Only One
Look Will Solve Your Sin Problem
"He who desires to discover the glories and
excellencies of this Lamb of God, must thus look on Him." -
Adam Clarke
"When Leonardo da Vinci(died 1519) was
working on his famous painting "The Lord's Supper," he had but one
object in view - that the person of the Savior should attract and
hold the attention of all who beheld the painting. But in one part
of the picture there was a tiny ship that he had painted with
great care for three weeks. When the painting was exhibited and
the people came to see it, Leonardo noticed that they all crowded
together to look especially at the one corner of the picture with
the small ship that had cost him so much pain and labor. 'Just see
how grand that is! Truly, he is a master artist!' he heard them
exclaim. Chagrined at this, he took his brush when they were all
gone and with one sweeping stroke blotted out the little ship,
declaring, 'No one shall find reason for admiring anything except
Christ alone.' " - Encyclopedia Of Sermon Illustrations
John 1:36 tells us - "And
looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"
Here John the Baptist is said to have fixed his eyes intently upon
the Lord as He walked by. In other words, he singled Him out in the
crowd, regarded Him with special attention, attentively beheld Him,
and viewed Him with utmost steadfastness.
This is what the Holy Spirit is calling the Body
of Christ to do in this hour.
Amidst all of the distractions of this world that would vie for our
attention, the Spirit of God is calling out to us -
"Behold the Lamb of God!"
At this hour, the devil is sure to paint a "small ship"
in the picture of our lives to draw our attention. If we are not
careful, we can become obsessed with it. Instead of beholding the
Lord Jesus Himself, we can find ourselves gazing upon, focusing on,
and admiring the "small ship" in the corner instead.
What is the "small ship" that is fighting for your
attention at this time?
What is Satan using to draw you away from the Living Son of God?
Oh! It may not be something evil or wicked. It may even be something
as productive as your work, ministry, or accomplishments.
Nonetheless, it has served to be a "small ship" which
has succeeded in getting your focus off of the center of the picture
- the Lord Himself. Also, it has served to bring glory to you rather
than the Lord.
It's time like never before to take your "brush" and
with "one sweeping stroke," blot out "the little
ship" and wholeheartedly declare as da Vinci did - "No
one shall find reason for admiring anything except Christ alone."
Refuse to admire anyone or anything which the devil and his servants
draw before you.
Continuously strive to keep your focus at all times on the beauty of
the Lamb Of God so as not to be enamored by the razzle-dazzle of
this world.
Give Him the glory due His Name for all that He has done and is
doing in your life.
As John the Baptist, determine to fix your eyes intently upon Jesus,
singling Him out in the crowd, regarding Him with special attention,
attentively beholding Him, and viewing Him with utmost
steadfastness.
The Holy Spirit calls out to us today -
"Behold the Lamb of God!"
Among the Israelites, a lamb was killed and eaten at Passover to
commemorate their deliverance from Egypt. As a daily sacrifice, it
was offered in the morning and at evening in the tabernacle and then
afterwards in the temple. It was an important part of their daily
worship.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit is establishing the contemplation of the
Lamb of God as a vital part of our Daily Worship as well.
In John 1:29, it is recorded -
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Here was the true Lamb - appointed and approved by God. All of the
other lambs offered were a type -pointing to this Most Excellent
One, chosen by God as the ultimate sacrifice that would atone for,
carry away, and put away the sins of all mankind.
Isaiah 53:7 - The Prophet Isaiah got a glimpse of Him and
declared - "He was oppressed, and He was
afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He
openeth not His mouth."
Acts 8:32 makes reference to this same verse in Isaiah
- "The place of the scripture which he
read was this, HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER; AND LIKE A
LAMB DUMB BEFORE HIS SHEARER, SO OPENED HE NOT HIS MOUTH."
He was wronged, abused, hard pressed, and ill-treated. He was
greatly distressed, subjected to the worst kind of pain and sorrow,
yet He never complained to God nor reviled his enemies. As a typical
lamb before His shearers or killers, He was compliant, perfectly
still, quiet, meek, submissive, and patient. He offered no
resistance whatsoever.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - The Apostle Peter had a glimpse of this
Precious Lamb and declared - "Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot."
A "lamb without blemish and without
spot" was required for a sin-offering to God. Jesus
was that Perfect Lamb. His shed Blood did what money could never do
- it effected our redemption from Satan, sin, and this world.
The Apostle John also got a glimpse of the Lamb of God.
In Revelation 5, he recorded the praises of the
"saints," "angels," "beasts,"
and "elders,"
along with "every creature."
The "angels" - even
though they never experienced redemption through the Blood of God's
Lamb - broke out into loud praises, while saying -
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing."
The Lamb is exalted. He is to
be praised!
Such things as -
"power" - the authority
to rule over all things
"riches" - being the
original proprietor of all things
"wisdom" - having the
ability to choose what is best
"strength" - the power
and ability to accomplish His purposes
"honor" - worthy of the
highest reputation for what He has accomplished
"glory" - deserving of
all praise
"blessing" - the desire
to see Him honored and adored by all
- are ascribed to Him because of His Great Sacrifice as the Lamb of
God for the sins of the world.
Revelation 19:7 exhorts us with these words -
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give
honour to Him..." His Redemption work is glorious. By
His power alone, He put away sin from all mankind through the
offering of His Body and the shedding of His Blood on Calvary's
Cross.
In that same verse, John the Revelator went on to say -
"...for the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and His wife hath made herself ready."
The relationship of God to the Church is represented under the image
of marriage.
The Lord Jesus - the Lamb of God - purchased His Bride by His own
Blood and has betrothed her to Himself. In response, she is
"making herself ready."
How is she doing this?
For one thing, she is keeping her focus on her husband - the
Sacrificial Lamb of God.
Read what Matthew Henry had to say on this issue -
"The sacrifice of our Redeemer is the
strongest argument with a gracious heart for purity and sincerity."
"The consideration of our redemption ought to be a constant and
powerful inducement to holiness, and the fear of God."
"That is our duty, with an eye of faith, to behold the Lamb of God
thus taking away the sin of the world, see Him taking away sin, and
let that increase our hatred of sin, and resolutions against it."
Are we understanding why the Holy Spirit is calling the Church to
"Behold the Lamb Of God"?
Because, as Pastor Henry commented, a glimpse of the Redeemer
induces the Bride of Christ to holiness of living and the fear of
the Lord. It also provokes a hatred for sin and establishes a strong
resolution against it.
Has Satan succeeded in distracting so many by
drawing their attention away from the Perfect
"Lamb Of God"
in order to get them to compromise and lower their godly
standards?
Could this be the reason why so many in the Church want to excuse
sin and pamper the sinner?
John cried out - "...Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Today in Christian circles, so many want to argue that it's
impossible to live above sin every day in thought, word, and deed.
Yet, the Scriptures boldly and succinctly declare that Jesus - as
the Lamb of God - came to "take away
sin" from our lives - not leave us in bondage to its
power
When we get a glimpse of God's Precious Lamb, we will want to do
what the Apostle Paul exhorted in 1 Corinthians 5:7 -
"Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our
Passover is sacrificed for us."
It was a custom among the Jews before Passover to diligently search
their homes with candles for any trace of leaven - a symbol for the
powerful influence of sin. They were to sweep every part clean in
preparation for this feast. Just as the Jews before Passover, we are
to continuously search our hearts, homes, ministries, and churches
for any traces of "leaven"
or the evil influences of sin.
After Passover, the Jews observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread which
lasts for a week. The Apostle Paul said that because of the
sacrifice of our Passover Lamb - Jesus - we are considered as being
"unleavened" - which
means that we have removed all sins, impurities, corruptions, and
mixture from our lives so as to appear clean in God's sight.
In closing, Revelation 6:15-16 tells us that the
"kings of the earth," "great men," "rich
men," "chief captains," "mighty men," every bondman,"
and "every free man"
will hide themselves in "the dens and in
the rocks of the mountains" and say to
"the mountains and rocks, Fall on us,
and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb."
Because these people did not "Behold the
Lamb of God" as their Blessed Redemption from the
power and penalty of sin, they are left to face Him as their awful
Judge. The Savior Who was meant to appease God's wrath has now
become their enemy. And who can plead for mankind when the Lamb of
God is against them?
Throughout this message, we hear the Holy Spirit
calling to His people -
"Behold the Lamb of God!"
It only takes one look at
this Blessed Redeemer to turn you away from sin.
Just imagine what a constant gaze will do!
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
