260607 The Lamb You Didn't Expect

Jun 07, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Messiah in Your Hand Like Lost Keys

Religious leaders spent lifetimes studying Scripture yet missed Jesus standing among them. Their expectations blinded them to God’s actual work—a Lamb instead of a lion. We often search for God’s help in grand gestures while He works through ordinary means: a carpenter, a cross, a quiet nudge. What if the answer to your prayer is already present, unnoticed because it doesn’t fit your script? True sight begins when we release our demands for how God "should" act. [22:03]

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
(Isaiah 53:3, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you overlooked God’s work this week because it didn’t match your expectations? What ordinary moment might hold His extraordinary purpose?

Day 2: Labels vs. the Uncontainable Lamb

The delegation demanded categories for John—Messiah, prophet, revolutionary—but God refused their boxes. We still try to label Jesus: life coach, social activist, personal motivator. Yet the Lamb who takes away sin defies every label. His mission—to bear your guilt, not your preferences—unsettles tidy theology. When our definitions shrink Him, we worship an edited savior. The real Jesus requires surrender, not control. [30:29]

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
(John 1:23, ESV)

Reflection: What label for Jesus have you clung to that limits His authority over you? Where does His true mission unsettle your comfort?

Day 3: The Lamb Who Takes, Not Manages

John didn’t say Jesus “handles” sin—He takes it away. Not bargaining, not minimizing, but removing what we cannot. This Lamb doesn’t negotiate with shame or recycle regret. His sacrifice is definitive: your hidden failures, recurring doubts, and private rebellions are carried off like scapegoats into the wilderness. Freedom comes not in managing sin but trusting the Taker. [43:03]

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29, ESV)

Reflection: What specific sin do you still “manage” instead of releasing to Christ’s taking? How would freedom feel if that weight vanished?

Day 4: Revelation, Not Research

John admitted he didn’t deduce Jesus’ identity—the Spirit revealed it. No amount of theological study replaces the Holy Spirit’s work to awaken dead hearts. Salvation isn’t a puzzle to solve but a gift to receive. Your doubts, confusion, or past don’t disqualify you; the Spirit specializes in opening eyes to the Lamb standing among us. [45:09]

“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”
(1 Corinthians 12:3, ESV)

Reflection: When have you strained to “figure out” God instead of asking the Spirit to reveal Him? What might you see if you stopped analyzing and started listening?

Day 5: Losing Disciples to Gain Worshipers

John’s disciples left him to follow Jesus—and he rejoiced. Ministry succeeds not when crowds grow but when people fix their eyes on the Lamb. Churches, programs, and even sermons are signposts, not destinations. Every human effort must dissolve into the invitation: “Behold Him.” True worship redirects glory from intermediaries to the Savior. [49:45]

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.”
(John 1:35–37, ESV)

Reflection: What good thing in your life might God be asking you to release so others see Jesus more clearly? How can you point to Him today?

Sermon Summary

John tells the story like something obvious sitting right on the nose. Israel keeps hunting the Messiah, yet when he stands right in front of them they cannot see him. The text shows why. Israel wants power, a national hero, another David. God sends a lamb. That collision between what people want and who God actually is runs through the whole scene.

John refuses the titles that the delegation throws at him. Not the Christ. Not Elijah. Not the Prophet. He will not fit their label maker. Instead, Isaiah names him. A voice in the wilderness. A signpost, not the destination. He baptizes with water because his authority comes from Another, the One they do not know, already standing among them. God will not live in their little box. Expectations become blinders. When people get sure that God must work through strength, success, and their plans, they miss how he actually moves.

Then the warning lands. Jesus stands among them, and they do not know him. The problem is not that promises failed but that people wanted a different kind of Messiah. The human heart edits Jesus. It keeps the comforting bits and trims obedience, repentance, the cross, the reality of sin and the necessity of grace. A designer Jesus cannot save.

So the text turns. The next day, John points and says, Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Not a lion parading with soldiers but a lamb walking in quietly. The Passover lamb. The suffering servant of Isaiah 53. No beauty that people should desire him, yet pierced for transgressions and crushed for iniquities. Religion says bring God a sacrifice. The gospel says God brings the sacrifice. Not the lamb who manages sin, excuses sin, or looks the other way, but the lamb who takes it away. Guilt, shame, hidden failures, all of it.

How can blind sinners recognize a lamb? John admits he did not know him until the Spirit revealed him. Faith is gift. No one comes unless it is granted by the Father. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, creating faith through the promise, through simple means like word and water. That gives real comfort. Salvation does not hang on wit, pedigree, or performance, but on the God who opens eyes and hearts.

And when the Spirit reveals the Lamb, people follow him. John’s own disciples hear, behold the Lamb, and they go after Jesus. John rejoices. That is the point. Ministry is not about fans, seats, and brands, but about beholding and pointing. The deepest problem is not politics or circumstances but sin. The Lamb nobody expected is the Savior everybody needs. Because he lives, sins are forgiven, the future is secure, and hope is certain. So behold the Lamb.

Key Takeaways

1. Expectations can blind to God’s work [24:43] Expectations harden into filters. When God refuses to perform like a life coach for comfort and success, the heart concludes he is absent. John shows that the living God will not be managed by labels or timelines, which means faith must learn to watch for him in humility, repentance, and weakness rather than in spectacle. Seeing God’s work starts with surrendering the script. [24:43]
2. Beware constructing a designer Jesus [36:55] Editing Jesus to fit preference leaves a savior who always agrees and never saves. The cross, repentance, and obedience are not optional add-ons but the shape of real grace. The unedited Christ confronts sin in order to remove it, cuts in order to heal, and commands in order to free. A custom-built messiah offers affirmation without atonement. [36:55]
3. The Lamb actually takes sin away [38:59] John does not announce help for sin management but removal. The Passover Lamb carries the full freight of guilt, shame, and regret and shoulders it out of the world. That means a Christian’s past no longer gets the last word, and hidden failures need not hide. Assurance grows where the Lamb’s sufficiency is trusted more than the conscience’s accusations. [38:59]
4. Faith is revealed by the Spirit [45:36] John’s confession that he did not know Christ until God revealed him cuts pride at the root. Salvation rests on divine initiative, not human sharpness, sincerity, or heritage. The Spirit opens blind eyes, softens hard hearts, and grants the confession Jesus is Lord, which makes confidence rest in God’s power, not human resolve. [45:36]
5. Ministry points away from self to Jesus [49:17] When John says behold the Lamb and gladly loses disciples to Christ, true success comes into focus. Gospel work is not about building platforms or tribes but about handing people to Jesus. Joy ripens when attention decreases and allegiance transfers, because the Bridegroom, not the friend, must have the bride. [49:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:01] - Obvious yet unseen
[24:43] - Expectations blind to God’s work
[29:39] - God resists our categories
[31:17] - A voice in the wilderness
[33:26] - Among you stands One unknown
[34:03] - Warning: Missing the Messiah
[38:16] - The Lamb appears
[38:59] - Behold the Lamb of God
[41:49] - God provides the sacrifice
[44:43] - The Spirit reveals the Son
[49:17] - Following Jesus, not personalities
[53:35] - Assurance in the risen Lamb
[54:18] - Behold the Lamb in worship
[62:28] - Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 1:29 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Isaiah 53:2, 7 (ESV)
He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him… 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.

1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV)
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Observation questions

In John 1:19-28, how did John the Baptist respond when questioned about his identity, and why did this frustrate the religious leaders? [25:26]
What Old Testament imagery does John use to describe Jesus in John 1:29, and how does Isaiah 53 expand on this imagery?
According to the sermon, why did people struggle to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite their intense search for Him? [22:56]
What does John 1:33 reveal about how John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah?

Interpretation questions

Why might people’s expectations of God (e.g., a powerful political savior) prevent them from recognizing His actual work (e.g., a sacrificial lamb)? [24:43]
How does the idea of a “designer Jesus” (trimming His call to repentance or sacrifice) undermine the gospel’s power to save? [36:55]
The sermon states, “Salvation does not hang on wit, pedigree, or performance, but on the God who opens eyes and hearts.” How does 1 Corinthians 12:3 support this claim?
Why did John the Baptist’s disciples leave him to follow Jesus, and what does this reveal about true ministry? [49:17]

Application questions

What expectations or “boxes” do you unconsciously impose on God (e.g., solving problems your way, affirming your choices)? How might these blind you to His work in your life? [27:53]
In what areas of your life have you been tempted to “edit” Jesus—downplaying His call to repentance, obedience, or sacrifice? What steps could help you embrace the unedited Christ? [36:55]
The Lamb “takes away sin,” including guilt, shame, and hidden failures. What specific sin or regret do you struggle to believe He has fully removed? How might trusting His sufficiency change your daily life? [43:34]
John’s joy came from pointing others to Jesus, not building his own influence. Where in your relationships, work, or hobbies could you shift focus from self-promotion to pointing others to Christ?
The sermon says faith is a gift from the Spirit, not human effort. How does this truth comfort you when doubts arise or when sharing Jesus with others feels difficult? [45:36]
When have you seen God work through “weakness” (e.g., quiet faithfulness, humility) rather than worldly success? How can you cultivate a heart that watches for Him in such places? [28:50]

Sermon Clips

40s

#BeholdTheLamb

“See, the Christ you thought you knew is even better than you imagined. He's not really a teacher, a moral leader, a life coach, a little safety pass, backup plan. He's a savior. He's your sacrifice. He's your substitute. He's the crucified risen lamb. And because he lives, your sins are forgiven. Your future is secure and your hope is certain. So behold the lamb.”

58s

#LambTakesOurSin

“Many wanted a different messiah, powerful and impressive, victorious according to the culture standards. But God sent something greater. He sent the lamb. The lamb who didn't they didn't expect is a lamb you desperately need. Because the deepest problem is never politics, it's never your circumstances, it's never self improvement. Your deepest problem is sin. And John's words still ring true today. Behold, look, the lamb has come to take the sin of the world, yours away. So today, behold him.”

84s

#HeTakesItAllAway

“John doesn't say the lamb who comes to just look over your sin and ignore it. He says, no. This is the lamb who's come to take sins, the sins of the world, yours and mine. The guilt that you've carried, he comes to take it away. The shame that you keep pushing back down, try not to listen to her effect, he come to take it away. The regrets that you hide, he's come to take it away. The failures that just replay in your mind, He's come to take it away. The sin that nobody else knows but you know. He's come to take it away. The lamb takes it all away.”

63s

#StopEditingJesus

“See, sometimes we don't just reject Jesus. We don't fully reject Jesus because we believe we're Christians, but what we do is we edit Jesus. We we trim away the parts we don't like, that don't fit into our categories, into our likes, and our desires, uncomfortable. call to obedience to do something I don't like, that doesn't feel good, might be unpopular. The reality of our sin? Necessity of grace? We cut. And what we end up doing is creating a customized Jesus, a designer Jesus, a designer Messiah, a savior who always agrees with us.”

52s

#SacrificialServant

“Ordinary person looks like a weak messiah. No. He's not weak. He's just a willing servant. Not, he looks like he's already defeated. How can he win? He's not defeated. He's a sacrifice. He's kinda perilous. He didn't come to be a power for the world. He came to redeem it. See, this is where Christianity stands apart from everything else. Every religion says, bring your sacrifice to God that it may be acceptable and pleasing. And John said, no. God brought you his sacrifice.”

45s

#JesusIsPassoverLamb

“That title carries incredible significance in the Old Testament because John is pointing to Jesus and saying, you remember the covenant? You remember God made a covenant with us? He delivered us and he saved us? He took a lamb, this lamb whose blood was shed, the Passover lamb that saved us and delivered us. This is the Passover lamb. This is the lamb that has come to be sacrificed. This is the lamb, what Isaiah says, is a suffering servant. John is pulling together all salvation history and focusing it right onto Jesus.”

57s

#PrayForChange

“I mean, we want a savior to come and save us without repentance. We want a kingdom without sacrifice, glory without a cross, help without sacrifice. I mean, is why we pray. We pray, God, bless my plans. Jesus, improve my life. Jesus, remove my problems. Jesus, make my life easier. But we really pray, Jesus, change me. Jesus, forgive me. Jesus, lead me. Jesus, have mercy on me.”

57s

#SalvationBySpirit

“And that should be deeply comforting to us because salvation does not depend on your intellect. It doesn't depend on your family. Salvation doesn't depend on your insight, your your spiritual performance, your sincerity in what you do, your your own ability to figure everything out and to live it out. Depends on the spirit. The spirit that opens blind eyes. The spirit that opens a hard heart. The spirit brings revelation to a dull mind, the spirit who comes to us while we are dead in our trespasses, dead in our sin, we are condemned, and it comes to death and brings life.”

52s

#PointToJesus

“We don't want people here just because, oh, I like the personality of the pastor or somebody else. I like the people. I hope you like the people, but there's more. It's more than, oh, I just like the program. It's more than I just like the preaching. It's about creating followers of Christ. John loses disciples that day. He doesn't get mad, he doesn't say, oh man, you guys were never really faithful anyway. He doesn't criticize them. What does he do? He rejoices. He rejoices Because his entire ministry and purpose is to point to Jesus, not himself.”

60s

#BaptismIsGodAtWork

“That's why we have great confidence because it's not confidence in us, it's confidence in the God who saves us, a God who rescues us. John said, look, he came and baptized with water, but John says, who's this Jesus is? He baptizes with the Holy Spirit, verse 33. Jesus comes to give us the gift of faith, to give us the ability to even profess, to move our hearts, to change our hearts. And so baptism is not simply a symbolic act, a religious decoration, but it's more. It's God acting, God giving, God revealing himself, God creating faith through the promise of his word, through the simple means of word and water.”

41s

#FaithIsAGift

“Like God revealed Christ, the spirit descends on Jesus, the father testified, and what we're reminded again in John is faith is a gift. A gift from God. It's not your achievement. It's not your decision. Jesus says it plainly in John six sixty five. This is why I told you that no one comes to me unless it is granted by the Father. Paul writes in one Corinthians, no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit.”

69s

#UnexpectedMessiah

“And yet, when the Messiah arrives, they don't recognize him. It's not because he's absent or he didn't show up because he the reason is because he didn't show up the way they expected. Israel wanted power. Israel, they expected a great political deliverer, another great king, a conquering king, bring us the times of David again. They wanted a national hero. Instead, God sent a lamb. And that tension of what we want and who God is is real today.”

49s

#MissingTheMessiah

“Jesus, who's the Messiah, stood among them and they still did not know him. They didn't know him. It's not because Jesus didn't appear or God forgot his promises, The prophecies didn't fail. It's because they were looking for someone else. Again, they wanted a different kind of Messiah. They wanted a strong Messiah, a king Messiah, a political Messiah, a revolutionary Messiah. A messiah made in their own image. And yet, before we're too hard on them, which is easy to do, let's let the word look at us.”

45s

#HePaidOurDebt

“Every religion says, you gotta pay the debt. And Jesus says, I paid it for you. The lamb is not asking you to die for your sins. He came to die for you. And that is grace, and that is mercy, and that is the gospel. Notice what John does not say. John does not say, the lamb who tries to help with sin. John does not say, the lamb that comes to try to manage your sin and the consequences and try to keep you safe.”

55s

#VoiceInTheWilderness

“We love labels, don't we? We label everything. We label politics, label generations, label personalities, sports, label churches, put labels on coffee. We need things to fit in a category. And the religious leaders needed a label, a category. Messiah, Prophet, no. Elijah, So who are you? And John, no, he answers, but not with a title, but with scripture from Isaiah. Recorded in John 23, it says, I am the voice, the one crying out in the wilderness.”

54s

#ExpectationsCanBlind

“Because we want a Jesus who fixes our problems. our desires. We want a Jesus who protects our comfort, our little bubble. We want a Jesus who supports agenda. But John reveals something startling. See the Christ you thought you knew may not be the Christ that actually stands by you. So if you've taken notes, number one, religious people can be so fixed on their expectations that they miss God's actual work.”

41s

#LongingForTheMessiah

“Sometimes the things we are looking for are right in front of us, and we still don't see it. And that's exactly what's happening here in our text. The religious leaders are searching for the Messiah. And I mean they are on a search for the Messiah. Since they've been raised, they've been waiting for the Messiah. Their whole theology they've been brought up with is saying there's a Messiah who's coming. The family has talked about the Messiah. They've been praying for the Messiah, and they've been studying the scriptures from when they were young seeking, waiting for the Messiah to come.”

45s

#PointNotPlatform

“He didn't say, look, what about my ministry? I still got stuff to do. I got speakers that carry to the beach, I need you. I'm just kidding. But, you know, he didn't say, look, look about my movement. He said, no. Look, behold him. So this is what ministry's about. This is why we have this lighthouse and so you behold him and you point. Because the church is not about creating fans and filling seats and building buildings, it's about building people pointing to Jesus.”

47s

#DontConfuseSuccessWithGod

“And see, sometimes, when we're not careful, we do the same thing. We assume God must work through strength, that he's gonna always be more powerful and do more powerful things. We assume that when God is at work, it's success cause that's how we say it. We say, man, God must be at work. I got success. I got all these results. I I am just blessed because God's at work. has done something I wanted. God works through our plans. He helps those who help himself, we say. He works in our ways and timing.”

39s

#HumbleSufferingServant

“I mean, Jesus, he looks in ordinary. He's not impressive. He doesn't stand out. He doesn't have great features. He's not the Hollywood Jesus we see. He's not balked. He's not had this great g two g whatever, look. I can't get GQ. There it is. Right? No worldly glory. And what Isaiah continues, just like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities.”

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