THE LAMB OF GOD

Spring has arrived and uplifting words abound…. Painting, planting, pleasant….but most of all praying, praising, and worship and adoration and rejoicing!  Spring brings wonderful words – emotions – and enjoyment.  This coming Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday…. Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

John 1:29 (NLT) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Have you ever thought about all that is involved in that phrase, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world?  It is all about sacrifices.

The sacrificial lamb was an important part in Israel’s religious practices. The offering of lambs figured in the worship at the temple and was practiced daily.  When God gave his children the law at Mount Sinai that law included instructions for the Day of Atonement; on that day the high priest was to kill a lamb for the nation and then take its blood within the veil into the Holy of Holies, where it was sprinkled upon the mercy seat.

So, when John the Baptist identified Jesus as the “Lamb of God”, he was pointing to Jesus as the innocent substitute who would die in place of all of us who have sinned.  Jesus came, and John role identified him as one lamb for this world.

Palm Sunday is not about Jesus presenting himself as King to the people of Jerusalem only to be surprised several days later by their rejection of him. Palm Sunday is the prelude to the day of the crucifixion.
At Calvary Jesus died as God's Lamb. Palm Sunday was the day on which that Lamb was led into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday was the day on which Jesus offered himself as our substitute in a triumphant march into Jerusalem!

Psalm 24:7-10 (NLT)  Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ⁸ Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. ⁹ Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ¹⁰ Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Interlude

Joyfully,
Yvonne