1.2.2 12.12.2021 Mary had a Little Lamb. John 1.29-34 Revelation 5

Start

Entice: Christmas has become associated with animals. I don't know if it goes back to the rustic setting of the manger or not. Some of those animals which form the heart of our Christmas celebrations were certainly not gathered around the manger.

Reindeer? Nope. Regardless of flight characteristics or luminous nasal Hijinx, there were no reindeer of any name hanging about the stable.

Cute Dogs? (Like Max the Grinch's lovable companion) Again, no.

Abominable snow monsters of the North? Hardly.

Lost Penguins? (Like Topper in Santa Clause is Comin' to Town) One final time. No. There were no penguins, furry bunnies, or Camels. The lowing of the cattle, as fixed as it is in our minds, is a romantic addition to the story. We don’t even know for sure that a donkey was involved in the journey to Bethlehem.

Engage: Excuse the pun but the only animal which has a dog in the Christmas fight is a lamb, the Lamb. Not the ones which we envision circling the manger but the one in the manger.

Expand: Understanding that Jesus is the Lamb of God requires us to grasp figurative language and to understand the great truth to which it refers. The fact that God sent His Son to be our redeeming sacrifice. The Gospels attest to this. John specifically makes notes of this truth when he records John the Baptist's testimony to Jesus.

John 1:29–34 ESV

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.”

Excite: We should, perhaps sing the nursery rhyme Mary had a Little Lamb every Christmas. From those small helpless beginnings, the Word grew mighty in action and speech. He confronted a dark world with His own illuminating light. White and pure and unsullied by sin that little baby in the manger became God's saving substitute Lamb on the Cross.

Explore:

The Lamb in the cradle is the Lamb on the Cross.

Explain: During this Christmas Season, as often as we speak about the littleness of Mary's little lamb, we need to affirm the Lordship of the Lamb.

In Revelation 5 John discloses further essential information of the Lamb of God.

Revelation 5 ESV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 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. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 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. 9 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, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 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, 12 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!” 13 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!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Let's keep these facts in mind during this Christmas season.

Body of Sermon:

1. He is Unique.

1.1 After all, Not just anybody.

1.2 Can save everybody

You will remember than in this famous verse John writes these words about the unique, one and only, singularity “the Word made flesh.”

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

2. He is Victorious.

2.1 His purpose is to conquer.

2.2 The outcome is our eternity.

3. He is Worthy.

3.1 Ruin.

3.2 Ransome.

3.3 Reign.

4. He is Lord.

Shut Down:

Christmas is all about silent nights, quiet waiting, and humble beginnings. Christmas is also about the selfless sacrifice of our Savior. Christmas is filled with Joy to the World the Lord is Come even as heaven is filled with the song Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

The birth stories of Matthew and Luke focus largely on how Jesus came to be among us. John reaches back beyond the beginning, embraces a hectic time in Salvation History, and summarizes it all by depicting the endless panorama of worship around the throne of the Lamb.

John tells us WHY

Jesus came to be among us.

Today, December 12, 2021, we share in that celebration, we share in His rule, we join the eternal Song...

Worthy is the Lamb.

It may not seem very Christmassy. We might not read this story on Christmas Eve...perhaps we should. John the Baptist said, "That's HIM!" and pointed his disciples to a rustic day-laborer and contractor. John the Apostle saw Him, a Lamb with the heart of a Lion. At Christmas all we need is the Lamb. That is God's Word for us today 12 December 2021.