Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Agege, Lagos HQ
3rd September 2018
Study 63 – THE VICARIOUS SACRIFICE OF GOD’S SPOTLESS LAMB
John 19:1-22; Isaiah 53:1-6; Exodus 12:3-13,22,23; John 1:29,36; Acts 8:30-35; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Revelations 7:9-17
Vicarious, that means He did it for another; He did it for you and me. He suffered not for any crime or sin He committed, nor for any misdeed, but for us He did it, that’s why it is called Vicarious. It is the sacrifice of the Perfect and Spotless Lamb of God, a sacrifice that was acceptable in the sight of God. His suffering, crucifixion, agony and pain made propitiation for the sins of everyone in the world: He was beaten, wounded and mocked. The story of the Lamb has been from the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:1-6). Prophet Isaiah saw Him as the Lamb come to bear the iniquities and punishment of us all. The Lord laid all upon Him. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). It was something He did as a substitute for the sinner, backslider and every man on earth. This Sacrifice dates back to Exodus chapter 12 when the children of Israel were to be redeemed from Egypt, purchased by the Blood of the Lamb (Exodus 12:3-13,22,23). This was demonstrated at that time as every family was to take a lamb without spot or blemish and kill that lamb in the place of everyone, so that all the children of Israel can enjoy protection and preservation. The lamb was a representation of Christ, a symbol before Christ came. All have sinned, and have to pay the penalty of sin whether Jew or gentile. Remember, all have to die for their sin, but for the Israelites not to die, there must be a substitute. They had to take a lamb and kill it so that the blood will atone for their sins. It will not the fruit of the ground like Cain brought, it had to be blood, for blood is the life in the living being, and blood is what God had given for an atonement, cleansing, pardon and purchase of the people. While judgement was coming upon all others, they were to stay in their homes, under the coverage of the blood, so that judgement will pass over them, for He would know that a lamb without blemish had died vicariously for everyone in that house. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”. (Exodus 12:13,22,23). So as you come to John chapter 19, that was what the Lord was demonstrating now. What had been a symbol and an emblem in the Old Testament is now being played out in reality because Jesus Christ is actually the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John saw Jesus Christ, the blameless, spotless and sinless One who is going to bear the punishment for the sin of the whole world. He came to take away, not to cover, the sin from the heart and life of every man in the whole world. In Acts 8 we see the revelation and identification of that Lamb that would take away the sin of the world. “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?” (Acts 8:30). The Ethiopian Eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship and yet he had vacuum, guilt and condemnation in his heart for his sins. He wasn’t free yet, no peace of reconciliation with the Lord, and so he was still seeking and searching. He needed the guidance of a teacher, an Evangelist who had got and understood the revelation of that passage he was reading. He was reading the story of Jesus, giving you the reason why Jesus suffered and came to pay the greatest price that could be paid. The Lord Jesus Christ bore your sin and that of the whole of humanity, but He did that as the vicarious sacrifice that pleased God as the Spotless Lamb of God. We were redeemed, reconciled to God, our sins pardoned and cleansed, guilt and condemnation taken away; we have salvation and reconciliation with God through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus offered Himself as the Sacrifice for sins, and no other sacrifice could atone for all the sins of all the men in the whole world. By His perfect and acceptable sacrifice that He gave for us on the Cross of Calvary, He obtains for us; (1) Pardon, (2) Peace with God; (3) Propitiation (favour) of God; (4) Purging of our hearts from sins; (5) Purity; (6) Power with God and (7) Perfection. Holiness and Heaven become ours because of the perfect, vicarious sacrifice of the Lamb of God. (Revelations 7:9-17) In all dispensations and ages, the only way of salvation and reconciliation with God is through the Blood of that spotless, perfect and flawless Lamb of God The center of the worship, glory and joy in Heaven is the Lamb.
3 points:
Point 1. THE CRUELTY AND THE SCOURGING ENDURED BY THE SINLESS SAVIOUR
John 19:1-5; Isaiah 50:6; 53:3-8; Matthew 20:18,19; 27:4,19,24,27-30; Luke 23:13-16,41,47; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 2:22-24; 1 John 3:5; Lamentations 1:12
“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him” (John 19:4). Pilate found no fault in him yet scourged Him, and he was crowned with thorns. Why? It was for us. Jesus did no evil, had no sin, there was no fault found in Him, God had no charge against Him. He hurt no one, did no evil to anyone and yet they crucified Him. He went about doing good not asking for recognition or riches. He used His faith to feed thousand but not Himself even when He was hungry. He was righteous, holy, faithful, generous, loving, perfect, and faultless yet He suffered. Why? It had been predicted and prophesied in the Old Testament that He will suffer, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). Nobody came to His defense or speak good on his behalf, not even all those that enjoyed all the miracles He had performed. He was despised by all, smitten by God just because He was standing in the sinner’s place, bearing their shame and ignominy. He did it voluntarily and vicariously, took the punishment that should have on all humanity. (Isaiah 53:3-8). He knew the purpose for which He came and He knew this was going to happen, and so He didn’t shrink or try to avoid it. He went voluntarily to accept it for everyone. “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again” (Matthew 20:18,19). Even Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him testified that Jesus was innocent. Pilate’s wife and Pilate testified that He was the Just One (Matthew 27:4,19,24,27). Pilate actually wanted to release Jesus, but the Jews will not accept that, because Christ must suffer and bear the punishment of the sins of all humanity, “Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him” (Luke 23:14-16). Even the thief on the cross testified of His innocence and that He was a righteous man, and yet that sinless and righteous Man went through all the sufferings and scourges as if He was the most dangerous man in the land (Luke 23:41,47). “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). When they scourged Him, He bore our sins in His body (1 Peter 2:22-24). You should know this by experience not just knowing this in the head or studies, but in your own spirit that, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). The Lord is asking everyone today that will ever study the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger” (Lamentations 1:12). You have heard about His crucifixion, agony death and His sufferings, is it nothing to you? What have you done about it? That sacrifice was supposed to atone for your sins. Have you prayed? Have you repented of your sin? Understand that this is the reason for your pardon, peace, purging, power, perfection and getting to heaven. So let it be something for you today, that the sufferings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ is realized in you, that you are born again and saved: And you hold fast to it and praise God for your salvation through the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ, the Spotless Lamb of God.
Point 2. THE CONDEMNATION AND THE SENTENCE AGAINST THE SPOTLESS SON
John 19:6-12; Psalms 2:1-8; Mathew 3:16,17; 17:5; Luke 1:30-35; Matthew 8:28,29; Mark 3:11; Luke 4:40,41; John 1:32-34,47-49; Matthew 16:15-17; John 11:25-27; Matthew 27:54; John 20:30,31; Acts 9:19,20
John 19:6-12. When Jesus would not answer Pilate, he said, “……knowest thout not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” Jesus had to answer this because Pilate was claiming the power that belonged to God alone. “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11). Only the Father had that power to release or crucify Him. Caiaphas that delivered Him to Pilate had the greater sin. “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). You will see that these people were not sincere, they were deliberately and defiantly ignorant. The Jews read the Psalms in their Synagogues during worship, that the Almighty God made Him His Son, “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalms 2:7). Also, they went to the baptism of John the Baptist, and heard the voice of God that confirmed Jesus as the Son of God, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16,17). So Jesus did not make Himself the Son, it was the Father that confirmed and called Him His Son, so they were not sincere. They were deceptively, deliberately and defiantly ignorant of the fact the Jesus did not make Himself the Son of God but the Father did (Matthew 17:5). The evidences and testimonies were there of Jesus Christ being confirmed as the Son of God by God Himself, but they will not accept, therefore they wanted to crucify and get rid of Him for making Himself the Son of God. Even the angel confirmed Him as the Son of God, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Evil spirits also recognized and called Him the Son of God (Matthew 8:29). The unclean spirits cried that He is the Son of God (Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41). So that is not true, that He made Himself the Son of God, but the Father, Spirt, Heaven, angel, evil spirits called Him the Son of God as did Nathaniel (John 1:49), and Peter (Matthew 16:16). Look at everybody affirming and embracing the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. It was revelation from Heaven. Jesus did not make Himself the Son of God, Heaven confirmed it, and even the Centurion of the Roman Army, “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Mathew 27:54). But then why are we reading all these verses to confirm that Jesus is the Son of God? “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). These have been written that you might believe and believing you might have life. Paul, after his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus went out to preach that this Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 9:19,20). Now you know the Truth that Jesus is the Son of God.
Point 3: THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE SUFFERING OF THE SINNER’S SUBSTITUTE
John 19:13-22; Romans 5:8-10; 8:32; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 15:3,4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 5:2; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12,24; Galatians 1:4; 2:20
We have learnt about the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. Why all these sufferings? He suffered so that He will be the Saviour of the whole world. He suffered, bore the shame and was nailed to the Cross for us, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The death you should have died, Christ bore so that you can possess all things of the Kingdom (Romans 8:32). For us, He suffered, paid the price, bled, and died on the Cross. (1 Corinthians 5:7). You can come and take refuge, seek forgiveness, reconciliation with God under the Blood of the Lamb. Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3). All these He did for your salvation, sanctification, righteousness, reconciliation with God and so that you will not perish. And if you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ today knowing that He has borne your punishment, salvation is available for you. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). God has made Him to be the Substitute and Sacrifice for us. He was crucified, died, bore the agony and paid the penalty because of you, so you cannot miss that. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Every iniquity and sin you have perpetrated and committed, Jesus suffered for that. Salvation and cleansing will be yours in Jesus Name. By His death, He had obtained eternal redemption for us, and appeared in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:12,24). He gave Himself for our sins for He was sinless, spotless, blameless and perfect, but for our sins He died. Now you can make this provision of Christ on the Cross at Calvary personal. You must be saved, your guilt must go away and every burden of sins must be taken away from your life and heart today. Jesus did all these for you in particular, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). He loved you and gave Himself for you. Salvation, Sanctification, Holiness, Healing and Heaven available for you, He died for you and you will not perish.
Ponder on this! It is the sacrifice of the Perfect and Spotless Lamb of God, a sacrifice that was acceptable in the sight of God. His suffering, crucifixion, agony and pain made propitiation for the sins of everyone in the world. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! Jesus did no evil, had no sin, there was no fault found in Him, God had no charge against Him. He hurt no one, did no evil to anyone and yet they crucified Him. He went about doing good, not asking for recognition or riches. He used His faith to feed thousand but not Himself even when He was hungry. He was righteous, holy, faithful, generous, loving, perfect, and faultless, yet He suffered. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – We were redeemed, reconciled to God, our sins pardoned and cleansed, guilt and condemnation taken away; we have salvation and reconciliation with God through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. Pastor (Dr.) W.F Kumuyi
Words on the Marble – The Centre of the Worship, Glory and Joy in Heaven is the Lamb of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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