ESOCS Devotional 5 January 2022
TEXT: JOHN 1: 29-34
MEMORY VERSE:
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
It is noteworthy that John speaks of the reason of his baptismal ministry in verse 31: “I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” This being his purpose and because a sign was given him by God that he would see in a vision a dove descend from heaven and resting on the Messiah (vs. 33, 32), he saw it as was shown to him and was therefore quick and bold to declare Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 3: 16-17).
On the particular occasion under consideration, John revealed another title of Christ: “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”
As we discuss the implication of this title to the man so introduced, I would like you to temporarily see yourself as the one so introduced and how you will feel.
- “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its Sharers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth (Isa. 53:7). Chilling! Isn’t it?
- The paschal Lamb. “And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening” (Exod. 12: 6b). But He was killed that the angel of destruction would Passover their houses that night of pestilence in which he destroyed all the first born of Egypt and forced the heart of Pharaoh to loose Israel from bondage. Even so Jesus Christ our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7) was slain to loose the hold and grip of sin and Satan from our lives.
- The Lamb sacrificed unto God morning and evening daily on the altar (Exod. 29:38-39) was also a type of Christ. Sacrificed? Yes, and it was meant to keep the nation in constant fellowship with God.
- “The Lord had laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6c).
“He came to take away the sins of the world” (Heb. 9:26) and that includes your sins and my sins. It is not repentance that takes away our sins but the sacrificed Lamb, Jesus Christ. By His blood our sins are remitted and our souls purged from sin. Our guilt removed by his meritorious sacrifice, our judgment vacated by Him our advocate, and all our spiritual and eternal rights restored. He destroyed sin from its root for as many as repent, so that sin has no power over us anymore.
Our response:-
- Repent of all our sins. Turn our back to sin and walk in righteousness with Christ.
- Confess our sins to God who is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us with the blood of His only begotten son from all our unrighteousness.
- Resolve not to hold on to that which Christ came to take away (sin) or he will take you away with it.
- Appropriate the blood of Jesus the lamb continually upon yourself with the hyssop of faith.
- Be always ready to partake of the Holy Communion.
- Make yourself a ready abode of the Holy Spirit.
- The attributes of the Lamb are gentleness, meekness, and patience which Christ manifested to the full. As followers of Christ, let us put on these qualities always.
- Are you still weighed down by the guilt of sins committed? Say this prayer:
- Almighty God, I confess that I have transgressed your commandments in (name the sins). Have mercy and forgive me. O Lamb of God, take away my sins and liberate me for your service.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Leviticus 25:25-55; Songs of Solomon 1:9-27; Ephesians. 4:1-6
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 5 January 2022
