Week 11 - Lamb of God
This week in summary| Day 1 : Long Farewell | John 15 |
| Day 2 : Lamb of God | John 16 |
| Day 3 : Light of the World | John 17 |
| Day 4 : Blessing | John 18-19 |
| Day 5 : Faith with Feet | John 20-21 |
Long Farewell
One of the most recognizable Christian rituals is the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist). This is a ritual of remembering the last meal Jesus shared with the disciples before he was crucified. John spends 1/4th of his book at this event, but he never talks about the actual meal.
Instead John describes Jesus’ invitation to love and unity.
Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John describes Jesus in great detail inviting his disciples to a very vulnerable solidarity. He describes their relationship with him like a vine and its branches. Live in me and I will live in you. Jesus prays “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
This scene pictures a deep spiritual intimacy with God through Jesus.
How can we be united to each other and united with God?
Lamb of God
Humanity has a long history of bad blood when it comes to God. We consistently reject God’s call to trust him. We’d rather trust ourselves, and build our own little kingdoms instead of investing in God’s Kingdom.
We needed a mediator to get us on the same page. Not only does Jesus chart a vision for our future with God that we can embrace, Jesus also took responsibility for all our atrocities committed against God as we pursued our own selfish desires. He took our sins, our offenses against God and he made payment with his own blood.
It would be a nice thought that forgiveness comes freely but the truth is forgiveness always costs. One way or another someone has to pay. If my neighbor breaks my window I can forgive him, but I still have to pay for the repair or live with the damage.
Jesus’ blood is the way God pays for our damage against him. It doesn’t matter the scale or intentionality: I may have cursed God in anger, trivialized his significance by ignoring Him, or I may have harmed his children. Jesus covered it all.
Jesus is the sacrificial lamb.
This was the Prophet John’s statement when he first saw Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Not only does he cover all our sins against God, he demands that we forgive when humanity sins against us.
Later another John followed Jesus on earth and watched the Kingdom of heaven grow on earth. John had a special vision of heaven where he saw Jesus again in the form of the sacrificial lamb.
I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!
How is Jesus involved in God’s first promise to humanity - the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15?
Light of the World
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
My daughter has a toy owl made of yellow rubber and plastic. It looks like any other toy until you plug it in. It has a light inside that make the owl glow. At night the owl illuminates her dark room. Light seeps through the rubber veil and pours across the walls, the books the doll house.
Last week I was listening to a homeless man tell me about his near death experience. He believes he saw heaven briefly. Light was pouring from everything: the grass, a spoon and every person, light just flowed out of us. It wasn’t reflected light like we see now; it was light coming from within like my daughter’s owl, but it was true of everything in heaven. There were no shadows in heaven because every nook and cranny gushed light. The light was overwhelming to his eyes.
In a letter John wrote to fellow believers he declared: “God is light.”
If God is light and his spirit lives in us, then it also pours out of us like light from a light bulb. We are light bearers as we carry the Spirit of God in us. We are a source of God for the world. In our pursuit of Jesus we reveal to the world what God is like. The world can catch a glimpse of what God is like through us.
John wrote about his experience seeing heaven:
“And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light.”
Just imagine a place where everything and everyone is overflowing with God’s light.
Be light to the world, reveal God to the world.
Blessing Your Neighbors
Pray with your Family - Remember your neighbors by name during mealtime and bedtime prayers.
Prayer Walk - Walk by yourself or with family, roommates, and other neighbors who are believers. Pray over each home by name as you pass and ask God for opportunities with your neighbors.
Ask Open-ended Questions - How long have you lived here? What line of work are you in? What do you do for fun?
Ask Follow-up Questions - How did that test go? Are you feeling better? How was your vacation?
Enjoy a Meal Together - Invite a neighbor (or two) for a BBQ, order in Pizza, or have everyone bring a dessert to share.
Celebrate Special Occasions and Holidays - Bake cupcakes for birthdays. Send a casserole to new parents. Deliver Christmas cookies.
Serve While You’re Outside - Turn lawn chores into opportunities to serve: Mow lawns, water yards, etc.
Serve In Times of Need - Visit when a neighbor passes away or has a baby. Deliver flowers or a gift. Coordinate meals with other neighbors.
Share Commonalities - Hobbies such as golf, book club, bunko night, or a running/fitness group can all bring people together.
Socialize and Make Holidays Special - Enjoy recreational areas. Participate in yard sales and BBQs. Attend holiday parties.
Faith with Feet
Based on John 8-14 What do you believe God wants you to do?
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What have you learned about God’s heart & values?
How did Jesus follow God’s will?
What changes took place to society?
What parts of this story might apply to you?
Why is this story important for someone like you?