Daughters of Promise Devotional
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THE LONG-AWAITED LAMB
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
What an amazing statement. When it came out of John's mouth, I wonder if he about fell over at the shock of what he had just said. For thousands of years, the Jews had been looking for the provision of the real lamb that would take away sins. The best they could hope for was a temporary covering of their transgressions through the sacrifice of a lamb during the Passover feast.
When the blood spilled, the hearts of God's people most likely turned over in their chest at the cost of an animals life in exchange for God's forgiveness. Sin was costly and they knew it well. As the life of the animal ebbed away, those whose hearts beat in sync with God's heart, ached for the coming Lamb. Would it be in their lifetime? They knew that the ritual they took part in was only a symbol of something greater that would take place.
John is the one to announce the arrival of a new day. He recognized the Lamb, God's lamb. This One wouldn't just cover sins. He would take them away completely.
Any of us who have grown up under the New Covenant can feel lukewarm over God's provision of the Lamb. If we had been Jewish, had lived in the time of Jesus's arrival on the scene, we would have been shaken to the core with the significance of Him walking into our world.
Remember Abraham and Isaac on the Mt. Moriah? (Gen. 22) Isaac said, "I see the wood and the fire. But, where is the lamb?" Abraham answered, in faith, "God will provide the lamb, my son." He did then, miraculously, in a nearby thicket. And He did it again thousands of years later in the form of a perfect Lamb without blemish. Oh, the cost of that blood that ran down the timbers of the cross.
Move in my heart until I can feel what you felt, God, about your son being the Lamb. Amen
Christine Wyrtzen
Daughters of Promise
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Want to see conviction laced with eloquence, conviction with a passion born of God's Spirit? Watch this clip. John Piper (DesiringGod.org) addresses the Pro-life issue within our current administration with respect and urgency.
Click Here
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