Religion & Spirituality
The Lamb John 1:29 …….. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” When John the Baptist saw Jesus he knew exactly who He was, not because he recognised Him but because the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to him. You will remember that when Mary was pregnant with Jesus, John, who was also still in Elizabeth’s womb, bore witness to Mary’s good news and John (the foetus) leapt for joy as Elizabeth was filled by the Holy Spirit. Although there is no evidence of any physical contact between the boys as they were growing up, John immediately knows that Jesus is the one for whom he has been preparing the way. John calls Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. John the Baptist was a prophet and this exclamation is, in fact, a prophetic proclamation. The event that initiated the Passover Feast from the days of Moses was soon to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Moses was instructed by God to tell the Israelites in Egypt to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and daub its blood upon the doorposts and lintels of their homes. The Angel of Death would pass over those households that displayed the blood of the lamb. (Exodus 12:1-30) Jesus was to become our perfect Passover Lamb whose blood shed on and at Calvary's cross was, for those who believe, to be our life. Those who are washed clean in His blood will live forever with Jesus. The shed blood of Jesus applied to the entry and exit points of sin in our life will save us from spiritual death. Christ Jesus came to take away the sin of the world. Thank you Jesus, because of you, death will pass over us. Amen Holy Spirit John 1:33 …….. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' John the Baptist and Prophet of God had a vision of himself baptising people in the River Jordan, later, as he was baptizing, he saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove come down and remain upon the Christ. He has a word of knowledge that this is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. It seems strange that among Christians this very phrase ‘baptize with the Holy Spirit’ can evoke such a huge span of emotions ranging from religious anger to abject confusion. Mark, Luke and John’s gospels all speak of it plainly. This was the event that was to launch the ministry of Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One of God. It was after His baptism in the Holy Spirit that Jesus spent some time alone with God (forty days) reconciling Himself with His ministry. After that He moved in the power of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, it should be the same process for us today. Until we are baptized in the Holy Spirit there will be no power in our ministry. Until we spend time alone with God we will be ineffective in our calling. When Jesus returned back to heaven after His resurrection He released the Holy Spirit to come upon all people. This first happened in the Upper room on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and now it can happen everywhere and anywhere ever since. Jesus has poured out the Holy Spirit without limit to soak, immerse, flood and baptize all who believe in Him. Lord Jesus, thank you for baptizing us with the Holy Spirit. Amen