This Sunday we go from “the government shall be upon his shoulder” and “of the increase of government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7) to “behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

At Jesus’ birth we see the king on his throne stepping down to become the lamb for the altar. One day when he comes again, he will judge the earth and rule and reign. But first, he came to take away our sin as our once-and-for-all sacrifice.

I discovered this advent poem recently by B. B. Warfield that wonderfully captures the amazement we ought to feel that when God first came down into our world, he didn’t come to judge us, but to save us.

The Lord has come into His world!
“Nay, nay, that cannot be:
The world is full of noisomeness (=bad stink!)
And all iniquity;

The Lord—thrice holy is His name—
He cannot touch this thing of shame.”

The Lord has come into His world!
“Ah, then, He comes in might,
The sword of fury in His hands,
With vengeance all bedight (=adorned)!

O wretched world! Thine end draws near,
Prepare to meet thy God, in fear!”

The Lord has come into His world!
“What! in that baby sweet?
That broken man, acquaint with grief?
Those bleeding hands and feet?

He is the Lord of all the earth,
How can He stoop to human birth?”

The Lord has come into His world!
“A slaughtered Lamb I see,
A smoking altar, on which burns
A sacrifice for me!

He comes—He comes—O blessed day!—
He comes to take my sin away!”

Erik Thoennes will be preaching this Sunday from Exodus 12:3-7, John 1:29, and Luke 22:7-23 and Kenny Clark will be leading our time of sung worship. We will also be observing the Lord’s Supper. Would you pray for each as they prepare?

See you Sunday. Come hungry!

 

Song of the Week
Behold the Lamb of God