Chrissy Siggee

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!

Did you know that the words Lamb of God, as a title of our Lord, occurs twice in the Gospel of John and once in the one Peter?

However, John uses the same title in Revelation about 30 times. It’s clear that The Lamb of God would have meant a great deal to John who leaned on Jesus and knew the secret of His Redeeming love… perhaps better than any of the twelve disciples.

John 1:28-30
These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Peter doesn’t use this title directly, but in speaking of our redemption from sin. In 1 Peter 19 – 18 he says “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, even the blood of Christ…

With all the names of Christ used throughout the Bible, The Lamb of God would without a doubt, touch me the most deeply. None speaks more strongly of our deliverance from the slavery of sin. I can only capture a glimpse of how John felt about our Saviour.

Is it redemption that we desire? Then it must be redemption by the blood.
The cross of Christ is the only hope of the world. A world that often declare things like “Behold our new methods”, “Behold our human-brotherhood” of even “behold this new opportunity” and forget the only real cry that needs to be boasted. “Behold the Lamb of God.”

John 3:16 says
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Father, thank you for the most powerful act of love to mankind: giving us your only Son to bring deliverance to all. Thank you for the redemption of our sins so we may be saved by Grace. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?

Both Matthew and Mark recorded these words cried out by Jesus on the cross. These same words occur interesting enough in the opening verse of the Twenty Second Psalms. Yet neither Matthew nor Mark referred to them as a fulfilment of prophecy and after six hours of agony in body and soul on the cross, this cry escapes from our Saviours lips. There were not many words spoken by Jesus while he was on the cross. The words He spoke were recorded specifically.

His first words were “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”—-a prayer for pardon.

His second proclamation made was a promise of peace.

“Today you shall be with me in Paradise’

His third was one of kindness to and for his mother.

“Woman behold thy son….Son behold thy mother.”

When the darkness had fallen, three last announcements where uttered. They followed in rapid succession.

“I thirst”

“It is finished”

“Father into thy hands I commend my spirit” –

Then, there was this cry of sorrow.

“My God, my God, why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

There is something of extraordinary power and feeling in these words of Jesus on the cross. This is obvious from the fact that both Matthew and Mark have diligently given the words in the language our Lord used.

“Eli Eli, lama Sa-bach-thani”

Nowhere else in Scripture do we find this recurrence of these words except in the Twenty Second Psalm? The cry expresses suffering that was never at any other time felt in this world and I believe, never will again.

To the historian, to the poet or the theologian, the description and the language of these words in Psalms 22 might suggest it could have been either history or prophecy.

Matthew and Mark may have not recognised the connection. However, Jesus, a learned scholar of the Scriptures from a very young age, would have known the Psalms well. He said many times through out His ministry “it is written”.

To the believer, nevertheless, this cry is a revelation of the deep suffering and anguishes our Saviour bore, and a proof of His infinite love for sinners.

It challenges us, with all the saints, to be strong to understand what is: ‘..the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God”…

If the cross is the fundamental Truth of the New Testament, this cry is the heart of this truth and its inmost expression. This is the Holy of Holies to the reverent reader of the story of the passion.

by Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible