The Parable of the Lamb

1 Jn January 12, 2017

There was a rich man and a poor man in one city, so the story goes. The poor man owned one solitary ewe lamb and the rich, respected, righteous fellow owned many flocks and herds of countless sheep and cattle.

The poor man loved the lamb as a pet. He let it eat from the table, drink from his own cup, he even held it in his arms close to his heart like it was one of his own children. You know how people can be with their pets. He was poor, but content with God’s love.

Then, it so happened that one day a traveler stopped in at the home of the rich man. The rich man, instead of taking out one of his own flock to throw a party for the stranger took the poor man’s little lamb, slaughtered it, dressed it, and had a fine feast with the stranger.

What should be done to that rich man when it was discovered what he has done?

Before you answer, know this: That rich man is you and me.

That’s correct, but before you say, “Oh, Get Out!” Hear me out. Tonight when you go to sleep consider the parable for what it’s worth. It has to do with Easter, though it may not seem so on the face of it. Be aware that you have taken Jesus, the innocent lamb and slaughtered Him for your own pleasure whenever you have broken the Ten Commandments, done evil against God, failed to love your neighbor as yourself, or by generally satisfying your own lusts and desires at the expense of another. Every time you have hated someone, you who have thought yourselves to be rich in righteousness, you have killed in your heart.

The Bible suggests that you and me are outright murderers, that’s right, murderers! (see 1 John) When we have gone off and hated someone it is as if we are killing them. Every time you have coveted another man’s wife or envied his good fortune, you have been as the man who slaughtered the innocent lamb. So you and I stand together, condemned.

But know this also. There is hope to have the sentence staid. For even the wicked rich man in this allegory (but it is a true story) was saved from eternal damnation and judgment. The man was King David of Israel. King David, that’s right! The king whom God greatly loved. The king, whose lineage bore Jesus of Nazareth, the ultimate Lamb of God that took on the sins of the world; the Lamb of God that was slain, the Lamb of God that we “good” people have slain in our hearts; was the lustful sinner.

For that dreadful deed (stealing a man’s wife and having the man killed) David was punished; but God offered him forgiveness despite this despicable act. David had a heart to repent and it saved him from God’s terrible justice because God is a merciful God. That is why God sent His only Son to die for us, because He is merciful.

If you have not already repented of your covetousness, hatred, envy, deceit, or greed you can be like David and turn this day into Easter, even if it is the 30th of whenever. Turn to God. Turn this day, this night into Easter. Come to Jesus, the Lamb of lambs.

Be as the poor man and give your heart to the Lamb. Come to Jesus. The Lamb lives. If you will come to him and admit your unrighteousness and ask for forgiveness, He will come into your heart and make you a new creature. Admit to Him that you are poor in the ways of God. He will not make you ashamed, but He will restore joy, peace, happiness and an abundant life to you, not only in this world but in the world to come. Come to Jesus.

If you are as so many Christians are, who have not forsaken the sins of the Flesh, we recommend that you do so, and trust Jesus to help you to forsake relying on them for they do not enhance your happiness or allow you a stable emotional life.

THE LAMB LIVES!