Jesus is the Lamb of God
Epiphany '23 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 18 viewsBig Idea: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
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Call to Worship
Call to Worship
Psalm 40:2–3 (NIV)
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
John 1:29-42
Kidz Message
Kidz Message
Opener
Opener
Sin is like something really stinky but God intends the world to smell nice
Let the kids smell the “stinky” bottle
Sin is like the stinky bottle, you don’t want to be near it and it makes you uncomfortable, but we end up sinning and making the world stink when we don’t trust God.
Message
Message
In ancient Israel they knew that sin made things stinky, but it is easy to forget how our actions can make the world stinkier. So, God let them sacrifice a lamb, a baby sheep.
Would you be happy that the lamb died? Of course not!
killing the sheep reminded them of how bad their sin made the world
The sheep also reminded them that God would always give them a way to clean up the stink and make things right, even if it hurt God himself.
Today, in the scripture reading we heard John the baptist point to Jesus and say “look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus is like the lamb that the ancient Israelites killed, but the ultimate one who died so that all the stink that our sin creates can be cleaned up.
That’s why we follow Jesus, because he has made away to make all the bad in this world better.
Pretty cool huh?
Prayer
Prayer
Dear God
Sometimes we do things that hurt others,
sometimes other people hurt us,
when we hurt each other, we feel sad, lonely, and scared.
Thank you for sending your son Jesus
The Lamb of God, to fix all the bad.
Show us how we can help.
Amen
Sermon
Sermon
SLIDE - Opening Question
Opening
Opening
Q: “What do you believe will make the world a better place?”
Morality: If people would only choose to do good
Ex: More kindness and empathy, being self-sacrficial etc.
Ideology: If people believe the right things
Ex: If we only cared more about ______ (family, hard work, people who are different)
Policy: If those in power made the right rules
If we only got (so and so) out of office
If those darn (republicans, democrats, etc.) would stop getting in the way
Nihilist/ hedonist: It’s not possible.
We are all to insignificant to do anything about the world, so just do whatever makes you personally happy
I believe they all actually have a shred of wisdom, but none will do the job.
Epiphany: Jesus is God
Epiphany: Jesus is God
Slide - Epiphany
Epiphany is about having an “ah-ha” moment about who Jesus really is
Today, we will look at what John the baptist meant when he said Jesus is “The Lamb of God”
It matters because anything we believe will make the world a better place will inevitably fall flat without Jesus at the foundation.
Today, my aim to to invite you to a fresh epiphany as to why that’s true, and perhaps debunk some unhelpful interpretations of scripture along the way.
SIN & Injustice
SIN & Injustice
If we want to look at how to fix the world, we need to start with why it’s broken.
Sin Cycle
SLIDE - Sin Cycle
Self-defence -> Trauma -> Distrust
Note: Adjustment to sin cycle language around self-reliance/defence
The Sin Cycle creates Injustice
SLIDE - Sin Cycle -> Injustice
Injustice is simply when good things turn bad
This was in the garden and since the fall.
Slide - Sin Cycle->Injustice->Division
Q: How does God respond to injustice?
Retaliate or Release: Two competing interpretations that color our whole worldview
Example: The Flood in Genesis 5-9
God created by putting order to chaos in Gen 1
- Retaliate: God retaliates against human sin by inflicting pain
Justice demands vengeance, badness must be punished & destroyed to ensure goodness remains.
Punishment is what we deserve if God is just
- Release: God releases chaos into creation, resulting in pain & death.
Order & goodness comes in proximity to God, so the consequence of departure is chaos & injustice.
We can only truly live if we are close to God
Either way you interpret it, the result of sin is death
Scripture: Rom 6:23a
“For the wages of sin is death...”
How is The World Made Right?
How is The World Made Right?
So far, we’ve seen that the world is broken because of sin and the resulting injustice.
Q: How is the world made right?
Scripture Rom 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Today, in our scripture, John the baptist said…
Scripture John 1:29
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
So, Jesus is the Lamb of God, a gift that takes away the sin of the world AND brings Eternal Life.
Remember how I said we would tackle some unhelpful interpretations?
Lamb of God Theology breakout
Lamb of God Theology breakout
Side-note Q: What is a sacrificial Lamb?
Scripture Isaiah 53:4–5 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Scripture Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
The suffering servant was compared to a lamb
- “The Lamb” was part of temple rituals preparing holy space. By witnessing the daily death of a lamb, the people were reminded of the cost of sin.
- Contrast Pagan Sacrifice and Jewish Sacrifice.
Back to the Question
Back to the Question
Our two interpretations from before end up with quite different answers.
SLIDE - Two Interpretations (1)
Retaliation:
Jesus takes what we deserve, but Jesus is God?
Does God punish himself?
In the end we all get what is Just, but you can choose Jesus and avoid punishment
Jesus choosers get eternity with God
Jesus deniers get their just punishment of eternal death
SLIDE - Two Interpretations (2)
Release:
Jesus takes what we created
Jesus experiences the consequence of our sin
Jesus reverses the sin cycle & illuminates a Life-Cycle
Self-sacrifice -> Trust -> Healing
Those who follow Jesus experience life by reversing the cycle themselves
Those who reject him continue in death by staying in the cycle
SLIDE - Big Idea
Big Idea: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Note what John doesn’t say
Who takes on the punishment the world deserves
Who eliminates the consequences of sin
It’s only in the “release” interpretation that Sin actually goes away!
Conclusion/ Application
Conclusion/ Application
So let’s ask our question once more...
Slide - Core Question
Q: “What do you believe will make the world a better place?”
The world will be a better place because Jesus has made it possible to take away sin, and our following him out of the prison of sin and into eternal life will make the world a better place.
So, what now?
Call to Action
Call to Action
SLIDE - CTA
Are you unconvinced, though curious?
Are you convinced, but don’t know where to start?
repent & be baptized
Are you trying to process the new interpretation against a lifetime of believing in God’s punishment as Justice?
Keep chewing and send in your questions.
Benediction
Benediction
Look on the Lamb of God and be at peace, my friends.
As you go, do not go as slaves, fearfully obedient to a hard master.
Go as the free children of God,
who are loved with a depth-less and everlasting love.
Amen!