Lamb of God

Discipleship Group Questions for January 16, 2005

Scripture:

Is. 49:3,5-6, He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 5 And now the LORD says — he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength — 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Psa. 40:2,4,7-10 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

1Cor. 1:1-3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

Questions for Reflection:

1.We’re going to be focusing on the happy subject of “Sacrifice,” and the role this has in God’s strategy for establishing His reign over the world. Please discuss the following “framing” question: Let’s begin with this question: “How often do you hear the word “sacrifice” used on the nightly news reports? Is it a word in wide circulation today?” If not – why not? What is it about this word that doesn’t fit nicely with this time and this culture?”

2.Please reflect upon the following definition of the word “sacrifice” – what does it tell you? “Sacrifice is primarily the slaughter of an animal (often including the subsequent consumption of it by fire) as an offering to God or a deity. Hence, in the wider sense, the surrender to God or a deity for the purpose of propitiation or homage of some object or possession. Also applied to the offering of prayer, thanksgiving, penitence, submission, or the like.”

3.Reflect together upon the following: “Sacrifices in the Old and New Testament were in type and symbol substitutionary. Life was for life. Christ became for us our substitute sacrifice – He took our punishment upon Himself – He became our substitute sacrifice. In . . . Heb. 10:14 we read “because by one sacrifice he (Christ) has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Christ’s sacrifice substituted for the punishment our sins deserved and because of this - . . . Heb. 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

Because of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice we can come boldly into the most holy place of God! Because of His sacrifice we can come right into the very presence of God!

This doctrine of substitutionary atonement has been called the “scarlet line of redemption” which begins in Abel’s sacrifice in Genesis and climaxes in the blood of the Lamb slain from the creation of the world in the Book of Revelation. (Rev. 13:8) “

4.Please read our Gospel reading and reflect upon the following statement about it: “God had already told John how He would know the One for whom he was preparing the way – the Spirit would come down upon Him and remain on Him – This would show John who was the Chosen One!

Can you imagine how John must have been looking and waiting for the One to come? Who was he? How would he recognize him and so on.

And so the day came and John recognized Jesus and a day passed and his understanding had probably grown because of God’s revelation. It had grown to the point that he realized that Jesus was to be the sacrificial lamb of God for all people – all nations – not just for the Jews! But for all!!!!

John the Baptist knew now who Jesus was and what He had come to do – to become the sacrificial Lamb of God – to give Himself on our behalf so that we could be completely forgiven and able then to come boldly before our Father God – through the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ!

Do we get this? Do you and I even begin to grasp the personal significance of this for us and for the world? God must have thought it was pretty significant to sacrifice His own Son for us! But do you and I get it?

God incarnate died for you and you and you! How valuable are you? Infinitely valuable! How valuable is the life of the God of God and the King of Kings? Infinitely valuable! And He died for you and me!

His death was absolutely necessary to restore our right relationship with God!

Please think about it – God incarnate died for you and because of that death you can now freely come into the Presence of God Almighty – all of your sins have been appeased for! Nothing is owing to God! Jesus has paid it in full!

Now this sacrifice of Jesus was done once and for all 2,000 years ago. It is done – the price has been paid – but how do you and I appropriate the wonder and grace of this gift today?”

5.Please reflect upon the following: “This is what happens every time we celebrate the Eucharist or as the ancients referred to it as “The Mass.” The Eucharist is a true sacrifice, not just a commemorative meal. It is in fact a re-presentation of the once and for all sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary – we re-present that sacrifice to our Present God and in so doing enter once again experientially into the wonder of that act and the wonder of the gift that we received and are always receiving from it – eternal life in God’s Presence!

The first Christians knew that it was a sacrifice and proclaimed this in their writings. They recognized the sacrificial character of Jesus’ instruction, "Do this in remembrance of me" which perhaps is better translated "Offer this as my memorial offering."

Malachi’s prediction (1:10–11) that the Lord would reject Jewish sacrifices and instead would have "a pure offering" made to him by the Gentiles in every place was seized upon by Christians as a prophecy of the Eucharist.”

Mal. 1:11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty.

6.Please reflect upon the following statements: “Now listen very carefully – here comes the kicker! This way of sacrifice – is “the” model for all Christian behavior!

We must be like our master – always ready to give our all for the accomplishment of God’s plans!

Sacrifice is “the” model for all Christian behavior.

God, this morning, is calling you and me to rediscover our fundamental calling to give our lives to Him as sacrifices!

St. Paul writes in the Book of Romans: Rom. 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Sacrifice is to characterize our lives! As Christ sacrificed Himself for us so too we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others! “