March - a time for kites, thoughts of spring, and the saying "in like a lamb and out like a lion." I know of a man that came to this world as a lamb - meek and lowly. In Revelation 5:6, it tells of a Lamb as it had been slain, and again in Revelation 13:8, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

     Who is this they are speaking of? St. John 1:26-29 tells of Him. As John the Baptist was baptizing at the Jordan River, he looked and saw Jesus coming unto him and saith: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Even as John the Baptist declared in these passages that He was among them and they knew Him not, also today they Lamb of God is here with us and many do not know Him.

     Many people in the world today have heard there was a birth in a stable, and this person died on a cross and was to have risen in three days, but they do not know Him or much else about Him. Why did this man become the Lamb that was the ultimate sacrifice?

     When man fell from grace in the garden of Eden, there had to be some way that God and man could be reconciled back together. An ultimate, perfect sacrifice had to be given for our redemption from sin. Lambs offered as sacrifice in days of the Law just covered for a short time, and had to be done again each year.

     So God, wanting to renew the fellowship with man, send His Son. John 3:16 states, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." His Son became that sacrificial lamb to atone for our sin.

     1 Peter 1:19 declares, "but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." He also bared His back to the smiters that we may have healing for our bodies. Isaiah 52:14, "As many were astonished at Thee: His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men."

     What a price He paid for our sins, to be so beaten and abused. Yet Isaiah 53:7 says, "He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not his mouth." This man Jesus had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth, but the world rejected Him and killed Him. Yes, He came into this world like a lamb the first time and made no reputation of Himself, but, He is coming back again. This time it will be declared, "Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah."

     This time He will not be as the gentle meek one, He will be the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Those who mocked Him as He hung on the cross will see a very different person. John, in Revelation 1:13-16, saw Him standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks and said, "He was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were while like wool, as white as snow: and His eyes were as a flame of fire: and His feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strenth."

     This is a very sharp contrast to the man that they saw riding on the donkey and hanging on the cross. He is coming back in all power and all glory that is due Him as King and Ruler over all. Revelation 19:15 tells that He will rule with a rod of iron over them that do not love Him. This sounds quite different from the man that stood in front of Pilate.

     Phillipians 2:9-11 states, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

     My friend, now is the time to know Christ, while He is still the gentle lamb of sacrifice for sin. One day, the Lion of Judah is returning, and is going to judge the world for its wickedness. If you do not know Him as your Savior now, you will know Him as a judge. Instead of welcoming Him, "you will run to the rocks and the mountains and cry for them to fall upon you to hide from the one that sitteth on the throne", according to Revelation 6:16.

     My advice this March, is to receive the Lamb of God now. Then, when the Lion of Judah comes back, you do not have to fear the time as never was a time before of such suffering, because you will be ready to reign and rule with Him forevermore.

 

                                                Your Pastor,

                                                Anthony Krummrey