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<\/a>It is the week before Easter. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year. In college, I took a course about the life of Christ, specifically about the final week of Jesus\u2019 life. So much occurred in those few days before Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection. Crowds cheering. Parables taught. A final dinner with the beloved disciples. Arrest. Trials. Death. Victory. And this is just to name a few of the happenings of the week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s during this week that we see the Lamb of God fulfill the task set before Him. John the Baptizer used this Name of the Lord as Jesus passed by (John 1:29).<\/p>\n
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In our day in age, we look at a lamb with tenderness. We see a cute little critter. However, in John\u2019s day, a lamb was one of their sacrificial animals. Once a perfect lamb was found, it would be taken to the priests. There were two lambs sacrificed each day, one in the morning and one at night. On the Sabbath, these sacrifices were doubled.<\/p>\n
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It was understood that the sacrifice of these animals was a way for God\u2019s people to approach Him and to restore their walk with God. It was in this sacrifice that the sins of the people were forgiven.<\/p>\n
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When John called Jesus the Lamb of God, perhaps those around him didn\u2019t understand that Jesus would become the sacrificial Lamb, but that is exactly what John meant. Jesus would be the Way for us to approach God and to restore our walk with Him. It was through Jesus\u2019 sacrifice that our sins are forgiven. The Lamb of God.<\/p>\n
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I\u2019d like to share a song today (it is Monday after all) about the Lamb. You\u2019ll recognize it as soon as you begin reading the words. And then, take a moment to listen to this tune. Find yourself in the moment. Feel the intensity. Come to understand the sacrifice made on your behalf.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWatch the Lamb\u201d<\/p>\n
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Walking on the road to Jerusalem.
\nThe time had come to sacrifice again.
\nMy two small sons they walked beside me down the road.
\nThe reason that they came was to watch the lamb…<\/p>\n
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And they said,
\n“Daddy, Daddy, what will we see there?
\nThere’s so much that we don’t understand,”
\nSo I told them of Moses, and Father Abraham,
\nAnd I said dear children “Watch the lamb….\u201d<\/p>\n
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There will be so many in Jerusalem today.
\nWe must be sure the lamb doesn’t run away,”
\nAnd I told them of Moses and Father Abraham.
\nAnd I said “Dear children, watch the lamb….”<\/p>\n
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When we reached the city I knew something must be wrong.
\nThere were no joyful worshippers, no joyful worship songs,
\nAnd I stood there with my children in the midst of angry men,
\nThen I heard a crowd cry out, “Let\u2019s crucify Him!”<\/p>\n
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We tried to leave the city but we could not get away.
\nForced to play in this drama, a part I did not want to play.
\nWhy upon this day were men condemned to die?
\nWhy were we standing right here where soon they would pass by?<\/p>\n
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I looked and I said, “Even now they come.”
\nThe first one cried for mercy, the people gave him none.
\nThe second one was violent, he was arrogant and loud.
\nI can still hear his angry voice screaming at the crowd.<\/p>\n
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Then someone said, “There’s Jesus.” I scarce believed my eyes.
\nA man so badly beaten, he barely looked alive.
\nBlood poured from His body, from the thorns on His brow.
\nRunning down the cross and falling to the ground.<\/p>\n
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I watched as He struggled and I watched Him when He fell.
\nThe cross came down upon His back and the crowd began to yell.
\nIn that moment I felt such agony, in that moment I felt such loss.
\nTill the roman soldier grabbed my arm and screamed;
\n“YOU! Carry his cross!”<\/p>\n
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At first I tried to resist him, but his hand reached for his sword.
\nSo I knelt and I took the cross from the Lord.
\nI placed it on my shoulders we started down the street.
\nAnd the blood that He’d been shedding was running down my cheek…<\/p>\n
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They led us to Golgotha, they drove nails.
\nDeep in His feet and hands yet upon the cross.
\nI heard him pray, “Father, forgive them…”<\/p>\n
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Never have I seen such love in any other eyes.
\n“Into thy hands I commit my spirit,” He prayed.
\nAnd then He died.<\/p>\n
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I stood for what seemed like years. I lost all sense of time.
\nThen I felt these little hands holding to mine.
\nMy children stood there weeping and I heard the oldest say.
\n“Father please forgive us, the lamb ran away…\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cDaddy, Daddy, what’ve we seen here? <\/p>\n
\nThere’s so much that we don’t understand.”
\nSo I took them in my arms we turned and faced the cross.
\nAnd I said, “Dear children, watch the Lamb…”[i]<\/a><\/p>\n