Behold The Lamb Of God

Romans 15:12–13 NKJV

And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

These are the result of sin

But all of these pains, all of these sorrows that have dashed the hopes of people, are a direct result of the power of sin. It is because many men and women have rejected what is righteous in favor of things that are unrighteous so that they can enjoy the pleasure of this world. But their hope is in vain because these pleasures are temporary and only last for a short season.

We have seen what the world offers

Some of us have figured that out and we wanted to find a way out of that vicious cycle. We wanted a reason to hope, something we could actually believe in. We have seen what the world offered and advertised, and we quickly learned that it was only deception, it was fake and ended in pain, sorrow, and misery.

John 1 Behold the lamb

But the bible tells us of one that offers true hope, and everlasting hope. One who is able to fulfill his promises.

In John chapter one, John the Baptist made a bold claim as he saw Jesus coming V.29 “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world”.

Some how this Jesus, was going to take away the sins of men. As Jesus began his ministry, he was met with those who loved him and those who hated him.

Water into wine

We read of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding and because of this miracle, his disciples began to believe on the man they had just met.

Purging the temple

Not long after that, Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple and the Jews became angry at him and began questioning “by what authority he had done this, show us a sign”. In response Jesus said in John 2:14 “ Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. Speaking of his own body.

Nicodemus (John 3)

In his ministry he also met people like Nicodemus who seemed to believe, but would not confess Jesus before men. Even though Nicodemus was not fully persuaded, Jesus took the time to speak with him and told him “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God”.

Jesus takes time to answer this Jewish rulers questions as he speaks to him from the scriptures that testify of Jesus. Here Jesus make a reference to

Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jesus remaining ministry – capture

Jesus spent the rest of his ministry preaching repentance and healing the blind, the lame, the withered, and raising the dead. Though he had done no evil, he was despised by the wicked until they could not take it any more.

During the night, they came to the garden of Gethsemane with torches and lanterns in hand, to arrest the light of the world, the hope of mankind.

High priest – Pilate

They took this innocent man, who was betrayed by his friend, to the Jewish high priest where he was questioned and slapped by and officer.

From there they led him to the judgment hall of Pilate in hopes that Pilate would crucify him because they were tired of being exposed.

But Pilate could find no fault in him and that he would release him and take the life of Barabbas instead who was a thief and a murderer. but the people cried out again, kill Jesus and release unto us Barabbas.

The scourging

Pilate took Jesus and had soldier beat him with a whip that would tare and rip the flesh off of the body as it clashed against the bones. The soldiers made a crown for Jesus, a crown of thorns that they pounded into his head.

This was not enough for the wicked people, they wanted him to die as they shouted, “crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate did as they wished.

To Galgotha

They laid the beam of the cross upon the open wounds of this beaten and blood man then led up to a hill called Galgotha.

Once there, they drove nails into his hands and through his feet. They lifted up his body for all the world to see, and they laughed and mocked.

Between two thieves, hung an innocent man 33 years old with nothing to his name but a coat, and even that was gambled away infront of him. In that moment, it seemed as if the wicked had taken the life of the lamb of God, they had killed the hope of glory as he shouted out “it is finished”.

The tomb

Joseph took the body from the cross and with the help of Nicodemus, prepared his body to be buried. They took him to a borrowed tomb, laid him there, and closed the tomb with a stone.

But if it were to end there, our hope would be no different than the hope that the world has to offer.

Isaiah 53:3–5 (NKJV)

3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

He went through all of this for you and for me. There was a plan, there was a purpose in the pain, in the suffering, and in the heart ache as Jesus came to do the will of the one who sent him.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

--The Comic book author

The resurrection

Our hope does not end with death because three days later, hope was resurrected and appeared unto those who believed reminding them of the words he had spoken before in John chapter 10 “No one takes my life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

He spoke with his disciples saying “my peace I leave you, not as the world gives but my peace, and everlastings peace, an eternal peace” and he said im going to give you an assurance so that you know that I am telling you the truth.

Tarry in Jerusalem

He told them to go tarry in Jerusalem, in Acts 1, that the promise of the Father was on its way. He told them that they would receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon them and that they would be witness unto the utter most part of the earth.

-He was telling them that once you receive this promise you will know that he hope is not in vain and it is not void but its going to back up everything ive told you.

And with this power you are going to be able to be a witness of this hope!

The day of Pentecost

In Acts 2, this promise came as 120 were gathered in the upper room in one mind and one accord, with one purpose. When all of a sudden, a sound from heaven came like a mighty rushing wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

The scripture says they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with tongues as the spirit gave the utterance.

The people

Of course the people of this city heard all of these people acting like crazy folks, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Peter stood up and preached Christ unto them, much like the message I have just shared with out tonight.

These men and women that once laughed at these who had just received the Holy Ghost, now were convicted of there sins and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ to the point where they asked the question in

Acts 2:37–39 (NKJV)

37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

I will pour out of my spirit

Acts 2:17–18 (NKJV)

17‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

18And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

These signs shall follow them that beleive

Mark 16:16–18 (NKJV)

16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”