Behold the Lamb of God!

Imagine what it must have been like to be John the day that Jesus appeared at the Jordan river. John had been raised from the time of his birth with a consciousness of his calling as the forerunner of the Messiah. He was filled and anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit - the very spirit of Elijah while in his Mother's womb in order to call people to repentence and baptism. His conception and birth were miraculous and his upbringing carried the constant reminder that he had been born for this very purpose. While standing there in the water, surrounded by people of all sorts, pressing in from every side to be baptized - he suddenly saw him and recognized that it was He - the one who was to come! The Holy Spirit whispered in his inner being the revelation of who he was and who he was to become. It probably seemed as though all time culminated in that special moment when he recognized Jesus to be the Lamb of God!
That title contained an eternity of meaning and significance for the Jews gathered there at that time which is just as significant for us today. One can ask - Is it the Passover lamb that John is talking about - or is he referring to the lamb led to the slaughter in Isaiah 53:7? "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth: he was led like a lamb to the slaughter". Both references contain the same meaning for us. Jesus was to be the final sacrifice for our sin. Jesus, like the passover lamb would shed his blood in order to cleanse us of all of our sin, and to bring us out of the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of God.

Every one of us must experience a personal epiphany where we too recognize who Jesus is, and what He has done for us. Most of us can share how we were met by Jesus in this special experience of faith recognition. We can say together with John, " I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God"! Let us also together with John be bold in pointing the way for others who are searching to find Him!


Pastor Linda


Deuteronomy 7:12-16
Titus 2:1-15

John 1:29-34
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take up shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid.

3 Brandish spear and javelin [a]
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation."

4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.

5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;

6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.

10 My whole being will exclaim,
"Who is like you, O LORD
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them."

11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.

12 They repay me evil for good
and leave my soul forlorn.

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.

15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.

16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked ;
they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among throngs of people I will praise you.

19 Let not those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.

20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.

21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it."

22 O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.

23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.

24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.

25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!"
or say, "We have swallowed him up."

26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."

28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long.