I'm in Awe

Behold The Lamb

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

I'm wondering today. Wondering how much do we, as American Christians, take for granted all that Jesus Christ did for us? Has Jesus become so familiar that we have replaced His majesty with our limited understanding? Have I done the same? How about you?

When we think about people that inspire us, is Jesus part of this conversation? When we talk with our friends about those things we have experienced that create awe within us, do they include Jesus? More likely we talk and share the spectacular scenes we have personally visited and observed. The Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the east coast beaches or the tropics top many people's lists of things that inspired awe. But does Jesus inspire awe in you or does He not even register on your awe radar?

It's not that we don't care.... we really do. But there is so much that preoccupies our lives that Jesus in some ways becomes the familiar, common and taken for granted. When we fail to "behold" we forfeit so much of our personal intimacy with God.

It's time to make a renewed choice to stop and "behold"!

Do you want more?

Then....

"Behold the Lamb"!

The word 'behold' has four meanings 1. to wonder 2. to scrutinize, 3. to consider 4. to look intently.

Applying this definition to Jesus, we are to wonder in amazement that Yahweh (God) would send Jesus, Yeshua, (meaning salvation of Yahweh) as a sacrifice for our lives. Wonder at the amazing love that would compel God to take such drastic action to rescue humanity.

Let's scrutinize the word of God to see the "blood of the Lamb" throughout scripture.

Consider the obedience of Jesus and His incredible love for each one of us.

Finally, look intently, once again, at your Lord Jesus Christ.

Take a moment....stop, and "Behold the Lamb"!!!

Behold the Lamb: Who paid the penalty for our sin! In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

Behold the Lamb: Who takes away our sin! … who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

Behold the Lamb: Who erases every bit of our guilt. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Ps. 103:12

Behold the Lamb: Who provides deliverance from any and all darkness. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:13,14

Behold the Lamb: Who overcomes the enemy of your soul! They overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev. 12:11

When I stop and recognize "The Lamb" as "My Lamb" for my sin, I can do no less than "Behold the Lamb"! I gaze in awe and bow my knee in complete humility and wonder at the love Jesus Christ has for me. My heart begins to overflow with JOY as I join with the angels of Revelation:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" Rev. 5:12,13

Begin today,

"Behold the Lamb of God"!

"Light Wins"

The Scarlet Thread

The Empty Throne: Part 2

(The Scarlet Thread is a message series on the gospel of John. Each week I will post the sermon notes with some interjections. I realize they may be a bit difficult to follow as they are really in an outline form and not a narrative. To really understand the notes I highly recommend you go to iriverchurch.com go to the media button and listen to the message along with reading the notes. In the near future I will be launching a web site to better display theses notes and help the Pastors in Africa in a more user friendly mode.)

“Light Wins”

We all enjoy winners. Many of you will recall who won the last World Series... that's right my team the NY Yankees. But how many remember the team who lost the Super Bowl four times in a row... hint - my team - no one remembers... no one except maybe a Buffalo Bill's fan like me! Winning is something in our DNA that everyone in the world loves to celebrate. Winners are applauded, held in high esteem and emulated and paraded down Main Street USA. Today we have the awesome opportunity to look at the ultimate victor, who has never lost not even once! Now that's a record to celebrate!

The second message in the series on John is called "Light Wins". Yes, "Light Wins" every time!

Let's see what "The Scarlet Thread" has to say about the Triumphant Light.

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:4,5

God Idea: Light means - everything you need to know about life is found in Jesus!

(Each week the God Idea - is the overriding principle for the message.)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

Jesus quickly identified Himself as the light of the world. He did so during a feast when all of Jerusalem was illuminated to celebrate a feast. The white walls of Jerusalem would reflect this light to make this the most brilliant night of the year. In the midst of this setting Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world."

It would have been a huge statement to declare Himself the light of Jerusalem but what He said was of even greater significance. By stating "I am" He was declaring Himself to be God. Those listening would have immediately recognized this fact which would infuriate the religious leaders of the day.

To say He was the light of the world was to declare that He would bring illumination to the minds and hearts of mankind. He was essentially proclaiming, "Light Wins".

Four properties of light come quickly to mind.

1. Light creates life.

(Jesus as "The Light" will bring new life to mankind - the dead in spirit will be born again to new life.)

2. Light brings revelation. Ps. 119:105

(Jesus as "The Light" will reveal the deep secrets of man's heart.)

3. Light reveals hope.

(Jesus as "The Light" in the darkness is a rescuer reaching out with hope to those in darkness.)

4. Light opens perspective.

(Jesus as "The Light" opens our minds are hearts to God's perspective.)

"Light Wins" every time. Turn off all the lights, turn on just one... who wins - "The Light Wins". Jesus as the Light always wins - Even the Grave Lost! “and the darkness has not overcome it”.

Two meanings are served in the phrase, "darkness has not overcome it"...

1. The darkness cannot “Overpower” light! (Never)

2. The darkness cannot “Comprehend” light! (It is impossible for it to understand the light.)

Both meanings are excellent interpretations of this phrase.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him

This begs the question: ‘If light wins, why do people stay in darkness?”

I've come up with four over-riding reasons:

1. To live and stay in “Darkness” is a choice! This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19, 20

2. Darkness causes a loss of purpose and direction! Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going . John 12:35

3. Darkness creates confusion. ^“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” 4

4. Darkness is ruled by Satan. “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” Acts 26:18a

MAKE THE CHOICE: Choose light! Go out in the light!

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Rom. 13:12-14

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:10-13