Daily Dose of the Word of God - John 1: 1-7, 19-23, 29

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:11 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. It’s Friday, December 20, and Sunday is coming! I’m Erin Pacheco.  This Sunday in worship, we’ll be retelling the story of the Bible through the music of Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God, performed by ECRC’s own Broken Halos. The phrase “Behold the Lamb of God” comes from the words of John the Baptist, in John 1.

Erin Pacheco  0:42 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Erin Pacheco 2:14 

When John first introduces people to Jesus, he calls him the Lamb of God.    Like the lambs in the land of Egypt, whose blood on the door spared the people from death. Like the sacrificial lambs that were brought to the temple year after year, to atone for the sins of the people. Like the silent lamb led to the slaughter, prophesied in Isaiah. John says, “Look! The Lamb of God!” Jesus comes to fulfill all of it. To spare us from death. To redeem us from sin. To quietly take upon himself all of our pains and struggles and failures, so that our lives can be made new. And by God’s perfect design, this lamb of God comes as a baby, swaddled just like a spotless lamb would have been, marked out for temple sacrifice. He is laid in a manger – an animal feeding trough – and welcomed by shepherds. This Sunday, come behold the beautiful story, from start to finish. Come behold the Lamb. Come and receive in your heart the gifts of love and grace that he brings. And most of all, come and worship. For “worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive all power and honor and glory and praise!”

Erin Pacheco 3:53  

Let’s pray. God, we thank and praise you for the beauty of Jesus. Every story of scripture whispers his name. Open our hearts anew to wonder at your sacrifice and love. Amen.