God With Us: The Lamb of God
John 1:19-31
19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” 24Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
God With Us: Jesus as Creator
God With Us: Jesus as Sustainer
John the Baptist - His connection to Jesus
Mary and Elizabeth
Prophet of God
The purpose of his ministry was to introduce Jesus Christ
Look and Focus: Harder than we think
Lamb of God:
Speaks of Him as the __________________ is made for sin, and man reconciled to God.
That Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God _______________ the world. That’s the impetus for His holy, divine birth.
Who takes away the sin of the world
What a mighty gift in such a humble beginning
The miracle in Bethlehem - the miracle for the world - the miracle for you and I.
Closing Prayer
Mighty God,
It’s sometimes hard to think of what a tiny baby is or will become. We acknowledge and declare, just as John did, that this baby in the manger was Your lamb sent to us, to bring us into right relationship with You. Forgive us when we take that casually and don’t look long enough to realize it’s You. God Almighty in that manger or coming down the road. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen.
Next Week - God With Us: Jesus our Savior
TODAY’S PREACHER
Randy Reese is Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC