A Perfect Lamb

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

LUKE 2:8–10

What a wonderful Savior we have in Mary’s Lamb, the Son of God born that first Christmas night! Jesus came as He did, born of a virgin, to be what He was—the sinless Lamb of God. He was what He was, sinless, to do what He did—die for our sins. And He died for our sins so that He, being what He was, might make us what we are not and ought to be— children of God. 

Remember those Passover lambs being raised in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth? Those were the lambs the shepherds kept watching over when the angel appeared to them announcing the birth of the Savior. Even though we are observing Christmas, the first week of Jesus’ earthly life, I want to “fast forward” to the last week of His life. 

On Palm Sunday, the Lord Jesus came down the Mount of Olives and ascended to the temple mount. At the very same time, the lambs for the upcoming Passover were brought in through the sheep gate. The priests examined those lambs to make certain they were perfect for sacrifice. At the same time, God’s Lamb was examined by His enemies. No charge whatsoever could be made against Jesus. Even Pilate had to confess, “I find no fault in Him” (John 19:4). 

Jesus was a perfect Lamb. Jesus went from the temple mount to the Last Supper and then out to dark Gethsemane. By nine o’clock the next morning, He was on His way to the cross. Then at three o’clock that afternoon, as the priests offered the Passover lambs in the temple, Mary’s Lamb was hanging on the cross. Suddenly He cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Our sin debt had been paid in full! Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Greatest Salvation Imaginable

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah . . . ” (Jeremiah 31:31)

God is just and holy and separated from sinners like us. This is our main problem at Christmas — and every other season. How shall we get right with a just and holy God?

Nevertheless, God is merciful and has promised in Jeremiah 31 (five hundred years before Christ) that someday he would do something new. He would replace shadows with the Reality of the Messiah. And he would powerfully move into our lives and write his will on our hearts so that we are not constrained from outside, but are willing from inside, to love him and trust him and follow him.

That would be the greatest salvation imaginable — if God should offer us the greatest Reality in the universe to enjoy and then move in us to know that Reality in such a way that we could enjoy it with the greatest freedom and the greatest pleasure possible. That would be a Christmas gift worth singing about.

That is, in fact, what he promised in the new covenant. But there was a huge obstacle. Our sin. Our separation from God because of our unrighteousness.

How shall a holy and just God treat us sinners with so much kindness as to give us the greatest Reality in the universe (his Son) to enjoy with the greatest possible joy?

The answer is that God put our sins on his Son, and judged them there, so that he could put them out of his mind, and deal with us mercifully and remain just and holy at the same time. Hebrews 9:28 says Christ was “offered once to bear the sins of many.”

Christ bore our sins in his own body when he died (1 Peter 2:24). He took our judgment (Romans 8:3). He canceled our guilt (Romans 8:1). And that means our sins are gone (Acts 10:43). They do not remain in God’s mind as a basis for condemnation. In that sense, he “forgets” them (Jeremiah 31:34). They are consumed in the death of Christ.

Which means that God is now free, in his justice, to lavish us with all the unspeakably great new covenant promises. He gives us Christ, the greatest Reality in the universe, for our enjoyment. And he writes his own will — his own heart — on our hearts so that we can love Christ and trust Christ and follow Christ from the inside out, with freedom and joy.

John Piper 

A Special Lamb in History

. . . wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

MATTHEW 2:1–2

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 1:29

Mary’s little Lamb was the Christ of Christmas. We have seen the Lamb in prophecy. Now let’s consider the Lamb in history. The lamb of Exodus 12 only foreshadowed Mary’s Lamb. But when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Lamb entered history. The wise men knew who He was. That’s why they came to worship Mary’s Lamb. 

John the Baptist also knew that the One born on Christmas was a special Lamb. Years later, at the commencement of Jesus’ public ministry, John saw Jesus coming and cried out, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). I want to say it again: Jesus was a special Lamb. He was the spotless, sinless, virgin-born Son of God. He was a miracle Lamb. Someone may say, “I believe the virgin birth is an impossibility.” Well, I do too if you leave God out of it. But I also believe that with God all things are possible. 

That little Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in Bethlehem’s manger, was and is the eternal, uncreated, self-existing God—the great I AM, the Word made flesh. The Infinite became an infant. God lay in a manger. We have seen from prophecy that Mary’s little Lamb was a special Lamb and a slain Lamb. We see that in history too. John the Baptist declared that Jesus would take away the sin of the world. John was speaking of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross. This is why Jesus was born of a virgin. He had to be virgin born in order to be sinless. Why was He sinless? So He could make a blood atonement. 

The Bible says it is the blood that makes atonement for sin. A child’s bloodline is established by the father, not by the mother. None of the baby’s blood circulates through the mother’s body. Mary was Jesus’ earthly mother, but He had no earthly father. God was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, so the blood that flowed through the veins of Mary’s Lamb was the very blood of God (Acts 20:28).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God’s Most Successful Setback

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11)

Christmas marked the beginning of God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order to win strategic victories.

In the Old Testament, Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was promised glory and power in his dream (Genesis 37:5–11). But to achieve that victory he had to become a slave in Egypt. And, as if that were not enough, when his conditions improved because of his integrity, he was made worse than a slave: a prisoner.

But it was all planned. Planned by God for his good and the good of his family, and eventually for the good of the whole world! For there in prison he met Pharaoh’s butler, who eventually brought him to Pharaoh, who put him over Egypt. And finally, his dream came true. His brothers bowed before him, and he saved them from starvation. What an unlikely route to glory!

But that is God’s way — even for his Son. He emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Worse than a slave — a prisoner — and was executed. But like Joseph, he kept his integrity. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9–10).

And this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure.

But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20).

You fearful saints fresh courage take

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and will break

In blessings on your head.

John Piper 

A Shared Lamb

Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire . . . And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

EXODUS 12:8–11

We’re talking about Mary’s little Lamb, Jesus, the One born in Bethlehem to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Today we will finish our look at the Lamb in prophecy. 

Exodus 12:7 makes it clear that the only salvation for the Israelites in Egypt that first Passover night was to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. The Israelites could have encrusted their doors with jewels and gold, but that would have done no good. They could have tied an unblemished, living lamb outside their doors, but that would not have satisfied God’s demand. 

Salvation does not come from the life of Christ, but from the death of Christ. Salvation is not learning lessons from what Jesus did in life, but receiving life from what He did in His atoning death. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). This special Lamb, Who was also a slain Lamb and a saving Lamb, then became a shared Lamb. 

Exodus 12:8 instructs the Israelites to roast and eat the lamb they had slain, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs to remind them of the bitterness of their slavery. But the key was the shedding of blood and sprinkling it on the entrance to the house. Exodus 12:12–13 spells out the judgment that was to fall that night. Praise God for the blood! “. . . 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.” 

Can you imagine what it must have been like that night in Egypt? All the Egyptians smelled lamb roasting, because a quarter of a million or so households were preparing the Passover meal. As those Hebrews sat down to eat the lamb they had roasted, a bunch of slaves became a nation. When they walked out of Egypt, a lamb walked out inside of them!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Mary's Little Lamb

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  - Luke 2:8-14

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 

71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 

73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 

74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 

78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  - Luke 1:68-79

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. - Luke 24:47

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well.

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:10-12

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, - 1 Timothy 2:5

22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."

26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." - John 4:22-26

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-

7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:6-10

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:19-21

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. - Revelation 5

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. - Revelation 12:9-11

We sing Hallelujah! 

We sing Hallelujah!

Amen and Amen!

Life and Death at Christmas

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

As I was about to begin this devotional, I received word that Marion Newstrum had just died. Marion and her husband Elmer had been part of our church longer than most of our members had been alive at the time. She was 87. They had been married 64 years.

When I spoke to Elmer and told him I wanted him to be strong in the Lord and not give up on life, he said, “He has been a true friend.” I pray that all Christians will be able to say at the end of life, “Christ has been a true friend.”

Each Advent I mark the anniversary of my mother’s death. She was cut off in her 56th year in a bus accident in Israel. It was December 16, 1974. Those events are incredibly real to me even today. If I allow myself, I can easily come to tears — for example, thinking that my sons never knew her. We buried her the day after Christmas. What a precious Christmas it was!

Many of you will feel your loss this Christmas more pointedly than before. Don’t block it out. Let it come. Feel it. What is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death? But oh, do not be bitter. It is tragically self-destructive to be bitter.

Jesus came at Christmas that we might have eternal life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Elmer and Marion had discussed where they would spend their final years. Elmer said, “Marion and I agreed that our final home would be with the Lord.”

Do you feel restless for home? I have family coming home for the holidays. It feels good. I think the bottom-line reason for why it feels good is that they and I are destined in the depths of our being for an ultimate Homecoming. All other homecomings are foretastes. And foretastes are good.

Unless they become substitutes. Oh, don’t let all the sweet things of this season become substitutes of the final, great, all-satisfying Sweetness. Let every loss and every delight send your hearts a-homing after heaven.

Christmas. What is it but this: I came that they may have life? Marion Newstrum, Ruth Piper, and you and I — that we might have Life, now and forever.

Make your Now the richer and deeper this Christmas by drinking at the fountain of Forever. It is so near.

John Piper