And this is Leslie Curran saying hello once again and welcome to the program. I'm delighted you're tuning in and joining us and I do hope you'll be able to stay with us for the next 15 minutes as today the Reverend Philip Gardner is with us to let the Bible speak. Today I want to read some words from the Gospel of John chapter 1. John chapter 1 and the verse 19 and this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him that is John the Baptist who art thou? And he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ.

In verse 28 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. In verse 35 again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples and looking upon Jesus as he walked he saith behold the Lamb of God.

Amen we trust the Lord will add his blessing to the reading of his precious word. The great preacher C. H. Spurgeon said it is the preacher's principal business his only business to cry behold the Lamb of God. While the gospel preacher has a special duty before God it is the duty of every child of God to point others to the blessed Lamb of God.

Here in John chapter 1 a delegation had been sent from Jerusalem to Jordan to determine if John the Baptist was the Messiah and if he was not to determine then who he was. John the Baptist told them that he was the one that Isaiah had spoken of in Isaiah 40 in the verse 3 the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness prepare you the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The men and delegation were still not satisfied with his answer and so asked him why he was baptizing in Jordan if he was not the Christ.

But John no longer spoke of himself he referred to another one much greater than he. He was determined that since he was the forerunner of the Messiah that he would point to the Messiah. The very next day the Lord Jesus came in the direction of John the Baptist and John said to these Pharisees look there he is the one I spoke about yesterday behold the Lamb of God.

At that particular time many of the Jewish leaders were longing for the coming of a Messiah but they were not longing for a suffering lamb they were longing for a political deliverer. Some may have been longing for a scholar but their greatest need was not a deliverer. Their greatest need was not for a scholar their greatest need was for this lamb.

That was the case because their greatest problem was not the Romans. Their greatest problem was not a lack of learning their problem was this the problem of sin and while there was that great problem here was God's great answer behold the Lamb of God. The greatest problem in our land today is not an economic one the greatest problem in our land today is not a political one the greatest problem is sin and therefore this message of John the Baptist is one that is absolutely up to date.

Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world so I want us to look for a few moments at Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. I want us to think first of all of the wonder of the Lamb for as we think of these words behold the Lamb of God surely John the Baptist really was saying stand back and consider all the glories of God's Son the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ was a distinctive Lamb.

The Lamb is referred to as the Lamb of God or God's Lamb. The Old Testament is filled with references to the Lamb. Every one of those Lambs spoke of Christ but now John was saying here is the one true Lamb.

Down through the Old Testament day after day there was the slain of a Lamb but here was one that was distinguished above all. They had all been types and pictures but this was the anti-type this was the reality. It is interesting that this great sermon Behold the Lamb of God was preached by John the Baptist at Beth Abara.

Beth Abara means the house of crossing. Beth Abara is believed to be the location of the crossing of Joshua and the camp of Israel into the promised land. John the Baptist's ministry was not only conducted at Beth Abara it was in itself a Beth Abara ministry the house of crossing.

There was a crossing from the ceremonial types to the reality of the person and work of Jesus Christ moving from the priests and sacrifices to the one great high priest and the once for all sacrifice. Jesus then is the distinctive Lamb. He is also the donated Lamb.

This title the Lamb of God brings to attention that God has provided

“And this is Leslie Curran saying hello once again and welcome to the program. I'm delighted you're tuning in and joining us and I do hope you'll be able to stay with us for the next 15 minutes as today the Reverend Philip Gardner is with us to let the Bible speak. Today I want to read some words from the Gospel of John chapter 1. John chapter 1 and the verse 19 and this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him that is John the Baptist who art thou? And he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ. In verse 28 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. In verse 35 again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples and looking upon Jesus as he walked he saith behold the Lamb of God. Amen we trust the Lord will add his blessing to the reading of his precious word. The great preacher C. H. Spurgeon said it is the preacher's principal business his only business to cry behold the Lamb of God. While the gospel preacher has a special duty before God it is the duty of every child of God to point others to the blessed Lamb of God. Here in John chapter 1 a delegation had been sent from Jerusalem to Jordan to determine if John the Baptist was the Messiah and if he was not to determine then who he was. John the Baptist told them that he was the one that Isaiah had spoken of in Isaiah 40 in the verse 3 the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness prepare you the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The men and delegation were still not satisfied with his answer and so asked him why he was baptizing in Jordan if he was not the Christ. But John no longer spoke of himself he referred to another one much greater than he. He was determined that since he was the forerunner of the Messiah that he would point to the Messiah. The very next day the Lord Jesus came in the direction of John the Baptist and John said to these Pharisees look there he is the one I spoke about yesterday behold the Lamb of God. At that particular time many of the Jewish leaders were longing for the coming of a Messiah but they were not longing for a suffering lamb they were longing for a political deliverer. Some may have been longing for a scholar but their greatest need was not a deliverer. Their greatest need was not for a scholar their greatest need was for this lamb. That was the case because their greatest problem was not the Romans. Their greatest problem was not a lack of learning their problem was this the problem of sin and while there was that great problem here was God's great answer behold the Lamb of God. The greatest problem in our land today is not an economic one the greatest problem in our land today is not a political one the greatest problem is sin and therefore this message of John the Baptist is one that is absolutely up to date. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world so I want us to look for a few moments at Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. I want us to think first of all of the wonder of the Lamb for as we think of these words behold the Lamb of God surely John the Baptist really was saying stand back and consider all the glories of God's Son the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ was a distinctive Lamb. The Lamb is referred to as the Lamb of God or God's Lamb. The Old Testament is filled with references to the Lamb. Every one of those Lambs spoke of Christ but now John was saying here is the one true Lamb. Down through the Old Testament day after day there was the slain of a Lamb but here was one that was distinguished above all. They had all been types and pictures but this was the anti-type this was the reality. It is interesting that this great sermon Behold the Lamb of God was preached by John the Baptist at Beth Abara. Beth Abara means the house of crossing. Beth Abara is believed to be the location of the crossing of Joshua and the camp of Israel into the promised land. John the Baptist's ministry was not only conducted at Beth Abara it was in itself a Beth Abara ministry the house of crossing. There was a crossing from the ceremonial types to the reality of the person and work of Jesus Christ moving from the priests and sacrifices to the one great high priest and the once for all sacrifice. Jesus then is the distinctive Lamb. He is also the donated Lamb. This title the Lamb of God brings to attention that God has provided the Lamb. Christ has been selected by the Father and given by him. Remember how as Abraham and Isaac were climbing Mount Moriah Isaac said we have the wood we have the fire but where is the Lamb and Abraham said God will provide himself the Lamb. Though God provided a Lamb that day in the ram that was caught in the thicket Christ is the great answer to those words of Abraham God will provide himself a Lamb. God has provided it in the person of Christ. In Romans 8 32 it says that the Father did not spare his own son but he delivered him up for us all given as God's gift to us. But Jesus Christ is then the displayed Lamb. John the Baptist said behold the Lamb he is that one that is set forth before men. Paul said in Romans 3 God hath set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. John said in 1 John 3 verse 5 you know that he was manifested to take away our sins. Jesus Christ is that one that is revealed set forth in the gospel. Sinner today then will you behold him. We see the wonder of the Lamb. I want to see secondly the work of the Lamb. For as we think of these words behold the Lamb of God. This very title makes it clear that the Lord's great work was one of coming to be a sacrifice. Behold the Lamb the sacrificial Lamb. If we look again at verse 29 behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. The words there have the idea of sin being lifted and carried away. Remember that John was writing these words at the very outset of the Lord Jesus ministry. Yet like Isaiah in the Old Testament John saw very clearly what was going to take place at the cross. When the Lord would go to the cross the sin of his people the penalty of his people would be lifted from them. It would be lifted carried away and laid on the Lamb laid on Christ. Isaiah said in Isaiah 53 in the verse 6 the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all or the Lord hath made to meet upon him our iniquity. In Colossians 2.14 Paul said blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. So then Paul looking back at the cross really makes an allusion to the words of John the Baptist. The Lord took the handwriting of ordinances. He lifted it from us but then it was nailed to the cross. The Lord took the record of the sin of his people. The Lord took the sin of his people. The Lord took the punishment that was prescribed on account of our sin. It was lifted from us and placed upon Christ nailed to the cross. What does this emphasize to us? Christ's work was substitutionary. John did not see that Christ would lift our sin that he would lift our condemnation and it would disappear into thin air. That is what many hope for today. Many hope that God is just going to turn a blind eye to their sin. That he will overlook it. But the testimony of scripture is that sin is never overlooked. Sin must be dealt with. It must be punished. The wrath that was our due must fall on us or another. So Christ came then to be the substitutionary Lamb. He stood in the sinner's state. Christ's work was one that was enduring. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. He takes away sin to keep that sin away. He gives the sinner pardon so the sinner remains pardoned. In Leviticus chapter 16 we read there of the great day of atonement. It was to be the selection of two goats. One of them was slain. The blood of the slain goat was brought into the holiest of all. Then there was the scapegoat over which the high priest would confess the sin of the people. On that day the sins of the people were seen to be lifted, carried and placed on the head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat then was carried away into the wilderness. It was never seen again. It speaks of how the sins of all those that trust Christ are taken. They have been led on Christ. He has taken the penalty. They'll never be remembered against us again. Today if by faith you have beheld Christ, if you have depended upon him for salvation, the Lord has carried away your sin. But how different for those that have not yet trusted him. How different for those that will not behold him. Their sin continues to testify against them. Oh dear sinner, will you not look to the Lamb of God today? There is no other way for you to make preparation for eternity. Christ came to be the Lamb of God because it was the only way. Will you come this way today? Come and acknowledge your sin. Cry for mercy. Depend on the work of the Lamb.”

More on this epiosde

the Lamb. Christ has been selected by the Father and given by him. Remember how as Abraham and Isaac were climbing Mount Moriah Isaac said we have the wood we have the fire but where is the Lamb and Abraham said God will provide himself the Lamb.

Though God provided a Lamb that day in the ram that was caught in the thicket Christ is the great answer to those words of Abraham God will provide himself a Lamb. God has provided it in the person of Christ. In Romans 8 32 it says that the Father did not spare his own son but he delivered him up for us all given as God's gift to us.

But Jesus Christ is then the displayed Lamb. John the Baptist said behold the Lamb he is that one that is set forth before men. Paul said in Romans 3 God hath set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.

John said in 1 John 3 verse 5 you know that he was manifested to take away our sins. Jesus Christ is that one that is revealed set forth in the gospel. Sinner today then will you behold him.

We see the wonder of the Lamb. I want to see secondly the work of the Lamb. For as we think of these words behold the Lamb of God.

This very title makes it clear that the Lord's great work was one of coming to be a sacrifice. Behold the Lamb the sacrificial Lamb. If we look again at verse 29 behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

The words there have the idea of sin being lifted and carried away. Remember that John was writing these words at the very outset of the Lord Jesus ministry. Yet like Isaiah in the Old Testament John saw very clearly what was going to take place at the cross.

When the Lord would go to the cross the sin of his people the penalty of his people would be lifted from them. It would be lifted carried away and laid on the Lamb laid on Christ. Isaiah said in Isaiah 53 in the verse 6 the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all or the Lord hath made to meet upon him our iniquity.

In Colossians 2.14 Paul said blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. So then Paul looking back at the cross really makes an allusion to the words of John the Baptist. The Lord took the handwriting of ordinances.

He lifted it from us but then it was nailed to the cross. The Lord took the record of the sin of his people. The Lord took the sin of his people.

The Lord took the punishment that was prescribed on account of our sin. It was lifted from us and placed upon Christ nailed to the cross. What does this emphasize to us? Christ's work was substitutionary.

John did not see that Christ would lift our sin that he would lift our condemnation and it would disappear into thin air. That is what many hope for today. Many hope that God is just going to turn a blind eye to their sin.

That he will overlook it. But the testimony of scripture is that sin is never overlooked. Sin must be dealt with.

It must be punished. The wrath that was our due must fall on us or another. So Christ came then to be the substitutionary Lamb.

He stood in the sinner's state. Christ's work was one that was enduring. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

He takes away sin to keep that sin away. He gives the sinner pardon so the sinner remains pardoned. In Leviticus chapter 16 we read there of the great day of atonement.

It was to be the selection of two goats. One of them was slain. The blood of the slain goat was brought into the holiest of all.

Then there was the scapegoat over which the high priest would confess the sin of the people. On that day the sins of the people were seen to be lifted, carried and placed on the head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat then was carried away into the wilderness.

It was never seen again. It speaks of how the sins of all those that trust Christ are taken. They have been led on Christ.

He has taken the penalty. They'll never be remembered against us again. Today if by faith you have beheld Christ, if you have depended upon him for salvation, the Lord has carried away your sin.

But how different for those that have not yet trusted him. How different for those that will not behold him. Their sin continues to testify against them.

Oh dear sinner, will you not look to the Lamb of God today? There is no other way for you to make preparation for eternity. Christ came to be the Lamb of God because it was the only way. Will you come this way today? Come and acknowledge your sin.

Cry for mercy. Depend on the work of the Lamb.