Monday: The Lamb of God
Read John 1:29, Revelation 5:12, Revelation 13:8. What is the one image that these texts have in common, and what is the importance of that image in helping us to understand the plan of salvation?
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When John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God”, he was making an unmistakable reference to the sanctuary. Even more directly, he was making a reference to Christ’s death for sin as the one and only fulfillment of all the lambs (and every other sacrificial animal in the Hebrew sanctuary ritual) that had ever been slain as a sacrifice for sin. Indeed, the four Gospels, whatever else they teach, ultimately tell the story of what Jesus did in His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
But the story of Jesus and His work for our salvation does not end in the Gospels, even with His death and resurrection.
From the beginning, the book of Hebrews touches on the theme of Christ as the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary after His work as the sacrificial Lamb. From the first mention of Him in this role after the cross (Heb. 1:3), succeeding chapters in the book make reference to Jesus as High Priest. The depiction of His work in the heavenly sanctuary is fully developed in detail in Hebrews 7:1-28.
Read Hebrews 7:1-28. What is the author saying here about Jesus?
Though these verses are so deep, so rich, the essence of what they are saying is that Jesus Christ has a better priesthood than did the priests from the line of Aaron in the earthly sanctuary service. But now, instead of an earthly priesthood in an earthly sanctuary, we have a heavenly High Priest ministering for us in the sanctuary in heaven. So, when we focus our eyes on Jesus now, we can focus them on Him as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
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The moment sin entered the world the plan of redemption was revealed to the universe.
Leviticus 17:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
Atonement is not possible without the spilled blood (life).
5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Which is easier? answer
Forgiveness of sin is not possible with out giving up My life.
His authority to forgive sin came because Son of God was willing to become Son of Man.
Newbegin, where is it written that Jesus was "Son of God" before He was son of man?
Jesus claimed the position of "I AM" before He became a son of man and the only begotten Son of God. As far as I have learned so far there is only one I AM and that is our Creator God.
Maybe someone can help me with this.
May I suggest that we have no better way to refer to the pre-incarnate Christ than "Son of God"? (What would you suggest?) According to the evidence in the New Testament, this same Person of the Godhead was the Jehovah/Yahweh who led the Israelites out of Egypt. He was the Person of the Godhead who interfaced directly with humanity throughout history.
I believe "Son of God" is an expression in a language adapted to the understanding of humanity in that it implies an intimate relationship. It does not necessitate biological or any other kind of descent. After all Christ affirmed His eternity when He said that "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) And He affirmed His equality with the Father when He said, "I and my Father are one.' (John 10:30) Beyond the words of Scripture, there is mystery, and we had best not speculate on how these things can be because we cannot understand them.
Inge, I agree with you. We must relate Jesus Christ with deity and with mankind as He does Himself. Christ before Jesus was called "the Angel of the Lord" or LORD or Yahweh or Jehovah, all referring to the same single I AM who is the Creator.
It appears to me that Yahweh is a plural being, making us in His image as a plural being also--like Him. In our case we interact with our surroundings through our physical body, but the real self is inside our body invisible except for the way we are revealed through our bodily expressions which would include our thoughts and feelings expressed in words. Our body is then the physical interface with the world around us as Jesus, Angel of the Lord, and I AM is to the physical creation of God.
We are focusing on "The End Time". For those who have lived over 4 score years, and have lived in some parts of southern California USA. A period of hatred that manifested it's self to the point of riots, looting and blocks of destruction was under way. Killing when ever and where ever possible. I wonder now about the times of trouble that are predicted. As I mesmerize, I think about a Godless culture. How sad that Satan has control of people's minds, that are continually evil. We that read Gods word know and understand, how blessed we are, if we have vivid comparisons between Good and evil. Thank you Lord!
There may be advantages to using the word, “sanctuary” when referring to the work of Jesus as our high priest. Anyone who has attended adventist meetings for a year is likely to know at least a little bit about the connection between Jesus and the “sanctuary”.
When introducing this subject to non-adventists, however, not one in ten people would realize what the connection is. They would be much more likely to recognize the word, “temple”. The portable building or “sanctuary” constructed at Sinai was smaller in size but similar in function to the larger “permanent” temples in Jerusalem.
P.S. Please join me in requesting that the Sabbath School Department produce Lesson Guides written in language to which the majority of protestants are accustomed.
Good Day,
My concern about today's lesson is the use of Rev 13:8. It does not speak about Christ but about the "Beast". If you read Rev 13:1-10, how can verse 8 be compared with John 1:29 and Rev 5:12.
Rev 13:8 says,
"All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the Beast), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"
Whose names have not been written
Please explain
Andrew, I believe Rev 13:8 is mentioned because of the reference to the "Book of Life' belonging ti "the Lamb."
I'm enjoying the Sabbath lessons..... Thanks 🙏
Many don't realize or focus on the idea that the lamb is from God. God is the one who grants a propitiating substitute for the sinners death. Yes, it was chose from the sinner's flock, or purchased if not a sheep owner, but it is allowed, and thus provided by God FOR the sinner's sake. This is well illustrated in Genesis 22.
It is asked what the passage in Heb 7 is saying about Jesus. The very next verse; Heb 8:1 tells us doesn't it? Some have misused this passage(Heb 7) to support other ideas not found in scripture, when it's intention was to show the greater ministry of Jesus in heaven compared to earthly priests. Both His sacrifice and ministry are only faintly illustrated in the earthly types.
God our Creator has done more than we can fully understand to bring us to the inheritance "with them which are sanctified".
People have some deep questions but I want to relay just one thing. Some things we may not understand here, but one thing is for sure...God said the secret things belong unto Him, so I must accept that at face value. He is the one and only true God and I believe Jesus is His Only Begotten Son there with Him from the Beginning, along with the Holy Spirit, the 3 in 1 Holy Trinity. Some things we may have to wait till we get to heaven to find out.
Thanks Inge, but it should be explained or it can be misinterpreted.
I think you're referring to the title "Son of God" as indicating intimate relationship rather than descent?
(I understand Christ to be co-eternal with the Father - which is beyond our experience/comprehension. It's interesting that the messianic prophecy of Isa 9:6 calls the Messiah/Christ "The mighty God, The everlasting Father," as well as other titles. So much for defining specific roles for member of the Godhead!)
God is a spirit, Jesus was the sanctified fleshly body God created in order that he could manifest himself to us. So Jesus was God inside flesh reconciling the world back to him, so, when the disciples ask Jesus to show us the father he said so long have I been with you and you don't know me, when you see me you see the father. God prepared a body not born in sin but of flesh and blood, the Christ, the sanctified sacrifice (the Lamb) so that he (God) could offer it as the complete sacrifice for our sin. when the sacrifice was completed the spirit in the Christ went back to the father. So God did not die but Jesus the Christ did. Therefore Jesus was God inside flesh called the Son of God.
Great insight and understanding, Andrew! This statement is according to the Word of God as I understand it.
Now that we have our high priest in heaven as our mediator. Do we need the law or it has been done away with?
How is Christ's heavenly ministry relevant to my life today?
Good question, Efosa, I believe it needs to be answered. My answer would be that Jesus is in the position and work of cleansing His people of all their sins. He will have a group to meet Him when He comes back to take His people to Heaven who can stand in the presence of God without a mediator because their sins are forgiven and He has perfected His Character in them such that they have total victory over sin in their lives. They don't sin any more. They are sealed in His Righteousness while the others in the world want to kill them because they are sealed in their filthiness and unholiness.