Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 11 & 12; Revelation 2; Zephaniah 3; John 1
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Have you ever wondered why the announcement of the birth of the Son of God was made to shepherds? The answer is really a simple one; shepherds are always the first to know of the birth of a new lamb. Bethlehem was the place where the lambs were raised that would be used in the temple sacrifices.
Jesus was born the spotless Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Because of man’s sin, the Lord requires a blood sacrifice to atone for sin. God taught this to Israel over and over again for years starting with the Passover. They would slay a lamb and cover their door with its blood. This would cause the wrath of God to pass over that home. Then in the wilderness tabernacle, the people would bring sacrifices to cover their sins for one year. However, none of these sacrifices could ever take away sin.
Hebrews 10:3-4 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Those sacrifices could only cover sins. Jesus Christ shed his blood to take sins away. What a blessed reality! If you believe in Jesus your sins are taken away. But it took a lamb to do this. That lamb is the very Son of God. When we think of the birth of the Savior, let’s always remember the fact that God’s lamb was born that day and without him, there is no forgiveness of sins.
Praise the name of Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
