Notes from a sermon heard on 22 March 2017
John 1 verses 26 – 39
“Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of
the world.”
These words were
spoken by John the Baptist. He was a
different John to the apostle. John the
Baptist was a man sent by God. We read
that in the beginning of this great chapter in verses 6 to 8. That is why John has his part on the scene –
to announce the arrival of the Lord and to present him. He was one of the last prophets and the
greatest of them. He had a unique
life. John makes this great discovery and
exclamation of Jesus in this verse. John’s
gospel has a lot to say about the world.
We are told in this chapter that God created the world, we are also told
he is the light of the world. In John 3
we read that God loves the world. In
this verse we read of the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the
world. The extent of the problem is
sin. There are many many different
problems in this world. Some think the
greatest problem is financial. Others
think it is health that is the greatest problem as we travel through life. You will get into heaven without any finance
or bad health but you will never get in without sin being taken away. If we were to write down all my sins it would
fill a book and if we were to take the sins of everyone here there would be a
vast number, probably enough to fill the church with books. Consider the fact that there are 7½ billion
people in the world, that each person commits 3 sins a day and that would be
1000 a year and if we were given 70 years to live that would make 70000
sins. If all the sins of the world were
added together you couldn’t number the vastness of this problem of sin. Sin is something that separates us from the
God of heaven. The government might
legalise sin and society might excuse sin and make light of it but it is
serious when it comes to the God of heaven.
He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Sin is a serious problem. It will keep you out of heaven. That is how serious it is. We might smile at it, might enjoy it but
Romans 5 verse 12 says “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” But … Christ came into the world to save
sinners. Sin not only separates us from
God but sin ruins lives. Think of the
alcoholic for a moment. Not just sin but
the love of sin – the sin of the world is mentioned here in these 2
verses. Sin separates, sin spoils, sin
will keep us out of heaven.
The excellence of the person. Many names are given to the Lord throughout
the scriptures – Emmanual, Jesus. There
are over 100 names given to the Lord.
No-one name fully describes him.
Everyone has a different aspect.
The Lamb of God speaks of the great sacrifice to take away the sin of
the world. In Genesis we read of Abraham
setting off up to the mountain with his servants to worship God. He says to his servants “you stay here and I
and the lad will go on up and worship.”
Isaac asks his father “where is the Lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham’s response – “God will provide himself
a Lamb.” (Genesis 22 verse 8). A Lamb
being provided. In Exodus we read of the
blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts.
In Isaiah 53 we read of the lamb crucified. There is something special about the Lamb of
God. Here he is clearly identified. John talks of the worth of the lamb. “One standing among you whom you know not”
(verse 26). Then he goes on in verse 27
to say “whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” John went on to say “I must decrease and he
must increase.” John speaks not only of
the worth of the lamb but of the work of the lamb – verses 35 and 36. There was something about the walk, not just
how he walked, it was speaking of his whole manner of life. It speaks of his holiness, his goodness, a
perfect sinless lamb. He went about
doing good, helping those who were sick and in trouble, restoring sight to the
blind, making the lame to walk, doing only those things that pleased the
Father. How different from any of us. Notice also the words of the lamb. The words of Christ are words of welcome, an
invitation. Reading through the
scriptures you often read of the Lord inviting people to come. The disciples of John wanted to see where he
dwelt and Jesus told them to “come and see”.
He also said “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” These 2 disciples asked where he was dwelling
and he told them to come and see. Jesus
is something worth listening to. The preacher
is not worth listening to but the words of Jesus bring blessing, comfort and
challenge. The work of the lamb was to
come to take away the sin of the world.
He took our sins on his own body.
The extent of the problem.
The expanse of the pardon. Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sin. What a tremendous
price had to be paid. He had to lay down
his life for us to be saved. The price
he paid. The just for the unjust that he
might bring us to God. When he went to
Calvary it was a voluntary act. He left
the splendours of heaven. God looked
down and said “who will go and whom will I send?” Isaiah himself said “here am I send me.” Jesus said those same words to his Father –
it was a voluntary act. Calvary was not
only a voluntary sacrifice but a violent sacrifice. Think of how they beat him, left his back
like a ploughed field, the very hairs of his face were pulled out, they put a
crown of thorns on his head then beat those thorns down into his head. We are not talking about small thorns either,
they were 2 inches long, sharp and pointed.
The pain he went through. It was
a vicarious act because it was in the place of another. Barabbas got out of prison simply because
another took his place. It was a
victorious work. It was enough to
satisfy the heart of God. God shall see
of the travail of the soul and be satisfied.
He is satisfied with the work accomplished by his son on Calvary. “It is enough that Jesus died and that he
died for me.” There is a pardon that is
free, full and forever. A pardon has to
be something that is received. The price
of the pardon has to be paid in full. “He
paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.” The expanse of the pardon – we are not
redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold but by the precious
blood of the lamb. The lamb was
acceptable to God.
The entreaty for peace with God. The word “behold” means to look more deeply,
more than a glance. “When I survey the
wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but
loss and pour contempt on all my pride.”
It is a look that saves and sets you free. It is a simple look and a single look. It is very significant. “Neither is there salvation in any other for
there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.” If you are looking for your works to save
you, you will be lost. If you are
looking to anything outside of Christ you are looking in the wrong direction. Focus on him.
He is the one who takes away the sin of the world. Isaiah 45 verse 22 “Look unto me and be ye
saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.” If you were to look intently at Christ he can
save you not only for time but for all eternity. It is an everlasting look. The more you look at Calvary the more you
will realise how much God loves you.
Christ has done all for you at Calvary – what will you do for him?
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