The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 ESV

     Leviticus speaks to all the different sacrifices and offerings made to God for restoring what was lost due to sin. God will not have fellowship with sin, yet provided clear instructions to restore this relationship and fellowship with Him. This shows God’s abundant mercy toward us even though He was disobeyed. In reading Leviticus, it is clear sin needs to be dealt with; which ultimately, God did once and for all by sending His only Son. Jesus, His son, became the perfect sacrifice that took away the consequences of all sin and provided a way of escape through his shed blood and forgiveness. Jesus spoke concerning himself when he said, “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28 ESV Paul spoke to this truth concerning Jesus in Ephesians 1: 7-8a ESV, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us.” It is important for one to believe this in order to experience this forgiveness. Where would a person start in believing this truth and receiving forgiveness, ultimately restoring a personal relationship with God? Most people feel they need to do some type of work in order to make it right with God. I suppose you do if you believe the words of Jesus Himself. Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” John 6:29 ESV So lets get to work by recognizing Jesus.
 
RECOGNIZE HIM AS FLESH…. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him”….. When John described Jesus coming toward him, he saw a man. God made flesh! He didn’t see a spirit or some type of vision; he saw Jesus. This is extremely important because it meant he had life blood flowing through his veins. Blood that would be poured out to reconcile us to God. Necessary blood, for…. without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22b ESV So we must believe that God was made flesh in Jesus. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV
 
RECOGNIZE HIM FOR WHO HE IS….. “Behold, the Lamb of God”…. There were several people that day by the Jordan River where John was preaching and baptizing, and perhaps they all knew each other. But then came Jesus, not just a man, but the ultimate sacrifice. John was not about to let it go unnoticed that the Savior of the world had just walked to the river. Neither should we. When we recognize who he is in our lives we should announce to the world, “THE LAMB OF GOD who took away my sin.” In this we recognize who Jesus is in our lives, but also who he is or can be in the lives of all who will believe.
 
RECOGNIZE HIS PURPOSE…. “Who takes away the sin of the world” …. Jesus knew his purpose, and he wasn’t going to waver. When in the garden the night before his crucifixion he said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour?” But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” John 12:27 ESV You and I were his purpose. I once heard a man say while talking about the resurrection say, “Whats the big deal; He’s God, of course he could rise from the dead.” Let me give you the big deal… YOU ARE. He did it for you and me. If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 ESV He died so that you might live.
 
     Jesus was a human sacrifice given for you and for me. The fact that he was totally God and totally man made him the perfect lamb of God to redeem us from every sin. He was sacrificed in death so that we might be living sacrifices. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV This is the least we can do….. to live for him who died for us.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David