LOOK to the LAMB
- Greg Bowser
- Nov 18, 2018
- 6 min read
John 1:29-30 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Words from the hymn “look to the lamb of God” are as follows:
If you from sin are longing to be free
Look to the Lamb of God
He to redeem you died on Calvary
Look to the Lamb of God
When Satan tempts and doubts and fears assail
Look to the Lamb of God
You in his strength shall over all prevail
Look to the Lamb of God
Are you aweary? Does the way seem long?
Look to the Lamb of God
His love will cheer and fill your heat with song
Look to the Lamb of God
Fear not when shadows on your pathway fall
Look to the Lamb of God
In joy or sorrow, Christ is all in all
Look to the Lamb of God
I. LOOK to the LAMB…
He’s your one and only SOVEREIGN
John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is
preferred before me: for he was before me.
Matthew records …he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: (3:11)
Mark says…There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Look to lamb who is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS (Rev. 19:16)
The previous day John had been cross examined by Jewish leaders
They wanted to know who he was, they were looking for the KING
That’s just like people who want to know who we think we are
Educated religious leaders may question our validity
He admitted that he was not the Messiah
Neither was he the expected prophet Elijah forerunner to the king
To this day Jews still leave a seat at Passover for Elijah the prophet
They expect him to appear before Messiah establishes his kingdom
John’s journey was to be God’s messenger for the Messiah
He was the voice of “one crying in the wilderness…”
As John was one with the voice we must be one with Jesus
When we become one with Christ we become his voice
Although John was born first Jesus is the great “I am” preceding him
To Abraham he said… I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (Genesis 17:1)
Unto Moses he said… I AM THAT I AM: …Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Genesis 3:14)
John wrote of his betrayal and arrest: As soon then as he had said unto them, I AM he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
We need the humility of John to admit we are only HIS voice
The eternal God had become flesh and pitched his tent
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30
The enemies of God will follow a false Messiah
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
Jesus Christ alone should be magnified through ministry
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Look to lamb who is wonderful ( Isaiah 9:6)
Wonderful translates: (extraordinary, hard to understand thing). wonder (of God’s acts of judgment and redemption).
John’s ministry was to lead the nation to repentance
Even though they were cousins John did not know he was the Messiah
The followers of Rabbi’s were baptized as they agreed with his message
John’s followers agreed that they needed to repent and turn to God
John could only wonder how God would act in redemption of men
He could only proclaim “behold the lamb of God…”
Jesus became the mediator through his sacrificial atonement
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)
Jesus is the one and only SOVEREIGN worthy of glory
II. LOOK to the LAMB…
He’s your one and only SOLUTION
John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Look to lamb who is the PRINCE of PEACE
The dove may be symbolic of the gentleness of Christ
Jesus himself declared his gentleness
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
A dove with an olive branch represented hope for humanity
And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. Genesis 8:11
Peace on earth good will toward men is the hope of humanity
The dove with an olive branch is a symbol of peace
The use of a dove and olive branch as a symbol of peace originated the early Christians, who portrayed the act of baptism accompanied by a dove holding an olive branch in it’s beak and also used the image on their sepulchers.
Jesus said…Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
Peacemaking requires wisdom from above
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17,18
When we are in Christ we have peace with God
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Look to lamb who is your Counsellor
Counsellor translates: to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate,
The Holy Ghost is also called the Comforter
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
He will guide you to all truth (John 16:13)
He will show you things to come (John 16:13)
He will testify of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:26)
He will give you the power to witness (Acts 1:8, Mark 13:11)
He will abide with you forever ( John 14:16)
He will comfort you in tribulation (1Corinthians 1:3,4)
Jesus is the one and only SOLUTION worthy of honor
III. LOOK to the LAMB…
He’s your one and only SAVIOR
John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Look to lamb who is Immanuel, God with us
Various religions have expected a Messiah-like figure
The figure of the Jewish messiah was one who would deliver them from oppression and usher in the Messianic age
There have been “Christians” throughout the centuries who have claimed themselves to be the “Messiah”
You may have heard of “David Koresh” of the Branch Davidians who claimed to be the Messiah
The Muslims look for a Mahdi who will come alongside the return of Christ
History is full of men who claimed to be God including kings and clergy
Nearly every major religion claims to be God’s messenger
Their common thread is to deify man and humanize Jesus
The fact that God was with him was the evidence of the Spirit
He was given the Spirit without measure (John 3:34)
It would not come upon him at times like old testament prophets
But was given to him all the time
Nicodemus recognized God was with him
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:2)
Look to the Lamb of GOD who is GOD
John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Look to lamb who is Jesus our Savior
John testified publicly and privately that Jesus was the Christ
John fixed his eyes upon Jesus
We must diligently contemplate him as our savior
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Christ the lamb of God takes away the sin of the world
Humble generous souls will give others their due praise without fear of diminishing themselves by it. (Matthew Henry)
Jesus is the one and only SAVIOR worthy of praise
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