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Archive for the tag “Sacrificial Lamb”

31 Mar 2020

What is the Silence Teaching You?

For the last couple of weeks, I have heard many encouraging words. But I have also heard a message or two about where is God at a time like this? It’s always the question when trouble comes, right? One of the messages I heard recently from Pastor Jack Hibbs concerned the church of Ephesus in the Book of Revelation.

Jesus has been given the authority by God the Father to judge all things. During Jesus’ time on earth, He did not judge (condemn) but came to save (rescue) us from our sins. He exchanged our sin debt for His life – He was the Sacrificial Lamb who took away our sins by His blood being poured out for us (by death on a cross).

After Jesus’ ascension back to heaven, His role has changed. He will no longer by the Sacrificial Lamb but the Lion of Judah when He returns. Through His mercy though, He offers warnings to His people. When He was walking this earth, He spoke of the Good News that the Kingdom of God was near. He asked all to repent of their sins. He looked at sinners and told them He forgave them. He looked on the people with compassion. He healed them; drove out demons and caused the blind to see and the deaf to hear. That was then; what’s going on now?

Jesus still looks on us with compassion. He still sees us as sheep without a shepherd; lost and wandering in the desert looking for food and water. However, He warns us through His Word that time will come when we have to own up to our sins. We will face Him one day as a judge. For those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, His judgment will be based on what we have done with what we were given. For those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior will be judged based on the sins they committed. We will all be given an eternal sentence – it just depends on whether it’s life or death.

This all seems a bit harsh, right? Sorry, just writing what I know to be true. However, there is still Good News to be shared in this day and time. Jesus did come to save the lost and to bring living water and daily bread to those who would seek Him. The Kingdom of God is still near and He still wants us to repent of our sins. He still forgives and gives us life everlasting when we turn toward Him. There is no doom and gloom when we received the free gift He offers us. He is still the Rescuer and the Redeemer.

In Revelation, we find seven letters to churches Jesus chose to give a warning before their influence is removed from them (their lamp stand). It can be said these churches represent the Church through the ages. It could also represent our own hearts concerning Jesus. Jesus warns the churches of their lack of zeal for the Lord. He also told them to repent and turn back to Him – to those who have ears, let them hear.

If we wonder where God is at this time, look to God’s Word. God is speaking today just as He was in biblical times. However, are we paying attention? I do not believe God caused these things to occur, but I do believe God has allowed these things for our good and for His glory. I believe He is using these times to get our attention.

The distractions have been taken away. Our “busyness” has been put on hold. There is nothing to fill our time with going back and forth – chasing after the wind as Solomon put it in Ecclesiastes. There is silence wherever you turn. Very few cars on the roads, people are not gathering in different places; and life has slowed down to an almost stop. Every worship center around the world has closed regardless of religion. So, why the silence?

God speaks clearly in the silence.

When the prophet Elijah wanted to see God, God hid him in the cleft of a rock. God was not in the powerful wind that tore the mountains apart or the earthquake or fire; but when Elijah heard a gentle whisper, he pulled his cloak over his face and went to stand before the Lord at the mouth of the cave (1 Kings 19:11-13).

It is silence that brings His presence. Are we willing to step into the cleft of the rock in order to hear Him? We haven’t experienced this type of silence in so long, it’s a bit scary. However, it’s never a scary thing to be with God. Peace beyond understanding is what He gives in His presence.

There are many words in the Bible to give us encouragement for such a time as this. Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9); I’ll be with you wherever you go (Deuteronomy 31:6). When I find myself in circumstances beyond my control, every time God brings Isaiah 41:10 to mind:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God is speaking. Cover your face and listen to Him. Lean into this time. Learn from it. Make this a pivotal time in your life and also your family’s life. Jesus is here with us and for us and is upholding us in this time. Be assured of His presence in the silence.

Lord, give us ears to hear and a heart that is obedient to what You say. Forgive us and help us turn away from these sins of ours and turn to You and only You. May You once again look upon us with favor as we humbly come before You. Heal our land as only You can do for the sake of Your Name and for Your glory. Amen.

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09 Feb 2020

The Rescue Story

Before the sun peeked over the horizon this morning, I was laying at the edge of wakefulness when I heard a gentle whisper “we carry a message, not a stone.” As I contemplated those words, more words started flowing. Of course, the bed was warm and I wasn’t quite ready to greet the dawn; so the words that I write now will not be as eloquent as the words given first thing, but I will give it my best shot. A song popped into my head as I thought about the words – it’s about a rescue story. Have you heard the song by Zach Williams? Check it out sometime.

The story opens with the snake slithering in and speaking a message of deception. The enemy said (Genesis 3:4-5) “you will not surely die” and “you will be like God.” Eve looked at the fruit and saw it was pleasing to the eye and desirable for wisdom, she took some and ate it (Genesis 3:6). In the previous two chapters in Genesis, God created a perfect world. Sin had not entered into the picture. Two chapters of God’s perfect world were undone by a deceptive snake. Eve believed the lie and sin entered in with one bite. The rest of the Bible is God’s rescue story.

I have entered the reading of Leviticus for my quiet time reflections. I am working my way through the offerings the Israelites were supposed to burn on the altar. It’s a hard read. Animal parts, burning on the altar, blood splattering. Animal after animal was offered to cover the sin problem, but it was never permanent. It was a symbol of what it would take to become a permanent solution – a perfect Lamb – without blemish (sin) – sacrificed outside the city for the sake of all.

God takes sin very seriously. I know, we don’t like to think of Him that way – the God of wrath. But sin to Him deserves wrath. It is an abomination to Him. No matter the sin, it’s all against Him. He does not take this lightly and nether should we.

When Adam and Eve took that bite, they surely did die. The perfect relationship was broken and they were condemned to die. The enemy said they would be like God knowing good and evil. However, God had already created Adam in God’s likeness (Genesis 1:27). The enemy suggested God was withholding from them – the knowledge of good and evil – God was withholding something they needed – wisdom. But they already had everything they needed – a right relationship with God and every need was already fulfilled.

At the right time, God sent His Son not to condemn us for our sins, but to save us (John 3:16-17). Jesus is our hope and our salvation. He is our light in the darkness and ever present hope in despair. He is our redeemer and our rescuer. He doesn’t leave us in our despair, but lifts us out and puts us on a solid rock. This is the message we carry. Our job is not to condemn the world – carrying a stone to throw, but share the message of hope to this condemned world.

For those caught in sinful situations back in Old Testament times, stoning was the punishment depending on the sin. When caught, the community would take the one caught outside the village and throw stones until the sinner was dead. It was a harsh sentence. Everything seemed harsh back in that day, didn’t it? But again, sin was taken much more seriously than it is today.

Even the message we receive today about Jesus isn’t as harsh as it was in that day. Jesus cleaned the temple area with a whip – driving out money changers and animals. He spoke “woes” to the religious elite. Jesus’ message began with (Mark 1:15) “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Many heard His message and felt it was too harsh. Many turned away. Jesus said that the road was narrow to heaven and few would find it. Seems harsh, right?

We have often heard there were many roads to heaven. But if that were the case, Jesus didn’t have to pay the price for our sins and die a cruel death. The animals were offered as a sin offering until Jesus was able to do it once and for all. Face it; we have a sin problem. Confess it and turn from it. And be rescued once and for all.

As followers of Jesus, we don’t carry a stone but a message of hope, of peace, of joy and an everlasting love, mercy and grace. Many will reject it, but many will come to know Him and turn from their sinful ways. I know I did and I am so grateful for my rescue story!

Throwing stones reminded me of the story in John about the woman caught in adultery. Her punishment should have been stoning according to the Law of Moses. The crowd threw her at the feet of Jesus. I will leave you with Jesus and this woman’s interaction. We all have a come to Jesus moment. What we do with it means the difference between life and death.

When they (the Pharisees) kept on questioning him (Jesus), he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:7-11

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18 Apr 2019

The Sacrifice

Throughout centuries, words were written down for eternal purpose. These words were complete when it was put together and called God’s Word – the Bible. It’s interesting to see how each author had a message to share. Scholars point out stories which depict Jesus Christ from one book to the next. The books are intertwined to relay God’s message – we all need a savior to save us from our sins. In the first book of the Bible, we see our need for a Savior.

Genesis 3:13-15 tells the story of sin entering the world for the first time. The woman ate the fruit that was forbidden because of the serpent – God’s enemy (and ours) Satan. God said because of this act of defiance, there will be “enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” From this account, we know the why of the story. But the Bible continues as it answers the how, where, and when this will come about.

Scholars point to passages throughout the Bible giving foreshadow of Jesus. Abraham’s sacrifice on Mount Moriah was one of the passages foreshadows Jesus’ sacrifice. Genesis 22: 2 begins the story of God’s call to Abraham concerning his promised son. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” On the third day of traveling, God showed Abraham the place where the sacrifice needed to be made.

The story continues in Genesis 22:6-8. Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

God did provide the sacrifice for Abraham’s offering after God saw Abraham’s willingness to obey. But the real sacrifice still needed to be displayed in other ways. We jump a few centuries later to a captive people in the land of Egypt. At the right time, God made a way for His people to be delivered from their bondage. It took four hundred years to come to the point of sacrificed lamb’s blood to be poured out for the sake of the people.

This event was called Passover because of the sacrificed lamb’s blood was put on their door posts so that the angel of death would pass over that house. Everyone in the house would be saved if the blood of the lamb was poured out for them. After the Jews were delivered, they celebrated this event year after year. It was the first of the seven major festivals they celebrated each and every year.

It seems pretty cruel to sacrifice animals, but God said it must be done in order to cover sins. Leviticus 17:11 stated: For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

It seems harsh to sacrifice animals, but sin was the reason. Sins of the people had to be resolved. Year after year, a lamb had to be sacrificed until Jesus. The perfect Lamb needed to be sacrificed for all sins – past, present and future. A one-time act of sacrifice will wipe away every sin. It was God’s plan from the beginning.

John the Baptist was the first one to recognize Jesus as the perfect Lamb. In John 1:29, John said of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” When Jesus was baptized, God spoke this word about Him in Matthew 3:16-17. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Only a perfect Lamb was able to take away the sins of the people.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17). God’s plan was coming together perfectly.

At the right time, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy Abraham spoke about to Isaac when God would provide the Lamb for sacrifice on the very mountain God showed Abraham thousands of years before. At just the right time, Jesus’ fulfillment was made on the celebration of Passover – the time of recognition of Israel’s deliverance from death.

God’s plan is still at work. The world is still being redeemed by the blood of His perfect Lamb, Jesus. He fulfills everything as He states in His Word at the right time. He did everything for us; all we have to do is believe. Something I heard not long ago – sin doesn’t keep you out of heaven, unbelief does.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-38

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

Do you believe Jesus is who He said He is? Do you believe Jesus did what He said He would do? Believe in the one who was sent to take away your sins. This is the season to recognize Jesus’ sacrifice. Remember what He did for you today.

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31 Mar 2018

The Sabbath Rest

According to God’s Word, the Sabbath was to be observed by the Jewish community wherever they lived. No matter the circumstances, there were rules they were commanded to keep on the Sabbath. It was a day of rest. They couldn’t work; they couldn’t walk but a short distance. They were to keep the day holy. God set the time of the Sabbath on the seventh day – evening to evening – not when the sun rises but when it sets to the time of the next setting is a day. God created nothing on the seventh day. He rested and commanded His people to rest as well – to set it aside as a holy day.

God created humanity and everything we would need for food on the sixth day. I think it is quite fitting that Jesus would die on the sixth day; the day humanity was created. It just seems symbolic, doesn’t it? Jesus died for humanity on humanity’s day of creation. It all goes back to the very beginning when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. They believed the lie from God’s enemy over God’s word. The first sin. And Jesus died for that first sin and every sin thereafter.

But the Sabbath rest came at sundown. They wanted Jesus’ body down from the cross before the Sabbath came. They rushed to put Him in the grave before sundown. Then they rested. I bet it really wasn’t much of a rest. The disciples gathered in an upper room mourning the loss of their leader – the one who was supposed to save them from the Romans, or at least that was their expectation. They were disillusioned, disappointed, and grieving such a devastating loss. Yet, it was the Sabbath, a day set aside for holiness – contemplation and rest. I am sure they discussed what took place. I am sure they wondered what’s next – who’s next? They weren’t just up in a room contemplating; they were in that room hiding from the ones who would come after them.

Their sorrow was great; but Peter’s sorrow was greater. He denied Jesus. He let Jesus down or at least, he let himself down. Jesus knew what was going to happen. Jesus wasn’t disappointed in Peter; he expected Peter to act that way. I would think that Jesus was sad that Peter denied Him, but not disappointed. Jesus also knew who all these things would be resolved. Jesus would return. Jesus would reinstate Peter as the leader of the movement in a few days time. But in the meantime, Peter and the others didn’t know all this would be resolved.

On this Sabbath rest, they saw nothing of the future even though Jesus told them the future. Jesus taught them all that would occur. Jesus said He would rise again. Jesus said that Peter was the rock that would build His church. They had a future, but they couldn’t see it on that Sabbath. They thought it was the end when it was truly the beginning. Something far greater was going to occur in just a few hours time when everything would change again. Victory would rise up. Sin was defeated by the blood of the Lamb.

We look back in ancient times when the Jewish people had to sacrifice a lamb to take away their sins to find that Jesus was that Lamb. God spoke to the prophets to record these things so that we could see the thread throughout history. Passover was an observance of killing the lamb, placing the blood on the doorposts of the house so that the death angel would pass over that house. It was in the land of Egypt before the deliverance of God’s people. The Passover lamb was slaughtered; the blood was shed to cover the people in that house. They didn’t have to fear death, because the blood covered them. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice – the Lamb that was slain to defeat death so that we would no longer fear death. He would save us from our sins through His sacrifice and His blood offering.

The Bible is full of threads that Jesus will one day fulfill completely. He is the Word of God come to life. In Him all things will be complete. God said it. We are to believe it. And Jesus will bring it to completion because He always fulfills what He started. It is done when He says it’s done. Today is the day we contemplate all that Jesus has done and will do.

This is the day set aside for holiness and the anticipation of things to come. Victory has been won. The blood of the Lamb says so. It is finished; rise up in victory and praise the Lord! We might not see everything right now. Like the disciples, we are still wondering what will happen next; but we haven’t seen the end yet. It’s still only the beginning of greater things to come!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-5, 14

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14 Dec 2017

The Waiting Game

It’s almost here – Christmas! It’s my favorite time of the year. It’s not only the gift giving and receiving that makes it such a joy, but the family gathering around. My Mom is no longer with us, but I remember all the times we gathered together as a family with her in our midst and the joy that we experienced together. She was a giver and the presents abounded. We rushed through the opening to discover our “wants” had been granted. It was always such a joyful time. Now, I watch the little children in the family experience that same joy in discovery that “Santa” knew just what they wanted.

As I contemplate Christmas this year, I am reminded of the truth of the Christmas story. It’s not about the presents under the tree, but the presence on that tree. Christmas and Easter tied together through the story of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. We celebrate Jesus’ birth in a place that was arranged many years before that event.

It’s amazing to me how God creates events long before they occur. Take Bethlehem as an example. God already had Bethlehem in mind long before Jesus’ birth. He set up that city as a place of importance. It’s the birthplace of King David, Jesus’ ancestor. But it was also known for the place where sacrificial lambs were raised for the temple. This was the place where lambs were raised without blemish for the perfect Passover sacrifice that occurred every year.

As the lambs were born, they were wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep them from blemish. The shepherds in the field on the night of Jesus’ birth were the ones who were watching over these perfect lambs. They would recognize the significance of Jesus when the angel told them that Jesus had been born and was placed in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes. He came in like a lamb to be the lamb of sacrifice for our sins on that last Passover of His death.

Passover was also a set up for the future fulfillment through Jesus. The sacrificial lambs were to represent the cleansing of each person’s sins – a lamb had to be sacrificed to take away the sins. This first Passover found in Exodus kept the house of Jacob safe from the angel of death. Each family had to sacrifice the perfect lamb and place the blood of the lamb on the door frame – top and sides. The Law of Moses was a set up for Jesus to fulfill them. Sacrifice – yes, that’s Jesus. Cleansing – yes, that’s Jesus. Sabbath – yes, that’s Jesus.

Every prophetic event takes years of preparation. It’s just a waiting game. But in the waiting, so much is happening behind the scenes. So what does this all have to do with my Christmas ramblings? God is the promise keeper. God sets up the events in our lives in anticipation of what is to come. We might not see it right now, but God is working behind the scenes to fulfill His promise and His plan. We’re a part of it.

I hate to wait on anything, do you? But right now, as we anticipate Christmas, it’s part of the plan to wait on the timing of God’s plan. Not just for the prophetic cycle of events, but also the events in our lives that we are waiting to be fulfilled.

God’s timing is perfect. So if you are waiting on something to occur, don’t rush ahead of what God is preparing for you. It’s going to happen in God’s time, just wait. But in the waiting, we also need to be in preparation for it. As advent is for Christmas – the preparation for the coming of Jesus, we also need to prepare for the next thing in our lives as well. God is all about shaping our character. This is His ultimate goal for each of us.

How do we prepare for what we don’t know? Pray. Let God’s will be done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Surrender to the plan. When it happens, be obedient in it. And praise Him before, during and after – it’s the only way to prepare for what’s to come.

Every event in our lives is a step forward in our transformational plan. It might not feel like it at the time, especially if it feels like a step back. But God has a purpose in the events in our lives to shape us for the future. This is our dress rehearsal for the real deal in the eternal Kingdom. This earthly experience shapes us for the eternal experience to come. That’s why we can count all our experiences as joy – the good, the bad and the downright ugly. That’s why Jesus counted the cross as joy. He saw the eternal purpose. We can too.

Just consider Christmas as the taste of what’s to come. He will bring it all together for good – He promised. Believe it because of the Lamb of God and Bethlehem, and all that was foretold long ago. What He promises will come to pass. He is at work preparing the events for what is ahead of us. Wait for it. The plan is good. He promised.

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 bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17 (ESV)

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