The reflection shining in the night sky above the tree tops was nothing short of a thousand-watts of brilliance. I crossed the little bridge and rounded the curve where acres of pastureland opened to a blazing, blinking, gaudy extravaganza of everything from American flags, to Christmas trees, to castles and camels, unicorns and merry-go-rounds—all wrapped in multi-colored lights—and I wondered in all this would-be celebration of Christmas—Where was the Lamb?
A trip through my neighborhood offered a plethora of inflated figures from snowmen to Santa’s, lights wrapping and flashing over housetops, peppermint-cane lights lining walkways and I wondered if these decorations from planet earth magnified the deception of our generation before the Throne of God, or were they lost in the splendor of the Universe? Or do they scream in defiance at God like the sins of ancient Israel—we refuse to believe in You!
Having just come from the Mall where a jillion short tempered shoppers and clerks celebrated the season buying gifts they could ill-afford, the question again whispered in my heart Where is the Lamb? ‘Cause I sure didn’t find Him there either.
I recalled Abraham’s words to Isaac as they traveled up the mountain where God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son—his only son. The same mountain range where centuries later the God of all creation would willingly be crucified for our sins.
Isaac knew they were going to the mountain to sacrifice, he carried the wood. But there was no lamb. “My father,” Isaac asked, “…behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb?”
Abraham’s answer to his son rings prophetic through the corridors of time. “God will see for Himself the lamb for the sacrifice” (Genesis 22:1-18 NAS).
And in Isaiah 52 and 53 God speaks again through His prophet to tell us about this Lamb who would come:
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before it shearers, so He did not open His mouth…But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand…By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities.”
In the 9th Chapter of Daniel the angel Gabriel delivers these words to Daniel:
“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in time of distress. Then after sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined” (Daniel 9:25-26 NAS)
Again in Micah God promises:
“But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago from the days of eternity…And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God…Because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. And this One will be our peace” (Micah 5:2-5 NAS).
God left His words, time after time, even gave them the exact timetable when The Lamb would come. In the Book of Exodus God had given His people an illustration of what the Lamb would do and instructed them to forever celebrate the passing over of the death angel. But throughout the ages God’s people deliberately chose the deceptive rituals of bling and pleasure over believing and trusting in His name. And when Messiah actually came, as prophesied, they still asked—Where is the Lamb? Because they refused to believe Jesus was that Lamb of God.
John was baptizing and saw Jesus coming to him and he cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” And he baptized Jesus and saw the Spirit of God, descending as a dove out of heaven and the Spirit remained on Jesus. Again a few days later John saw Jesus as He walked and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
But the Jews refused to look then and certainly aren’t looking now, but are still asking, Where is the Lamb?
What about you? Do you know where the Lamb is? Do you know what the Lamb has done? Do you understand the Lamb is the only way to God?
Buddha didn’t hang on a cross to give you access to the Lord God Almighty. Mohamed didn’t die so you could live—his message is to kill everyone before they kill you. And there are many man-made idols preventing those who are deceived from knowing and coming to Jesus.
There are not many ways to heaven and no, we are not all traveling many different paths to ascent to the throne of God. Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The message there is more than one way is a lie from the pit of hell, first told in the Garden of Eden. A lie crafted by Satan to confuse and bewilder all who listen. And he continues to spew the same nonsense today—because it still works.
Time is short. That baby in the manger in Bethlehem is the Messiah, our Savior and soon coming King—The Lord Jesus Christ. Does the message of your life, your actions, and your words point those who are searching to the lights and lies of what we’ve allowed Christmas to become?
Or do you and your family bow in worship and awe over the true miracle of Christmas—the holiness of the conception of the Son of God who chose to be confined in the form of a tiny human baby—every bit God, but every bit man—born to die—your Passover Lamb sent to pay the price for your sins and mine, so we like Abraham, can teach our children, God indeed provided the Lamb!
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When he opened the bag, a ladybug flew out. It landed on his hand.
Like a mowed field…
