Behold the Lamb by Nate Hayes
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
We as a church are in a season of change. Repositioning ourselves and trying new things so that those who do not yet know Jesus might encounter his love and salvation. This is our calling as the Church. Former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple famously said that ‘the Church primarily exists for the sake of those who are still outside it.’
In Robina, we are four weeks into a sermon series called ‘Revive Us Again.’ Recognising that the need for revitalisation within the Anglican Church here on the Gold Coast cannot be brought about by human means, but only by heavenly means. Throughout Church History there have been periods of great decline in the church, as well as seasons of revival, where God renews and refreshes his Church, waking it up to the spiritual plight of the community in which it exists to serve. The spiritual need of our city is vast. We cannot expect to see the reversal of decline happen in our own strength, we need a move of God – we need revival.
Jonathan Edwards taught that the distinguishing mark of revival is that, through the preaching of the gospel, Jesus is exalted as Lord and Saviour. It sounds too simple… Edwards was instrumental in the First Great Awakening, the impact of which can still be felt in the West three hundred years later. Are we really to believe that simply preaching the gospel and exalting Jesus as Lord and Saviour is what will see in revival? The Apostle Paul thought so, who resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).
In John 1:29 we witness the old and new covenants colliding. Here John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, encounters the one who had been prophesied about for ages and generations. It is significant how John addresses Jesus at this hinge moment in history. He says, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ When we think about knowing nothing but Christ and him crucified it is important to note how God chose to reveal himself to us. Not as a powerful strongman or a charismatic showman, but as a lamb who will be led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).
When thinking about revival we often think about the Holy Spirit. However, it is Jesus who is the hero and focus of attention in every genuine revival. One Solomon Islander who experienced revival once said, ‘Revival is Jesus, it is what goes on in the soul when Jesus comes into right focus.’ Jesus pours out the Spirit on us (Acts 2:33), and the Spirit points us back to the Son (1 Corinthians 12:3), and the Son reveals the Father’s love to us (John 14:21). As we glorify the Son we are caught up within the divine mystery and love of the Holy Trinity. Stuart Piggin writes that Jesus deepens ‘our understanding of the love of the Father and heightens our vision of the power of the Spirit.’
And so we come back to John 1:29. If we want to see a revival across our city, we must begin by asking God to revive us. To revive the parts of hearts that have grown hard, gone cold and fallen asleep. How do we do this? By beholding the Lamb. By gazing upon our saviour hanging on a cross for our sin. It is there that we are reminded of both God’s great love for us and the freedom found in having our sins dealt with. One might question the extent of the Father’s love in our own hearts if we can boast of the love and grace found in Christ’s offering of himself for us and not lament the hundreds of thousands in our city who have not tasted his salvation.
As we behold the lamb and cry out for God to have mercy on our city we might one day see revival. If it comes to our churches we might expect to see in our own lives:
An enhanced sense of God’s presence: the holy, omnipotent, majesty of God coming down and drawing close. God visiting us in a way in which we would never be the same again.
A heightened responsiveness to God’s word: piercing straight to the heart, dividing soul and spirit, helping us discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
An increased sensitivity to sin: the darkness and unholiness of our hearts confronted with the light and holiness of God, leading to deep conviction and repentance.
An unprecedented sense of personal liberation: assured of our salvation through faith, we witness in ourselves an unbounded joy found in knowing Christ and the freedom he brings.
Unparalleled fruitfulness in our life with Christ: transformed by Word and Spirit, we begin to see others experience life transformation by the work Christ.
Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14
It is most wonderful to know, His love for me so free and sure; But ‘tis more wonderful to see My love for Him so faint and poor.
And yet I want to love Thee, Lord; O light the flame within my heart, And I will love Thee more and more, Until I see Thee as thou art.