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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-01-15, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015. By Pastor Ernest Dow, Living Water Christian Fellowship (EMC), Blyth Have you noticed how white and pure snow is? When we had a “green Christmas” this past month, it was great for travelling, but the landscape seemed rather dull and drab. By contrast, a sunny winter’s day with snow on the ground brightens the interior of the house. God promises in the Bible that, although our lives have been marred and blotted by sin, He can give us that same degree of purity, symbolizing innocence and being forgiven. “Come now, let us reason together...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) But this doesn’t happen automatically: it requires provision on God’s part, and acceptance on our part. He provides the means whereby our guilt can be dealt with in a just fashion, and we need to trust in Him to make this effectual. How does God arrange for us sinners to be forgiven, our guilt handled by someone other than ourselves? The Bible maintains God sent Jesus to suffer in our place for our sins. This was foreshadowed in the Old Testament through the imagery of a lamb. Often sheep have wool, which is white like snow, also suggesting purity (as in the verse above). The Jewish nation had a long tradition of lambs being involved in sacrifice. The initial ritual of their escape from slavery in Egypt at Passover involved the blood of a lamb smeared on the doorposts, marking their house as one to be spared or “passed over” by the destroying angel (Ex. 12:3,5,7,13). Daily in the temple, morning and evening, a burnt offering was sacrificed which was – a lamb “without defect”. (Num. 28:3) In the New Testament, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, his introductory words are striking: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” And again the next day, he says to two of his disciples, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29,36) Why “lamb” rather than “calf” or “kid” (if it were a goat) or, for that matter, “puppy”? What is it about lambs that might make a prophet cast Jesus in that light? Recently I talked to a couple of people who’d had experience raising sheep. My general impression from them is that lambs are defenceless, vulnerable, “easy pickings” for a predator; sort of a “lunch on four legs” from a coyote’s point of view. Lambs tend to obey herd instinct, following the leader: if startled, they’ll all rush to the corner of the pen and crowd together. A goat, by contrast, might dash a short distance away then turn and face the attacker. Goat kids are more independent than lambs: inquisitive, mischievous, clambering over things; one farmer noted, “Goats are the opposite of sheep. Goats are smart.” (Draw your own conclusions!) He said because of the lambs’ vulnerability, it’s not wise to have lambs out on their own without a shepherd. Jesus – “God’s Lamb” – was gentle, humble, made Himself vulnerable, did not defend Himself when under attack at His trial. He entrusted Himself to His “shepherd”, His Heavenly Father. The disciples didn’t get this: when they were ready to defend Him with swords in the Garden of Gethsemane, He objected, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” – after which the disciples deserted Him and fled! (Matt. 26:53f) Jesus made Himself vulnerable to become our substitute. Other New Testament voices pick up this imagery of Jesus as God’s sacrificial lamb. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1Cor. 5:7) In the book of Hebrews we read, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people...” (Heb. 9:28) And John in the book of Revelation records “lamb” as the primary title used for Jesus in heaven: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders... And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” (Rev. 5:6,9) The Lamb takes away the sin of the world – i.e. not just Jews, but Gentiles too, from every people and nation. This takes effect for each person who receives Jesus, who believes in His name. Now, if you happen to be a pet lover, I’m sorry to say Jesus is not depicted anywhere in Scripture as a “puppy” or “kitten”, lovable as they may be. But to press the analogy, although puppies and kittens aren’t usually allowed in restaurants, “service animals” such as seeing-eye dogs can be; likewise one treats members of the police K-9 unit with utmost respect and care as the intensively trained dogs are “working animals”. Jesus as “lamb” is a “service animal”, dedicated to working for your benefit. Receiving Him, we find ourselves forgiven, renewed, welcomed as holy and pure into God’s presence. THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, January 18 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 WORTH RESOLUTION KEEPING 1 GIVE HURON CHAPEL A TRY SUNDAYS @ 10:30 HURONCHAPEL.COM SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Sunday, January 18 ~ “Comfort in the Shadows” Sunday, January 25 ~ “Conquering the Shadows” Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Children Welcome MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 Nursery care available 519-887-9017 Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am We invite you to join our church family in: Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. BRUSSELS WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am All Welcome United Church Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224 blythunited@tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Other concerns: 226-963-1175 getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Jan. 18: Jn. 1:40ff Evangelical Missionary Church Small Groups Weekly in Blyth & Wingham “Finding the Messiah who Finds the Real Us” Faith-in-Song Fri. Feb. 6, 7:30 pm at Blyth CRC 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Ken Gazley Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am From the Minister’s Study White as snow, thanks to the Lamb: Dow