appears numerous times in the book of Revelation. As I mentioned in that service, the word ‘BEHOLD’ is a Greek imperative that means to see or look. It is a verb intended to ‘arouse attention’ or to ‘introduce something new, extraordinary and important. It is a word intended to call us to consideration and contemplation. It is as though God is saying to us “Look! Look! Give me your attention! Listen to Me! I have something I want to show you!”
In this meditation, I want to focus our attention on another time when the word ‘BEHOLD’ appears. John the Baptist was a cousin to Jesus and one day he saw the LORD and he exclaimed “Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Don’t miss what I am about to say – before He is anything else, Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who came for the express purpose to take away the sin of the world.
The Apostle Peter wrote, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things, such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)
Note: It was always the eternal purpose of God, that Jesus would be His lamb, that would one day be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. By receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord, Peter says we are delivered from a life of futility and meaninglessness to a life of great significance.
· Jesus was also recognized as “the Lion of Judah”.
· He was the Star of David.
· He was the True Vine.
· He is the Wonderful Counselor.
· He is the Prince of Peace.
· He is Prophet, Priest, and King.
BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE IS GOD’S LAMB OFFERED TO TAKE AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. This was determined even before the world was established, but was fully revealed to us when Christ was nailed to the cross at Calvary and His blood was shed to atone for our sin.
A close look at these verses in first Peter will reveal that he was describing the life of a slave. In first-century Rome, it has been estimated that there were as many as sixty million slaves. If somehow a slave could accumulate enough money, he might purchase his own freedom. Another way to freedom would be if his master sold him to someone else who then set him free.
In the Old Testament, we read of the children of Israel being held hostage in Egypt. The Pharaoh refused to let them go. God sent a number of plagues against the Egyptians. Finally, the last judgment God used was the death of the firstborn. He told His people (Exodus 12) to take a perfect male lamb, a year old, and on the 14th day of the month, they would kill the animal. Then they were to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of their homes. That night when the death angel passed through the land, the inhabitants were spared wherever the blood was applied. No wonder we, as Christians, sing with fervor “There is Power in the Blood”. Every life where the Lord Jesus has been received is spared the wrath of God because of the blood of our Lamb of God.
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5:7b wrote “For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”
In Ephesians 5:2 the Apostle wrote “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (ESV)
In Colossians 1:13-14, we read “He (God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (ESV)
In Hebrews 2:14-15 we read “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (ESV) Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Passover Lamb, we who have received Him no longer have to fear death. Praise God! Let each of us pause right now for a time of worship offered up to the One who gave His life for us. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) be sin (a sin offering) who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (ESV) O my dear friends “Behold (Look! See!) the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.!”
Glory to the Lamb!
Pastor Leonard
