The Lamb of Christmas

Series Review:

We have talked about this little baby all month long. This one born in a manger.

We have seen Christ before Christmas in the old testament.

We have seen Jesus the Creator of all things and the creator of Christmas.

We have seen Jesus as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord.

And we have seen the names of Christmas: Wonder Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And Now we behold this baby born is a manger as the Lamb of Christmas.

Come with me on a three part journey as we discover who is the Lamb of Christmas.

Message part 1: “The Manger of the Lamb”

Introduction: Defining the Pain

Try to imagine with me a nation that have pinned all their hopes on a prophesied Savior. Thy are not sure when he is coming but they need him to come.

It makes me think of the single mom after the kids have gone to bed and she prays silently and says Lord if you don’t show up in a big way I don’t think I can make it.

Or the husband that looses his job and has to go home and tell his wife that he doesn’t know where the next paycheck in coming from. He finds a quiet place in his back shed and whispers to the Lord I could really use your help right now.

Or the kid that has a wrecked home life that’s getting bullied at school but no one seems to notice, no one seems to care. He doesn’t know who to turn to. He doesn’t know who to pray to, but he needs a Savior.

The children of Israel we being oppressed by the Romans. They were looking for a Savior to end the tierony and take the rightful throne of David.

So they Pray. They wait. They don’t know how and they don’t know when this Savior will come. They finally A Holy night, a Silent night, A night like no other.

The promise has finally come. The prophecies have finally come true. For so long we have waited for the Messiah, The Redeemer, The Lamb of God that would take away our oppression and the sin of the world.

We feel the wait of our sin as we pay the consequences for what we do. We like sheep have all gone astray. Wondering off from the God who loves us. Running from his protection and care. We have longed to see the good Shepherd that would search for us, find us, and bring us back into the fold. We need a Savior!

Luke 2:8–10 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Luke 2:11–12 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke

But what is this? Our Shepherd has come to us as a little lamb wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. What can he do to deliver us?

Pastor Bill will invite all the children to come to the front for a story about the Lamb.

Joey Sings his special

Message Part 2 “The Ministry of the Lamb”

The lamb of God grew in preparation for the real reason why he came. God has been teaching his people that a sacrifice was needed to take away the sin and reproach of the world. A sacrifice much greater than the blood of bulls and goats. It had to be more for the sin of mankind. The lamb had to be spotless and without blemish from the sin of the world.

If a man was to be the sacrificial lamb he couldn’t come from the same line of Adam, for by Adam all have died and death has reined through sin. Salvation could only come from the Lamb prepared in the heavens. Immanuel, God with us. God was faithful to provide for himself the Lamb that was without spot or blemish. This Lamb of God is Jesus.

John 1:29

John 1:29–31 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! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus was born 6 month before the birth of Jesus. But John knew who the Lamb really was. This was not the son of Mary but the very Son of God, The Lamb of God that is able to save all that would believe in Him. The Lamb of God that could pay for the sin of others through his own sacrifice.

John 1:32–34 ESV

And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 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.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

God had prepared himself a Lamb, his only begotten Son. The only one worth to remove the curse of sin and bring salvation to the world. The one of which Isaiah the prophet foretold.

Is 53:4

Isaiah 53:4–5 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

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.

As The Lamb of God was slain for sins on the cross he utters these final words, “It is finished.” The debt of sin had been paid the ransom of a life for a life had been given. The Lamb has opened the door of salvation to all who would believe.

Chris Guest enters as John the Apostle.

John At the Cross

Guide: You there, you were one of his disciples, weren’t you? Surely you were devastated when they killed Jesus.

John: Response

Guide: What? Necessary fo the Messiah to Die? How can a dead Messiah liberate us from the Romans?

John: Response

Guide: But if Jesus is dead, how can he free us from the power of death?

John: Response

Guide: What happened?

John: You must go and see for yourself.

Guide: When you travel to the tomb of Jesus even today you will find it empty, for on the third day The Lamb resurrected from the dead to never die again.

Revelation 5:12 ESV

saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

John, the Apostle, would see Jesus again as he really is when he was in the Spirit and received the Revelation of Jesus.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Rev 1:17

Let us pause for a moment and take communion together.

Message Part 3 “The Throne of the Lamb”

The Lamb of Christmas is not just a story from 2000 years ago. The Lamb of Christmas is alive and well and still saving people today. Jesus the Lamb of God is seated at the right hand of God.

Revelation 5:6–7 ESV

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

Revelation 5:8–10 ESV

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:11–12 ESV

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Rev 5

Revelation 5:13 ESV

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

The Lamb of Christmas is the Creator of all thing.

The Lamb of Christmas has no beginning and not end.

The Lamb of Christmas was the sacrifice for all mankind.

The Lamb of Christmas conquered sin and death and is alive today.

The Lamb of Christmas is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord.

The Lamb of Christmas is the only one worthy to open the seals of the wrath of God.

The Lamb of Christmas will answer the prayer of the single mom.

The Lamb of Christmas sees you in that dark corner of the shed and he has not forgotten you.

The Lamb of Christmas will meet that teen in all his brokenness to comfort and to guide you making you whole once again.

To truly celebrate the Lamb of Christmas you must receive the Lamb of Christmas. There is no other sacrifice by which men and women can be saved.

Let’s join with all creation in heaven and on earth singing praises to the Lamb of God. The Lamb of Christmas.