Jesus: The Lamb Who Transforms and Empowers

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, the Ultimate Substitute and Sacrifice

Jesus is the Lamb of God, a title that carries deep Old Testament significance. The lamb represents substitution, sacrifice, and the bearing of sin. In Genesis, a lamb was a substitute for Isaac, sparing his life. In Exodus, the Passover lamb's blood protected the Israelites from judgment. Isaiah prophesied about a person, the ultimate sin-bearer, who would take on the iniquities of us all. Jesus fulfills these roles, taking away the sin of the world, not just individual sins, but the very nature of sin that separates us from God. This profound truth offers us a way to be reconciled with God, as Jesus takes our place, bearing the penalty of sin, and offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. [06:53]

Isaiah 53:6-7 (ESV): "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. 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."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt separated from God due to sin. How does understanding Jesus as your substitute and sacrifice change your perspective on reconciliation with God today?

Day 2: Liberation from the Nature of Sin

Jesus takes away the sin of the world, addressing not just individual sins but the very nature of sin that separates us from God. This comprehensive work liberates us from the power and penalty of sin, allowing us to live in freedom. By removing the barrier of sin, Jesus offers us a new identity and a restored relationship with God. This liberation is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process of transformation, as we learn to live in the freedom that Christ has provided. [13:33]

Romans 6:6-7 (ESV): "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel trapped by sin. How can you invite Jesus to help you experience His liberating power in that area today?

Day 3: Immersed in the Life of God

Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, immersing us in the life of God. This baptism is not merely a ritual but an immersion into the very life of God. To be baptized in the Spirit is to be drenched in holiness, to have our desires and affections transformed to align with God's will. This ongoing work of the Spirit in our lives empowers us to live in a way that reflects God's character. As we are filled with the Spirit, we are equipped to live out our faith in practical and transformative ways. [23:41]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on a desire or affection in your life that needs transformation. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to align it with God's will today?

Day 4: The Ongoing Work of Christ

Jesus' work of taking away sin and baptizing with the Spirit is ongoing. He continually intercedes for us and pours out His Spirit, enabling us to grow in grace and godliness. This ongoing work is a source of hope and encouragement, as we are not left to navigate our spiritual journey alone. Jesus' intercession and the Spirit's presence empower us to live in a way that reflects God's character and purposes. As we rely on His ongoing work, we can experience growth and transformation in our spiritual lives. [16:22]

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to experience Jesus' ongoing work today? How can you rely on His intercession and the Spirit's presence to grow in that area?

Day 5: The Good News for the Hungry

The message of Jesus is good news for those who are humble and hungry for God. He offers what no religion can: the removal of sin and the fullness of the Spirit, leading to true life and transformation. This good news is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us. As we humble ourselves and seek God, we can experience the transformative power of His presence in our lives. This is the hope and promise of the Gospel, offering us a new way of living that is marked by freedom, joy, and purpose. [29:39]

Matthew 5:6 (ESV): "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Reflection: What are you truly hungry for in your spiritual life? How can you position yourself to receive the fullness of the Spirit and the transformation that Jesus offers today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the Gospel of John, we have been exploring the profound truths about Jesus Christ. Today, we focus on two pivotal statements that reveal the core of His mission: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" and "This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." These declarations encapsulate the essence of what Jesus came to accomplish.

Firstly, Jesus is the Lamb of God, a title rich with Old Testament significance. The lamb symbolizes substitution, sacrifice, and the bearing of sin. In Genesis, the lamb was a substitute for Isaac, sparing his life. In Exodus, the Passover lamb's blood protected the Israelites from judgment. Isaiah prophesied about a person, the ultimate sin-bearer, who would take on the iniquities of us all. Jesus fulfills these roles, taking away the sin of the world, not just individual sins, but the very nature of sin that separates us from God.

Secondly, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This baptism is not merely a ritual but an immersion into the very life of God. To be baptized in the Spirit is to be drenched in holiness, to have our desires and affections transformed to align with God's will. This ongoing work of the Spirit in our lives empowers us to live in a way that reflects God's character.

These two works of Christ—removing sin and imparting the Spirit—fulfill the greatest promises of the Old Testament. They offer hope and transformation to all who are humble and hungry for God. Jesus does what no religion or person can do: He cleanses us from sin and fills us with divine life. This is the good news for those who long to be free from sin and filled with God's presence.

Key Takeaways

1. The Lamb as Substitute and Sacrifice: Jesus is the Lamb of God, fulfilling the Old Testament roles of substitute and sacrifice. He takes our place, bearing the penalty of sin, and offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, providing a way for us to be reconciled with God. [06:53]
2. Sin Taken Away: Jesus takes away the sin of the world, addressing not just individual sins but the very nature of sin that separates us from God. This comprehensive work liberates us from the power and penalty of sin, allowing us to live in freedom. [13:33]
3. Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, immersing us in the life of God. This ongoing work transforms our desires and empowers us to live in holiness, reflecting God's character in our lives. [23:41]
4. The Present Work of Christ: Jesus' work of taking away sin and baptizing with the Spirit is ongoing. He continually intercedes for us and pours out His Spirit, enabling us to grow in grace and godliness. [16:22]
5. Good News for the Hungry: The message of Jesus is good news for those who are humble and hungry for God. He offers what no religion can: the removal of sin and the fullness of the Spirit, leading to true life and transformation. [29:39]
** [29:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Introduction to the Series
[00:33] - The Sevenfold Glory of Jesus
[01:06] - Knowing Ourselves Through Jesus
[02:05] - Knowing What Jesus Does
[02:35] - The Two Great Works of Jesus
[03:52] - Jesus Takes Away Sin
[05:28] - The Lamb of God in the Old Testament
[06:53] - The Lamb as Substitute
[08:58] - The Lamb as Sacrifice
[10:07] - The Lamb as Sin Bearer
[13:33] - Sin Taken Away
[16:22] - The Present Work of Christ
[23:41] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
[29:39] - Good News for the Hungry
[33:48] - Conclusion and Prayer

Sermon Clips

Behold the Lamb of God John says who takes away the sin of the world then in verse 33 this is he who baptizes in the holy spirit so here in these verses you have the clearest possible statement of the two great works of Jesus Christ here is why the Son of God came into the world what did he come to do he comes to take away sin John says and he comes to baptize with the Holy Spirit here is the great work of Jesus Christ get it clear in your mind what can you ask of him to do what is it that he does in the lives of people who believe in him he takes away sin and he gives the holy spirit that is what Christ does and what he is able to do for all who will come to him today. [00:02:35]

The lamb is a substitute second the lamb is a sacrifice I'm thinking here of the story in Exodus the second book of the Bible the story of the Passover and you remember that story where um the Judgment of God was about to come through the land of Egypt and God told his people to um sacrifice a lamb and to pain the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts and on the lentil of their houses and God said when I see the blood I will pass over you so the life of the Lamb was given and the blood of the Lamb was shed and John says in the New Testament ruling the story forward Behold the Lamb of God what that means is look Jesus is the substitute who is going to stand in your place and this Jesus is the sacrifice whose blood will be shed on your behalf. [00:08:58]

Notice the present tense here the great work of Christ bearing sin as our substitute our sin Bearer and our sacrifice was done of course once for all at the cross but Jesus Christ rose from the dead he ascended into heaven and he lives to take away the sins of his people it's what he's always doing Matthew Henry says Christ is always taking away sin and he does it by the continual intercession of his blood in heaven and by the continuing in continual influence of his grace on Earth so as we take in who Jesus Christ is and what he does in this regard what am I to do then when I become aware of sin in my life you become aware of sin in your life what are you going to do you got to give it to him because he is the one who takes sin away. [00:16:22]

Your worst days he says are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace and you're best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace thank God that I have a savior who lives to take away sins and he is able to do it because of that once for all achievement on the cross that he ever lives to apply to my life and to apply to the lives of all who look to him. [00:17:48]

Think about this you could confess your sin to a trusted friend to a pastor to a priest to a counselor or to a small group any of these may be good things to do any of these could hear your confession not one of them could take your sin away there's only one person can do that in all of the world Behold the Lamb of God the Incarnate Son of God he's the one who not only hears your confession he can take your sin away and therefore you must come to him because he alone the lamb is the substitute and he's the sacrifice and he's the sin Bearer and therefore he's able uniquely to do this for you. [00:22:02]

Christ gives the Holy Spirit now notice what it says in verse 33 this is he the Lamb of God this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit now the word baptized let's just get the word so that we see the huge significance of what John is saying here the word baptize means to dip to immerse to drench to saturate so uh put all of these together we're speaking about an abundant Supply when the word baptize is used second he says this is he who baptizes that's dips immerses drenches saturates with the Holy Spirit the holy spirit is the spirit of God himself the third person of the Trinity so to be baptized with the spirit means to be drenched dipped saturated filled soaked in the very life of God himself. [00:23:41]

Jesus Christ immerses his people in the holy spirit of God if you were to be drenched in the holy spirit of God there would be a certain Holiness about you there would be some marks of godliness that would begin to kind of wash off on you because of the presence of God's holy spirit himself in your life you would find that there were some new thoughts that were coming to you that were thoughts that honored God and new affections that were beginning to fill you that caused you increasingly to love things that God loves and to hate the things that God hates you would find your own desires beginning to change so that when you feel the pull of the flesh that would have taken you in a wrong direction before there's something within you that says no that's not me I must not go there and you're aw why that that it's the holy spirit of God that's producing this new impulse within you. [00:26:01]

As you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ this life begins to flow within you as you look to to him this is what John's saying you you look the Lamb of God you you look to him and he's going to be taking away sin and then he's going to be doing this other wonderful thing he's going to be baptizing you in the spirit he's going to be effusing you immersing you in in the very life of God himself now do you see when you put these two things together how Jesus Christ fulfills the two greatest promises in all of the Old Testament they're brought together in Ezekiel chapter 36 and verse 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you and I will make you clean say taking away of sin and then two verses later I will put my spirit within you and I'll move you in the direction of all of my statutes and all of my laws. [00:27:39]

Jesus Christ is good news for people who want to get rid of their sin he is Christ takes away sin now here's what that means friend if you are really set on holding on to your sin Jesus Christ will not be good news to you you know it was a time in Jonah's life where he was like that God said I want you to go here Jonah says I'm determined I'm not I'm going to go there and you remember how God dealt with him in such an extraordinary way and at the end of Jonah in Chapter 2 he says this those who cling to worthless Idols will forfeit the grace that could be theirs so you see what he's saying if you're determined to hold on to your sin you'll never know the grace that could be yours through Jesus Christ he came to take away sin and what this means is that there is marvelous good news for every person in the church today who says that's what I want I want to be rid of it I want to be clean before God I want to be reconciled to God I want this off my back I want to be cleansed I want to be in a position where there is no condemnation ahead for me if that's your place tonight I want to be rid of my sins then the coming of Jesus Christ is very very good news for you. [00:29:39]

I have come to do for you what no religion in the world and no other person in the world can ever do for you I have come to take away your sin I have come to drench you in the very life of God himself self and to those who are humble and to those who are hungry that is the greatest good news that could ever be said so I want to say to you today Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and the humble and the hungry will respond to that by saying that is exactly what I need that is exactly what I desire I want today in a fresh way for my sins to be taken far away from me and I see that it's Jesus Christ who does that I want my life to be filled drenched saturated not with some of the muck that's been filling me but with the very holy spirit of God who will enable me to begin to move in a New Direction therefore I will not settle for the outward trappings of religion only I will follow him I will look to him I will go after him I will believe in him and I will trust him and in him you will find life indeed. [00:33:48]

The rich he has sent away empty but he has filled the Hungry with good things Lord Jesus Christ all that you have is what I need and all that you give is what I desire all that you are is what I seek take away my sin today fill me with your Holy Spirit today that I may find peace in your forgiveness for my past and strength by your spirit for my future for these things I ask in the savior's name amen. [00:34:56]

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