weekly sermon

     10-05-08

Mary Had A Little Lamb

We all know the nursery rhyme Mary had a little lamb, but what do we really know about this nursery rhyme that was taught to us years ago.

Mary had a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow. Every where that Mary went.... Let us just look at this part of the nursery rhyme for a moment.

A little over 2000 years ago there was a man who had a crush on a girl. The man's name was Joseph and the girl's name was Mary. Let us step back to even 100 years ago for a moment. When a guy had a crush on a gal, that is simply what it was, a crush. There was no physical contact between the two even as recent as 100 years ago, so you can imagine over 2000 years ago. When I say that Joseph had a crush on Mary, this simply means they had love for each other but with no physical contact. When Joseph married Mary he discovered she was pregnant, and he, being a just man, didn't want to make a public example of her, and possibly ruin his own reputation, so he hid her away. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that Mary was pregnant with a child from God, and to marry her.

This is basically the story we hear at Christmas time concerning the birth of Jesus. You are now wondering how the two tie together other than the women being named Mary in both stories. Let us turn to the Bible to really see how these two stories tie together.

First both women had something new, Mary had a "little" lamb and Mary was giving birth to a "little" baby. How does this baby make a connection to the lamb? Turn with me first to 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." As we can see John calls Jesus, not only a lamb but, THE lamb of God.

You say this is just coincidence. Well let us dwell further into the scriptures. Next turn with me to Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet 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 openeth not his mouth." Ok so how do we know that Isaiah, who wrote this book over 700 years before Jesus birth, was really talking about Jesus? The first thing we notice is that He was oppressed and afflicted. Turn with me to Mark 15:14-20, "Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. (15) And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged [him], to be crucified. (16)And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. (17)And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head], (18)And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! (19)And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing [their] knees worshipped him. (20)And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him."

As we can see from the scriptures in Mark, Jesus was oppressed by the people that stabbed with a crown of thorns, they spit on Him, and hit Him with reeds, all the while mocking Him. From what we have learned, we can see that the words spoken by Isaiah came true during the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Almost 3000 years ago we see the prophecy spoken that would come to pass about the life of a lamb that would have to die to save the world.

Next we see that, during all this oppression and affliction, He did not open His mouth. Now turn with me to Mark 15:3-5, "And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. (4)And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. (5)But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled."

Looking at the passages in Mark we see that, during the time of oppression, Jesus was being questioned by the chief priests and of all the questions and accusations made, Jesus never answered. Once again this solidified the connection between the scriptures.

Now we see that He was led like a lamb to slaughter. As we can also see in Mark, Jesus was led to the cross just like a lamb going to slaughter. If we read anywhere in the Old Testament, where there was an offering made, the lamb was led to the place of sacrifice, then the blood shed before the lamb could be slaughtered. Jesus was led to Golgotha where His blood was shed before He died. The blood that would wash away the sin of man.

Lastly we see that Mary's little lamb had fleece as white as snow. Look with me in 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." Here we see that Jesus was manifested to take our sins away, and that there was no sin in Him. If there was no sin in Him then He was considered to be white as snow. Look finally in Revelations 7:14, "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Here we see the blood of the lamb made them white. This is the taking away of sin and cleansing our souls in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let us all reflect back on what we have studied here and remember one verse above all. 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." This is a true saviour, the one that came, sin free, lived as a servant to the world, allowed Himself to die, that His blood would save the souls of mankind. Notice it does not say He came to forgive sin, He came to take it away. This taking away of our sins is the only way we will ever be able to live in the presence of an almighty God.

If you have never met this lamb and you would like to have your sins taken away, that you may have life and have it more abundantly, all you have to do is say a simple prayer.

Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
 

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone