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JESUS: THE LAMB
DECEMBER 18, 1999
REVELATION 5: 1-14
Today we usually think of lambs as sweet
little cuddly creatures that cavort across our television screens. When
the Apostle John recorded the message he received in the Book of Revelation,
lambs were used as a sacrifice for sin. Sin brought death. According to
the laws of God to the Jewish nation, once a year the death of an innocent
lamb would be acceptable to God and allow sins to be forgiven. Instead
of a person having to die because of his own sin, a little lamb would be
killed in his place. This is hard for us to understand. Why did an innocent
creature have to die just so someone’s sins could be forgiven? It had not
done anything wrong. Why did it have to suffer and die?
At Christmas we remember the birth of
Jesus. Jesus was called the Lamb of God. He was innocent. Why did he have
to suffer and die? Because we still sin. Even though countless numbers
of innocent little lambs were sacrificed over hundreds of years, we still
sin. God cannot change his rules. Sin brings death. Only by the sacrifice
of God’s own lamb can we be forgiven of our sins. Jesus had done nothing
wrong. Why did He have to suffer?
Because of God’s love for us, he was
willing to become our sacrifice and die in our place. God chose to become
human knowing He would become the sacrificial lamb for the entire world.
A sacrifice sufficient for all of mankind, for the rest of time. How much
we have to be thankful for this Christmas!
GARY POWELL
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Revelation 5:1-14
“1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne
a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And
I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break
the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no-one in heaven or on earth or under
the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept
because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the
scroll and its seven seals." 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had
been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four
living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which
are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and
took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And
when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they
sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from
every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to
be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands
upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the
throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they
sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and
wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every
creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and
all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the
Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 14 The
four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshipped.”
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