REFLECTIONS

Lamb of God

Something felt profoundly familiar about the man John saw walking toward him. The man may have looked familiar too, but from his aura, wonder sprung from John’s lips, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

God watched from his throne that day while the story He crafted unfolded along the waters of the Jordan river. “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him,” John the baptizer continued with the introduction of God’s cherished Son. …”I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32, 34)

Of course, God began the story in the Garden where Adam and Eve abused God’s gift of free will. God cleaned up the mess they made with a massive flood, but He knew mankind would fall again. So, He crafted another plan to cleanse sins away.

That part of the story began with a man named Abram whose name God changed to Abraham and promised him a long-awaited son. God also introduced the power of sacrificial love when He asked Abraham to sacrifice the life of that cherished son as an expression his love for God. And with unquestioning obedience Abraham followed God’s command.

Then God wrote stories about Joseph, Abraham’s Christlike great-grandson, the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, and God’s call through a burning bush for Moses to lead them into the land He promised to Abraham. But to get there required another sacrifice to wash away their sins. Only blood could do it—the blood of a cherished lamb without blemish. Those who made the sacrifice revealed their love for God by painting their doorframes with the blood of the Passover lamb so God would save their lives. (See Exodus 12:3-13)

God must have wept when He heard the cry of the Lamb of God from the cross, “It is finished,” [Then he bowed] his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

And on a Sunday morning while it was still dark, God must have wiped tears from his own eyes as He watched Mary Magdalen on the way to the tomb. She would find it empty.

Christ has risen.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

“You are the light of the world,”

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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