A Call to Behold

Vision:

Welcome to Port City. We are all about Jesus. We are seeking to be a multi-cultural disciple-making church for the glory of God and the good of Norfolk. On Sundays, we read the Bible. We teach it. We pray it. We sing it. We show it through communion and baptism. During the week, we stumble through living it out together. If you want to stumble along with us as we follow Jesus, this might be the place for you. We’d love to have you. I want to pray for our time in God’s Word, and then I will dive in. Let’s pray. Father, thank you for the miracle of Christmas. Break through the fog of tradition and going through the motions. Help us to be real with you here today. You know us, God. You see our thoughts. You know us inside and out. Help us to be open and honest with you as we open your Word, would you open yourself up to us and open ourselves up to you? We pray, in the mighty name of Jesus, and everybody who agreed with that said, amen. Amen.

Intro:

1 - What are you looking at? You staring.

2 - The kid who lives for sports. They’ve been grabbed.

Your soul stares. It is captivated. It’s chasing. It’s seeking. Your soul has eyes. To be human is to stare. We were made to stare at or behold God. To live staring at anything else will leave us short of what we were made to be. Our culture invites us to look in at our emotions. To look in at our feelings and to look deeply into our past to find the real us. Those things are good and in some ways have biblical precedent in certain situations. But more than anything, we were designed to look up. Not in. And when we do, I think we will find something surprising. It’s the God who made us and is already looking at us. The title of today’s sermon is “A Call to Behold” and my hope for us is that we will look up and see Jesus, the Lamb of God. Whether we’ve never looked up before, or we have a million times, we would see Jesus. And when we see Him, we would see Him looking at us. If you’re taking notes we have 4 points. One, hear the call. Two, consider the questions. Three, trust the promise. Four, receive the gift. If you’re ready, let me hear you say, I’m ready.

Alright, let’s get a little context before we dive into our deep dive. Look at verses 19-27 with me.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

So in the last few weeks we’ve been wrapping our minds around the person of John the Baptist. If you’ve never read the Bible before, you may not know who He is. That’s okay. You can always go back and catch up on past teachings on podcasts. But for the sake of time, Jesus is stepping into a very long story. The story of Christmas started before the world was even created. You see, God has been pursuing all of humanity ever since He created us. God is 3 in 1; Father/Son/Spirit. God created all things including humanity in His image. The Bible teaches that we were naked and had jobs before we fell into sin. We were full of potential but then humanity fell into sin. And ever since then God has been on a rescue mission to bring humanity back into relationship with Himself, and to fulfill their true calling to bear His image and step into their potential. And the Old Testament is God’s pursuit of all people on the earth through His covenant people the Israelites. He chose Abraham and Sarah to make a family out of to be the ones through whom He would pursue all people. He aimed for all through the one. But all along the way as God led them and they struggled to trust Him, their was this need for a true Son of God who would genuinely trust and follow God. Not doubting Him or running away. So in the person of Jesus we see the eternal Son of God taking on flesh to enter this ongoing story. And John the Baptist is sort of the final chapter bridging God’s pursuit of His covenant people the Israelites with the person of Jesus whose mission goes worldwide in ways that catches them off guard. So John was a big deal. He had a big following. But his role wasn’t to be the guy, but to prepare for the guy. He compares himself to the best man in a wedding. He’s like hey, I’m not the groom. He is. I’m here to get y’all ready for him. We aren’t good with God because we are Israelites. We need to get our hearts ready for God Himself to come here. And then one day, Jesus comes and says John you need to baptize me. Up until that point, Jesus’ ministry was hidden from everyone knowing who He was. John sees the Spirit of God descend on Jesus, and that’s His signal that this is the guy. Yo, everyone check this out. I can’t even untie this dude’s shoes.

1. Hear the Call (John 1:29, John 1:35)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

1200

Behold the Lamb of God (Hear the Call).

We are being told to behold the Lamb of God. Someone say behold. Behold. Behold means look. Behold is oldschool language, isn’t it? But it means look. Look. Look. Hello! Yo! Yo! Has someone hit you with a look. And you’re not looking, and you’re like “look!” Kids are so good at this. Too good. They have you thinking you’re about to win some money or something but it was just a squirrel went by. I’m finally like “what man?” and it’s nothing. But in all seriousness, behold is a strong word. He says it twice. Behold is so nice, he had to say it twice. Behold. Sometimes we have to be told to look, or we won’t look. You can’t miss this. So don’t miss it. Okay, behold, I get it. Behold who or what?

The Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world.

Lamb of God. Someone say Lamb. The Lamb of God is connected to the idea of taking away the sin of the world. So if you’re thinking how do those two things have anything to do with one another, they have a lot to do with one another. It is as the Lamb of God that Jesus takes away the sin of the world. In the Old Testament, we first see this in the Passover. The people of God are slaves in Egypt. They are held captive by an opressive power. And God wants to deliver them. He wants to get them out. So the way He does that is He starts working miraculously through the 10 plagues. The first 9 are miraculous things but the 10th is uniquely miraculous. Through the person of Moses, God had said let my son go. He was referring to the people of Israel. And in the last plague He says I’m going to kill the firstborn of everyone who doesn’t do the Passover. In the Passover, God said take a lamb, unblemished, and kill it. Take it and cook it and eat it. With the blood, take the blood and spread it over your doorposts. When the angel of death comes to kill every firstborn, every house that has the blood over their door will be passed over. So, by saying the Lamb of God. The original audience would have heard that story. Jesus is the Lamb. The Passover Lamb. But this time, instead of a lamb dying in place of a household, Jesus is the one being crushed. Jesus is the one being killed. And if His blood is over you, His blood applies to you, and you go free. Nothing you do makes you go free. Not being from a certain family. Not what you know. But who you trust. This Lamb.

Takes away the sin of the world.

Takes away. Someone say takes away. So Jesus is the Lamb who in His sacrificial death on our behalf takes away our sin. Now, we know from the rest of the New Testament, that for us to receive the gift, we must personally receive that forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith. But His work is sufficient to save you if you will turn to Him. And I need you to hear this, you need your sin taken away. You do. This idea of “away” was pointed out to me recently as I was watching this trash documentary. And listen I’m not on any kind of side on any kind of political issue when I say this, but yes there is a lot of trash on this earth. Just objectively, thinking about trash and waste is important. And there is a lot of it. And this particular show was pointing out how in the average mind that once we take our trash out and taken away by a truck it just somehow goes to this fantasy place called “away.” And they were tracking certain devices that were thrown away to show where they end up. Here’s my point. I think many of us do the same thing with sin. What we do is, we think once we’ve justified our sin or forgotten about it or excused it or ignored it, that somehow it just goes to a fantasy place called away. Hear this friends. That’s not how it works. Our lustful thoughts. Our arrogance. Our manipulation. Our ignorance of the poor. Our gossip behind people’s backs. Our using people. Our lying. Our cheating. Our spinning words for our benefits. All of it. It doesn’t just go away because we have a new years resolution to say less bad words. Or because we forgot how much our minds were filled with lustful junk for months on end. Just because you don’t think you’re a bad person right here right now maybe, that doesn’t mean your sin has gone away. Let’s roll the tape friends. If you’re so confident that your sin has gone away, let’s roll the footage of our lives. Maybe here today you’d say I know I’m not perfect but I’ve tried my best to be a good person. I’m sure there were good Egyptians. Where is your sin? Here’s the amazing thing. Jesus offers to take it truly away. But it doesn’t magically go away. Y’all the Bible talks a lot about Satan. He’s the enemy of our souls. He’s in charge of this current era we are in; he’s the prince of the power of the air. He’s at work during Christmas time. Make it all about traditions and warm feelings and being more moral. He wants to keep us from seeing Jesus clearly as the Lamb of God; whatever He has to do to make that happen. He’s down. Whether it’s crazy demon stuff or straight up comfort. The Christmas story is about a baby who was born in a manger destined for a cross. He was destined for that cross to take away our sins. It’s a gift He wants to give us. The biggest twist I see in our culture around Christmas is how much we want to focus on ourselves. I love the Christmas Carol movie, but that sort of mindset of try harder to love people this year ain’t gonna work. You’re not only a Scrooge, you’re dead in your sin. You need a Savior. You’re not the point of Christmas. Jesus isn’t primarily the coach of godliness. He’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John doesn’t say, “behold” a guy who can help you out. Behold a guy who can get you your dreams if you do your part. Behold a good moral teacher. No. Behold the Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world. John didn’t say behold the genie of God. Who makes your life awesome. No, behold the Lamb. Why you come to Jesus and what you think you need from Him is so important. Many come to Him initially in order to put God in their debt. I am keeping my part by not being bad, now it’s your turn to do your part. Don’t behold the genie of God. Not the business partner of God. Behold the Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world. He came to crush Satan. And set you free.

2. Consider the Question (John 1:38)

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

Look at verse 38 with me.

“Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

What do you want? Not how can I help, but really, at the deepest level of who you are, what do you want? Why are you following me? And here’s the thing y’all, we have to see the connection between John telling us to behold Jesus and Jesus asking us what we really want. You needing a Savior and you wanting Jesus should be connected. When He asks you what do you want, He’s not saying, I want you around me whether you want me or not. Just do what you’er supposed to do; be nice, be good, make yourself at home, but who cares if you want me. You can want something else, but roll with me. No, by asking you what you really want, the implication is I am the satisfier of whatever it is you think you are looking for. The Bible doesn’t present a story where God is tolerated while gritting our teeth to avoid sins, and secretly cherishing some other prize. No, God wants to be your prize. God wants to be what you want. But for Him to be what you want, you need to imagine Him looking deep into you, and asking you what do you want? Like for real. What do you want for real for real? So here’s what’s so cool about the Bible; the Spirit of God thorugh these words is not just telling you to behold Jesus but to see that Jesus wants to satisfy you. We tend to think He’s impressed with our seeking Him. He’s not like good job, some first followers. Line up boys. No. He asks them what He wants. I think many of us think if God was real, He would paint a message in the sky that says I’m here, I love you, here’s a message of evidence, see you at 10:00am when I paint another message. No. God’s agenda is not simply for you to believe in His existence mentally. But to believe that He is satisfying to your soul experientially. The God you are called to behold is the same God who made you and longs to satisfy you. There is a famous line by a north African theologian who was searching for life in his sexual lifestyle and academic pursuits that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. Friends, our souls are starving. And there are many things we aim for and seek in our lives that are snacks, when we are offered a feast. We think being financially independent is what we most need. Or being married. Or having kids. Or people liking us. Just being a nice person. Y’all, you were made to want Jesus. To be satisfied by Him. And to hear Him ask you; what are you seeking? And check this, the call to behold Him and His question of “what are you seeking” are so linked. If you don’t behold Jesus, you are beholding something else. If you aren’t seeking Jesus, you are seeking something else and potentially using Him. You are invited to put Jesus at the center family! To see Him is to want Him; to want Him is to see Him. So, I must ask you. What do you want? What are you looking for? What are you looking at? What the eyes look at shows me what the heart is looking for. I see guys screen time filled with gambling and women on instagram. You know what goes through my mind? It’s not that they’re sinful and need to stop; but they’re settling. They long for intimacy. For purpose. And they’re settling. Those women can’t please you. That money ain’t gonna change you. You were made for the Lamb. To behold Him. To seek Him.

3. Trust the Promise (John 1:39)

39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

In typical disciples fashion, they give a shallow answer. Uh, uh, uh, Jesus, uh where are you uh, staying, uh? They stay shallow when we all know good and well Jesus was trying to go deep. Listen friends, you won’t be free until you get deep with God. But Jesus doesn’t shame them, does He. He says, come and you will see. Both meaning if you come you’ll see where I’m staying, but if you come, you will find what you’re really looking for, which is really me. Here’s the promise of the Bible, if you seek Jesus, you will find Him. You don’t need to seek Him perfectly. But if you genuinely seek Him. Genuinely behold Him, you will find Him. You will see Him. Sadly, many in our nation, and in our great city of Norfolk think they’ve seen Jesus, and have moved on. Maybe left a church. Read the Bible occasionally. Try their best to be good to people. What does that have to do with what Jesus is offering here today? Friends, I want to call you to come and see. Really take Jesus at His word. Maybe you’ve never heard the story of the Bible or read it for yourself or given a Bible-teaching church a real shot, but I want to call you to come and see. Take Jesus at His word. Be real with Him about what you want. I think many times we think we are investigating God’s existence like He’s a sheet of propositions. He is a person. He isn’t nervous. He’s relaxed. He sees you coming. He invites you over. He longs to be in relationship with you and to satisfy your hearts deepest cravings. But you’re going to have to seek Him. He’s saying if you come and see me, come and stay with me, you’ll find me. You’ll see where I’m staying. Notice, we think we are looking for Jesus, and Jesus ends up hosting them that night. One of my favorite authors said “God always is the host.” We are ready to perform for Jesus. Are you ready to be hosted by Him? To receive his hospitality?

4. Receive the Gift (John 1:42)

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

So Andrew hears about Jesus from John. He’s told to behold Him. He follows Jesus. Jesus says what do you want? He says uh, where you staying? He says come and see. And through these words through the ages the Spirit of God has invited millions of people to really see if Jesus is who He says He is. And once Jesus becomes clear to you, you see Him for who He is, you follow. And when you follow, you can’t keep it to yourself. You go and get others and tell them we have found the Messiah! One thing that concerns me is how many people say oh yea I know Jesus, but there is little to know evidence in their life that they have beheld the Lamb of God the way this text shows us it transforms you. I remember one of my favorite hip hop artists when I first started following Jesus said it like this: I've seen the Lord, The same I'll never be, Some say they've seen the Lord, But live on casually, I don't know what-what you saw, But The Lord ain't what you seen, Once you really seen the Lord, You're obsessed with what you see. And man that is spot on. If someone comes to me and says I just got hit by a mack truck at 65mph, I’mma say uhhhh I don’t think so. I’m not doctor but nah. What you mean? You might even say to me don’t you know who I am. What I’ve done. I own a Bible. I grew up in this church. I say no to this sin. Okay, great. You think I’m saying no based on you. I’m saying no because I know what a mack truck is. It does damage. If you’ve seen the Lamb, your life will show it. Your lips will spill it. Which brings us to Peter. He gets brought to Jesus by Andrew. Jesus looks at Him and said. Pause. Who looked at who first in this text. This is so important friends; before you ever look at the Lord, He is already looking at you. And Peter hasn’t done a thing yet but be brought to Jesus. He didn’t earn this renaming by Jesus. He receives a new name from Jesus. He has a new identity to live into. He’s not the version of Peter Jesus sees him becoming yet, but on the front end Jesus says this is who you shall be called. This is who you will become in me. Listen. Some of us have been in church our whole lives, we are our same old selves because we never received newness from Jesus. We didn’t receive any newness because we came to Him to put Him to work for us. We want Him to make us the version of ourselves we think we need to be. No. When you come to Jesus, the you that you think you know is gone. Dead. You surrender to the Lamb of God. Worship Him. Repent of your sin. Trust Him. He will make you more in Him than you could ever make yourself or use Him to make yourself. Trust Him. Many people in Jesus went on to suffer and have really hard lives. They had easy lives making money and people loved them; they find Jesus, or better yet, are found by Jesus, and then their life is filled with hardship. But they wouldn’t trade it for a second! This Lamb is a better King to you than you are to yourself.

And I don’t know who needs to hear this today; once the Lamb of God has taken away your sin, no one can put that back on you. Christmas can bring up old skeletons. Going back home. Words from family members. Pain. Scars. Damage. Things the enemy has hit your family with. Or maybe a sin you’re still living with the consequences of. Hear this. The Lamb of God is the one who takes away the sin of the world, invites you to come and see Him, to satisfy you, and then He wants to make you new. So I don’t care what others say about you or what thoughts come up in your mind or how behind you feel the 30 year old on IG who makes a million dollars in passive income a day. Who cares? Behold the Lamb of God and follow Him.

Family, the call today is to receive what the Lamb of God wants to gift you. Christmas is about your receiving from Him. Not performing for Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. Repent.