* Easter 2021, we combined the sermon with the song service in a “Cantata-like” service in a year when we did not have any kind of choir practice for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The choir would lead a portion of two songs, then I would walk through one of the three points...etc.
What Are You Looking At? (John 1:29)
GIST: Focus your life intentionally toward Jesus, the one who has always loved you, and let Him change your life as He rescues you from yourself.
Happy Easter! You guys know I’m a Christmas guy. I love it. I wish people a Merry Christmas year round. I want my life to be a celebration of Jesus every day. However, as much as I love Christmas for what it is truly about, the central celebration of the Christian faith is actually Easter. If you miss everything else I say today, please hear this. Jesus really came, and really lived a perfect life, and really took on Hell in your place, and really rose from the dead conquering sin once and for all...because He really loves you that much. That’s what we’re celebrating today!
As I prayed about what to share with you today, one passage immediately came to mind. Then, I was listening to the radio Monday and came in the middle of a really powerful dramatic retelling of the life of Judas...that happened to pick up with this verse exactly. Therefore, this morning, we’re just going to break down one verse: John 1:29. To mix things up, my points are going to be divided between our song service.
The passage picks up when John the Baptist was calling for repentance and baptizing people in the wilderness all the while pointing them to the one who would come after him, the Messiah. He was preparing them for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Then, he sees Jesus and makes this declaration.
“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!”
Here’s our gist: Focus your life intentionally toward Jesus, the one who has always loved you, and let Him change your life as He rescues you from yourself.
I. Behold: Focus Your Life Intentionally Toward Jesus
This passage starts with John drawing our attention away from himself and toward Jesus. I don’t want to make a bigger deal out of this opening word than the text warrants, but the fact that the admonition is driven by the call to behold made me think.
You Will Be Looking At Something. Someone or something is always going to grab your eye and your attention and through this it will work its way into your heart. So, you need to ask: Is what your heart is longing for giving you life? Jesus will. This world won’t. You can’t simultaneously look to Jesus and sin. For example, you can be worshiping Jesus and looking into His Word and what He’s doing around you while also looking at pornography. I know this might seem like an extreme example, but it’s not. In fact, in our world it’s so commonplace it will probably hit home to far too many of us. Maybe what you’re letting into your heart doesn’t call itself pornographic, but is it? Maybe it’s something else entirely, but is it bringing you life? Only Jesus can do this, so to me this word was a reminder to→
Be Intentional About The Direction Of Your Heart. Behold Jesus, and in so doing let’s sing with Charles Wesely:
“His only righteousness I show,
His saving grace proclaim;
’Tis all my business here below
To cry “Behold the Lamb!”
II. The Lamb of God: The One Who Has Always Loved You
Behold the Lamb of God. Look and see The Promised Sacrifice of Love. This is who we’re supposed to be orienting our lives around. The imagery here is awesome and points so clearly to Jesus’ eternal plan of salvation. Years ago, I listened to a sermon by Tim Keller that completely changed the way I looked at Jesus being called the “Lamb of God.” He pointed out that in Genesis 22:7-8 when Abraham was being tested by God and took Isaac up the mountain to be sacrificed, Isaac noticed they had everything for the sacrifice...except the lamb. Abraham responded that God would provide the lamb, but technically… He didn’t. He provided a ram. So, either Abraham misspoke, or the lamb just wasn’t on the scene yet.
As we move through the Old Testament, we encounter more and more lamb imagery. Probably the next major occurrence is in Exodus 12:1-13 when God is delivering His people from Egypt. The final plague brings death to every first born child unless… there was the blood of a lamb covering their doorposts. Here we see a lot of lambs. Keller pointed out that “in every house in Egypt that night, there was either a dead lamb or a dead son”. These passover lambs were first sacrificed in order to save God’s people from bondage & destruction, but they were pointing to a deeper need that we all have to be rescued from the bondage and destruction of sin. The Israelites were told to remember this day forever, and it became the yearly passover celebration.
Moving forward in the Old Testament, Isaiah 53:5-7 gives us the promise of a lamb who will take our sins upon Himself. “5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 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.”
The night Jesus is betrayed by Judas, He met with his disciples for what has become known as the Last Supper. They were actually coming together to celebrate Passover. However, what is mentioned as being at this meal? Bread and wine. What is clearly missing? The centerpiece of the celebration. Where’s the lamb? He’s the one breaking the bread and telling them it symbolizes the sacrifice He is about to make on behalf of the world!
Here in John 1, John the Baptist tells us to behold, to look upon or see with understanding, that Jesus is the Lamb of God! He is the necessary, but innocent sacrifice for our sins. Please don’t miss this→
He Took Our Place. He was the perfect lamb we could never be, and His righteousness can cover us because our condemnation was poured out on Him! This was His plan from the beginning because this was His love from the beginning!
III. Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World: Let Him Change Your Life As He Rescues You From Yourself
Sacrifice isn’t the end of His story! He rescued us and won the ultimate victory over sin once and for all! Notice just a few points here in closing. First, He came to take away→
Sin. Notice that the term is sin not sins. Jesus did not just come to take away our sins or some sins. He came to destroy sin. The root that corrupts will be annihilated! John the Baptist would have had special insight here that makes this all the more telling. “As the son of a priest, [he knew] a lamb was sacrificed at the temple each morning and each evening for the sins of the people… [Yet,] John declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one whose sacrifice could deliver humankind from sin” (Christie, Les; Nystrom, David P.). One Jesus coming for the→
World. This sacrifice is for everyone who will come! If you are reading these words, please know Jesus died and rose again to rescue you because of His love for you. If you come to Him and accept His gift of grace, believing Him and surrendering your control to Him, you will be saved.
New Life. Let me just wrap this point up by also noting Jesus came back to life so we could experience real life. If you read a little further in John 1, John the Baptist tells people that Jesus will do what John never could and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Salvation isn’t being cleaned up and forgotten. The Holy Spirit, who is God, indwells you. Your life is no longer your own. It’s His...and that’s beautiful! You’re not alone. You’re not stuck. Behold the Lamb of God who defeats sin...for you!
TAKEAWAY
What are you beholding?
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