Get rid of the Bunny

Intro

It is funny how easily thngs can get diluted.

look at Christmas, It is a day, that traditionaly christns celebrate the incarnation - The Word become bec oming flesh and dwelling with us.

So what does a flying raindeer, an overweight man in a red suit and a snowman have to do with that?

Easter hs suffered the same fate.

Easter is a weekend in the christian calander where we remember and celebrate the completed work of Jesus.

His substitutanal sacrifice on the cross and his triamphal ressurection from the grave.

So where on earth did the chicken and the egg come from? And why is there a rabbit involved?

Well the answer is actually quite simple:

Christmas is celebrated on the old pagan day of winter solstice and its emblims are still used. And Easter, or the passover occured over the same pagan weeked as the worship of Estor, a pagan goddess of fertilirty, whos nsymbols include eggs and rabbits and such.

Now we do not worship a pagan godness, b ut the one true God.

I want uyou all know that the trtue picture of Easter is NOT a bunny but a Lamb.

A Promised Lamb

The whole picture introduction of a special Lamb began with Abrham and Isaac.

As a test of Abrahams obedience God asked him to do something very difficult, almost impossibe.

gen 22 1-

Genesis 22:1–2 NKJV

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

What a test. Abraham would have to loose that which was most percious to him, and poor Isaac would have to die.

But Abraham knew God, and he knew this was a test, but by faith he followed through.

Abraham never told Isaac what was happening, instead he simply told his son that they wrere going to offer a regular burnt offering.

And while they are getting the wood and everything ready, Isaac notices that a very important part is missing.

gen 22 6-

Genesis 22:6–7 NKJV

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Here is Isaac’s question: Where is the important thing that can bring peace between ssinful man and a Holy God?

Abrahams repky to his son is a beautiuful promise:

Genesis 22:8 NKJV

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Abraham says: Isaac, this special Lamb, that will bring peace and forgivess: God himself will provide it.

And so the Promise of the Lamb is born.

(Of course abraham did not sacrifice Isaac, hod provided a ram caught by its horns in a thicket).

We did not know much about this Lamb at first, but later, through Moses God would give us gtreater understanding.

A Pictured Lamb

In time Abrahams descendent settled in Egypt, where they became slaves to the evil Pharoh.

They crid out to God for help and after 400 years of slavery God began the process of delivering his people.

And so God through Moses becan breaking pharoahs hard heart through 10 plauges.

Finally God sent the worst, an a certan night, God would move though egypt and kill every firstborn son.

Exodus 11:4–6 NKJV

4 Then Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again.

ex 11 4-

But there was a way to escape this terrible judgment.

In a very intresting way, God institues the passover.

Exodus 12:3 NKJV

3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.

ex 12

Exodus 12:6–7 NKJV

6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.

ex 12 6-

Exodus 12:12–13 NKJV

12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

ex 12 12-

The Lamb will give its life, and by its blood you will be saved from my wrath.

This passover became the most sacred of all the feasts of Isreal. Their entire calander revolved around this day.

thy celebrated it every year for thousands of years. It was especually impostnt to the priests who had to administer it.

As the years went on, the prients taught it to their children and so on and so forrth.

Untyill one day, maybe 8000 years later a young up and coming priest learn all about it from his father and that young prients name was Zechariah.

Well, like his dad did to him and for thousands of years Zechariah had a son and day after day told him all aboout this holy passover Lamb which died and by whos blood the Hebrews wrere saved.

He also told his little boy about Abraham and the promised lamb that God himslef would one day provide.

This little boy, hearing and knowing these promises, grew up and became a might preacher, we know him as Johj the baptist.

The Lamp Proclaimed

And so it was one day, as John preacvhed and baptised in the wilderness that the Picture of the Lamb and the Promise of the Lamb came together and wrere fulfilled, for on the day John Saw Jesus he craid out:

John 1:29 NKJV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John knew that jesus was the Lamb promised by God to Abraham, as the sacrifice who would bring peace between God and man and theat Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of the passover Lamb, who would save us freom God wrath.

And that is exacally what he did.

The Lamb Punished

Like that passover lamb was inncocent, uyet it died for the sins of other, so to Jesus is innocent but he was punished for our sins.

Isaiah 53:5–7 NKJV

5 But 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. 6 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. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

This is easter, this is the promise fulfilled. Jesus is the Lamb God promised Abraham, Jesus is the passover lamb, by whos blood we have been forgievn.

Colossians 1:20 NKJV

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

But when the Lamb sacrificed himself for us, this is not the end of the lamb, far from it.

Easyer is not just about His sacrifice but also about his ressurection and of course ultimatly his ascension.

Where is the Lamb now? At the right hand of father.

The Lamb Praised

rev 51

Revelation 5:1–4 NKJV

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

Why did he weep?

Bercause the opening of the scroll was the poyring out of God’s judgment. It is the recompense for all evil ever done.

If the scrol could not be opened, then all evil doinrs get away with it.

Murders get away with miurder, rapest get away with rape, theieves get a way.

If the scroll is not opned justice cannot be done.

But then something appers...

rev 5 5-

Revelation 5:5–7 NKJV

5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

When Jesus, the Lmab of God, takes the scroll, al of heaven, every elder, every saint, every angel begin worshipping the Lamb.

First the 24 elders and the 4 Cherafim worship:

Revelation 5:8–10 NKJV

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

rev 5 8-

Then the thousands of angels join in praising the Lamb.

rev 5 11-

Revelation 5:11–12 NKJV

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And then every living creature in heaven and on earth Joins in the defaning, earth shattering anthem of praise to the Lamb:

Revelation 5:13–14 NKJV

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

rev 5 13-

Conclusion:

Are you ready to put the Lamb at the center of easter?

Your Life?

Your marriage?

Your worship?

Yourt Parise?

Your motivation?