Lamb of God

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

“who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

John 1:29  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Hebrews 1:3     He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Revelation 21:22    And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

The Lamb of God.  We hear this but to understand it we first must understand what “Lamb” meant to the Jewish people.  In the Old Testament an animal blood sacrifice was required at the altar of God for the redemption of sins (forgiveness). …  We also see the symbolism when the Israelites were freed from Egypt.  . For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you…. The lamb became the symbol of prime sacrifice. Jesus, by his death on the cross, became the sacrifice for all man’s sins.

I am not afraid

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Psalms 3:1
O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.  I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.  Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.  Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!

Psalms 17:7
Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

Psalms 42:10
As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Psalms 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Jeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought the world was against you?  Have you ever had hope, faith, and trust in God that you could say  “even if there is a thousand who are against me, I am not afraid” because of your understanding of who God is?  Have you ever known what is like to seek God with your whole heart?  David saw the trouble around him and knew the intent to harm him.  He called out to God with the trouble and then claimed Him as his hope and shield.  He was not going to fear what man could do but rather who God is and what He had promised.  David claimed God’s steadfast love, His strength, and no good thing is withheld from those who walk uprightly.  We have so much to continue to know and understand about God this side of eternity.  Everyday there is something new to be thankful for.  A person once told me recently that he drove 20 miles to work on a farm.  He used to thank God for things he saw on the drive.  Fields, eyesight, hearing, transportation, trees, corn fields, rain, sunshine, clouds, sky, rivers, water, wind, thunder, lightening, snow, rocks, dirt, colors, etc…. the list is endless if we just give the minimal thought to it. Add to this the bible and His promises and now we can really have something to thank Him for.  Today see how many things you can thank God for – Keep Him on your mind no matter where you are or what you are doing.