Study 8: 21st - 27th August

Readings from the Gospel of John

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look the Lamb of God” __Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him. “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ).”(John Chapter 1 verses 35-36 and 40-41 (New International Version).

Every organization has its own unique words that only those who are interested in that field know what they mean. For example in golf we have words like shank, putting yips, bogies, hooks, slices, ambrose, drivers, albatross and eagles to name a few words that most golfers understand and have experienced. As you play the game, you get to know the meaning of these terms. Those outside of golf, most likely have no idea of the meaning of these words.
The same is true with God. With following Jesus or being a Christian, we also have special words that have meaning, known only to those who are familiar with the writings of the bible before Jesus came.

Two words or phrases used in our reading above to describe Jesus are worth looking at this week.

The first description of Jesus is he is called the “Lamb of God” If we use our common knowledge of a Lamb for eating or wool, we will get the wrong idea. The meaning behind referring to Jesus as a lamb is what the lambs are used for in relation to worship. In the time prior to Jesus coming, lambs were killed and offered as a sacrifice to God as part of the law that God established. This sacrifice was used to remind the people of their sins or failure to live as God intended. Through this offering, sins were forgiven. At the same time there was something lacking in these sacrifices that Jesus would fulfil.

When Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God, it is referring to Jesus dying for our sins and taking the punishment we deserve. Earlier in John Ch 1:29, when John saw Jesus coming to him he said of Jesus; ”The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This is the meaning of the phrase. Jesus was a once and for all time the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

The second word that is used to describe Jesus is he is called Messiah or Christ. Both words have the same meaning, which is to be anointed by God. Anointing was a pouring of oil on special people God chose like Kings. This anointing affirms God’s promise to provide leadership for his people. The term also refers to the promise of a special person promised in the Old Testament (the time before Jesus coming) who would give this leadership and fulfil God’s promises of restoration for his people. So God’s people looked forward to this Messiah coming. John declares that Jesus is the Messiah or Christ and the rest of John’s writing on Jesus will show the kind of leader he is and the authority he has as God’s chosen one sent to help us find God.

Our faith can grow in leaps and bounds as we discover the meaning of words like those used by John. There will be many more to come. I continually get so amazed at what God has done through Jesus as you learn about him.

Prayer.
Our God, we are amazed that Jesus is the special one you anointed with the Holy Spirit and chose to die to take away our sins. We accept him as our leader. Help us never to be ashamed to call you our master and our friend. Thank you that you are in charge of our lives. Amen.