JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD
Exodus 13:13-15, Luke 2:22-32
Everything in the Old Testament points to birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All the prophecies in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament
with the birth death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. God
established the sacrificial offerings among the Jews to represent the sacrifice of
His Son, Jesus Christ for the atonement of the sins of the world. Jesus is the first born
of the dead. He is the first born of the Church established in His name.
Exodus 13:13-15
SACRIFICIAL OFFERING ESTABLISHED
V:13. \” Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 \”In days to come, when your son asks you, \’What does this mean?\’ say to him, \’With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. \”
- The Lord commanded as a memorial to His great work of deliverance of the nation
of Israel from slavery, that their first born sons be devoted to Him.
- The first born sons were to be redeemed with a lamb.
- In this is the doctrine of Christ redemption.
- Christ is the lamb of God for the redemption of man.
- The first born donkey, an unclean animal could be redeemed with a lamb, a clean
animal.
- The Lord Jesus is the prefect clean sacrifice for unclean mankind.
- Notice, the owner could choose to not redeem some first born donkeys.
- If not redeemed the owner was require to break the neck of the first
born donkeys.
- Christ our redeemer, selected us for redemption, but chose to leave
the world in its condemned state.
- In this command also is the doctrine of support for the Church.
- The lamb was given to the Levite Priests for their support.
- The Levite Priests were not allotted a portion of the promise land.
- Their support came from the sacrifices the people offered to God.
V:15. \” When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.\”
- Man is given a choice to obey the Word of God or reject the Word.
- Those who choose obedience, choose eternal life.
- Those who reject the Word of God, choose death.
- The Pharaoh of Egypt rejected God\’s commands and as a result, chose the
death of all the first born males of Egypt.
- Choosing the lamb of God is life.
- Rejecting the lamb of God is death.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE FINAL SACRIFICE FOR SIN
Luke 2:22-33
V:22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, \”Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord\”),\”
- On the eighth day after the birth of a male baby, He was to be circumcised and
on the fortieth day taken to the temple for dedication.
- The price of redemption first born male was five shekels.
- A lamb could be brought for the redemption of the first born.
- Mary and Joseph were obedient to Word of God in their presentation of the baby Jesus
to the Lord.
- Success in life is assured in our obedience to God\’s word.
- When we devote our children to the Lord, He insures their proper growth and
development.
- Our attitude of obedience flows to our children.
- From the very start of their lives, we should practice being good role models for
Jesus.
HIS POOR HUMBLE POSITION
V:24. \” And to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: \”a pair of doves or two young pigeons.\”
- God accepts no excuses for our disobedience.
- He does not allow us to use our financial condition as a reason not to worship
Him.
- If a family could not afford a lamb or the five shekels, the Lord accepted two
doves. One for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.
- Worshiping the Lord is from the heart and not from the pocket book.
- If God has our hearts, we want have trouble giving Him what\’s in our pockets.
- Mary and Joseph is an example for us to worship the Lord first with what we
have.
- Mary and Joseph is an example for us to make the worship of Lord the most
important part of our children lives.
THE PROMISE OF SALVATION FULFILLED
V:25. \” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord\’s Christ. \”
- One of the goals of every Christian should be to get to know Jesus before he/she dies.
- Simeon was righteous and devout so he knew the Father.
- Simeon listen to the Father because he had a word from the Holy Spirit.
- Simeon studied the Word of God.
- More importantly, Simeon believed the Word.
- Simeon expected God to do what He said He would do.
- Simeon expected that God would give him the desires of his heart.
- Simeon was content to wait on the Lord.
GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
V:27. \” Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 \”Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. \”
- When God speaks, you have to act on His Word to receive His blessing.
- Church is always the place to receive a blessing from God.
- Wherever the Word is taught is a place of blessings.
- Following God\’s commands positions you to be blessed by Him.
- Once God presents you with an opportunity, you have to be ready to
take advantage of it.
- Simeon was in the right place at the right time because He followed God\’s
directions.
- He was one of the first Jews to recognize the King of Kings in a humble
position.
- There was no thought on his mind that the King would be born in a poor family.
- Simeon was focused on the Word and not popular opinion.
- God made a promise to Simeon that he would see the Christ before his death.
- Simeon was satisfied to see him anyway God presented Him.
- Sometimes God\’s glory is directly in front of us and we are blind to it because we
are expecting His glory in some fantastic way.
- Simeon took the baby in his arms and praised God that he had touched his salvation.
- He praised God for the honor to hold the Christ
- He praised God for the salvation he had in his hands.
- He praised God for keeping His promise.
- He praised God for the love He showed him.
SATISFIED WITH JESUS
V:30. \” For my eyes have seen your salvation\”
- Simeon saw a baby and he was satisfied that it was the Christ.
- He would not live to hear Jesus teachings or witness any miracle.
- He would not see Jesus nailed to the cross or witness His
resurrection, but he had faith in the word of God.
- We may not be around to see the second coming of Jesus, but we know
we will be in that number resurrected by Jesus,.
- The only truth is the Word of God.
- Faith in the Word bring Joy into our lives.
THE SALVATION FOR ALL MANKIND
V:31 \”Which you have prepared in the sight of all people.\”
- Not only did Simeon see his salvation but he also saw the salvation that was
made available to all people.
- God does not bless us to be blessed, but He blesses us to proclaim His
blessings to everyone we meet.
- God\’s Word to Simeon, became words of encouragements to Mary and Joseph.
- Simeon words in the temple confirmed God\’s Word to them by the Angel
Gabriel.
- Since our understanding of the Word limited, God uses other devoted believers
to enlighten us.
- We are not in this Christian race by ourselves.
- God uses other believers to stand besides us and encourage us along the way.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
V:32. \”A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.\”
- God confirmed to Simeon, the promised He made to Abraham that his descendants
would be a blessing to all nations.
- The mission of Jesus was revealed to Simeon.
- He is a light to the Gentiles.
- Faith in Jesus brings eternal life,
- We die to self and live in Jesus.
- Jesus death on the cross and resurrection brought glory to Israel.
- The Word of God is a lamp to the feet of all who believe in Jesus.
- The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
- God reveals to us what He does not reveal to the world.
- God makes us accountable to reveal His Word to those in the dark.
- You are never to young or too old to be used by God.
- Simeon in his old age made known to Mary and Joseph God\’s revelation
to Him.
- When we study God\’s Word, He enlightens us with a message to others.
LET US REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Come Join Us For Sunday Service
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston Texas
