“Testifying to the Dove and the Lamb” – The Calvary Road
John 1:29-34
March 14, 2004
Purpose: We are not perfect Doves or perfect Lambs, but we are disciples striving to feel the presence of God’s humility in our everyday walk with Christ, as we grow in our humility with one another.
INTRODUCTION
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been in hospitals, in churches, in nursing homes, and in assisted living centers. I’ve been on the campus of Wesley Theological Seminary in our nation’s capital, and in order to get there, I’ve been through three different airports twice.
I’ve been in contact with people who are frustrated, confused, in the midst of crisis, just facing a crisis, or have just been through a crisis. I’ve met happy people, sad people, people who give off an air that they have it all together, and other people who don’t really care what others think of them. Some of them were very religious. Some not at all.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve handled over 300 valid email messages. And that’s only after sorting through the other 700 that my spam software had missed. I can’t begin to count the number of phone calls I’ve made or answered, although I can tell you that there’s been some collect calls from the jail recently from someone who needs to benefit from the ministry of our congregation.
All of this is to say, that at each moment, at each location, dealing with each personal situation, I can sincerely say, God’s presence was there. And since it was, there was no need for Greg to act upon Greg’s own abilities and talents, EVEN THOUGH GREG TRIED, but to simply allow God do work in each one of those situations as he so deemed.
In our passage this morning, we hear the story once again of Jesus’ baptism. As Jesus approached John the Baptist, John stopped and yelled, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” and once this Lamb was baptized, John recalls that he “saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.”
A dove and a lamb. Two very powerful images, which bring to our thoughts and minds, the very presence of God in our midst. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at one place and one time, to prove one point…the power of humility.
I. The Humility of God as a Dove and Christ as a Lamb
Now some will probably say that there’s more to it than just humility, but I believe that if God was trying to prove any other point, it’s overshadowed by the symbols of a dove and a lamb.
The dove…probably one of the most defenseless creatures in all creation…is often used to symbolize peace, because of it’s gentle nature and lack of any ability to truly defend itself.
And likewise, the lamb, who for generations and generations of Jews, symbolized submissiveness, self-surrender, and of course, humility.
Hession notes in his book, “The main lesson of this incident is that the Holy Spirit, as the Dove, could only come upon and remain upon the Lord Jesus because he was the Lamb. Had the Lord Jesus been any other disposition…the Dove could never have rested on Him. (To follow this illustration to a logical conclusion,) being herself so gentle, the dove would have been frightened away had not Jesus been meek and lowly in heart.” (p.58)
Humility, then, either illustrated as the Dove or the Lamb, is the key. It is at the heart of who God is…father, son, and spirit. Humility is what breaks the barriers down, so that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control) can have a place to be present.
And what most intrigues me is that people already know this whether they put in into action or not.
Do you remember the cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes?
Calvin: “People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don’t realize how hard it is to put up
with all the idiots of this world.”
Hobbes: “Isn’t your pants’ zipper supposed to be in the front?”
Will Rogers was quoted saying, “Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects.”
N.T. Wright wrote, “We live in a world full of people struggling to be, or at least to appear, strong in order not be weak; and we follow a gospel which says that when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Whether we are ready to admit it or not, humility is one of those things necessary at the core of our Christian faith. We see it especially in Christ, who was the perfect example of a lamb.
II. The Lamb
A. Christ was a Simple Lamb – While we often complicate our lives with so-called, “important
stuff,” Jesus knew that as a simple lamb, he was to be the way for a lost world, the truth for
those searching, and the life. His strength, his wisdom, his power, his direction…all came form one source…His heavenly father. The dove was able to land, because Christ’s humility was found in a simple lamb.
B. Christ was a Willing Lamb – While we often make excuses for those things God is calling us to
do, Jesus took his rights, his reputation, every human liberty due him, and put it aside to be the willing sacrifice.
If you’ve seen the Passion of The Christ, you know that the opening seen finds Christ in the garden being tempted as he is in direct communication with the father. “If there is any possible way to take this cup from me…” was humanity talking… “Not my will, but yours be done.” was the voice of a willing lamb. The dove was able to land, because Christ’s humility was found in a willing lamb.
C. Christ was a Silent Lamb – While we are often quick to defend or explain ourselves, and quick
to silence others who have said the unkind or untrue word about us, Christ was the opposite.
There was no anger in is voice as he stared down, first the chief priests and then Pilate. He made no excuses, put up no defense. The dove was able to land, because Christ’s humility was found in a silent lamb.
D. Christ was a Spotless Lamb – While bitterness and revenge often cloud our thinking, Jesus
went to he cross with nothing but love for those who had sent Him there. His words, “Father,
forgive them…” still haunt us today.
E. And last, but not least, I would say most importantly, Christ was the Substitute Lamb – Today
we don’t talk much about the blood of Christ. It’s not too politically correct these days to talk or show blood and sacrifices, which is why the Passion has caused such a stir. But at the core of Christian belief, we have a blood bought, sacrificed, substitute.
For all the sin that hinders our revival, for all the sin that draws us away from the gifts of the Spirit, for all the sin that holds us back from the miraculous creation God has created us to be, God demands a payment.
But he’s also provided how that payment could be made. Since the Old Testament days of sacrifice, the lamb, that was offered to God, atoned for the sins of the community. When it’s blood was sprinkled on the altar, it became the substitutionary payment for past sin. But eventually that payment not enough.
So the ultimate payment was provided. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son…” And by sending this Substitute Lamb to cover our sin, past-present-future, we’ve been given the opportunity to allow that blood to cleanse us and return God’s peace and grace into our hearts.
The dove was able to land, because Christ’s humility was found in a substitute lamb.
CONCLUSION
Let me leave you with one last, true story…
In April 1865, the Civil War was coming to a close. After Robert E Lee had surrendered to General Grant, he begged the southern states to join the Union and be one nation again. But when Lincoln was assassinated, it left the nation with a void, a power vacuum. And a major question began to surface, without Lincoln, who would lead the reconstruction effort.
And many in the south, looked to Lee. Not for humble leadership, but to reassert the Southern pride and undo what had been accomplished through reconciliation.
But they were displeased to hear that after a Sunday morning service, something extraordinary happened. On May 2, 1865, at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Alexandria, VA, the service ended with the serving of communion.
Regularly, those who claimed to be white would come the altar to pray, then receive communion, while those who were labeled as blacks, sat at the back in their own section, and were not invited to participate.
With the war over, the first person to stand and walk down the aisle for communion was an elderly black man. He walked down the aisle to kneel at the altar, and prayed. This had never been done, and everyone, including the minister, had no idea what to do.
After a minute of awkward silence and confusion, a white man with flowing white hair and a white beard rose up. With a commanding presence and a confident stride, the gentleman made his way to the altar, knelt right next to the black man, and prayed with him.
The older white man was none other than Robert E Lee, former leader of the Confederate Army.
As we follow Christ on The Calvary Road, it’s important that we understand not only the humility it took for Jesus to travel that road, but also the humility it takes for us to do the same.
The people we meet, the situations we encounter, the buildings and places we find ourselves in, are all places where not only God’s humanity may be present, but where he may be asking us to share our humility as well.
The Perfect Dove landed on the Perfect Lamb. We are not perfect doves or perfect lambs, but we are a people “who has seen and can testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And in doing so, we strive to be the best disciples we can be, as we experience the humility of God and His Son Jesus Christ, walking alongside us.
Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father,
We often struggle with humility. But through the images of a dove and a lamb, we are given the opportunity to follow the simple, willing, silent, spotless, substitute lamb, who indeed gave up his life for our own.
We give you thanks that it didn’t end there. We give you thanks that today, the tomb in which Christ was laid, is empty. We can proclaim with the Christians of the centuries “Christ is alive indeed!”
And may the Holy Spirit, represented as a dove, feel comfortable in resting upon or shoulders as well. Whatever hinders that from happening, Lord, we ask that you help us remove it. Whatever sin holds us back, we ask for your forgiveness, purchased by the blood of your son, Jesus Christ.
Help us to be like John so that we can too declare, “I have seen and testified that this is (indeed) the Son of God.” in every aspect of our lives.
In the name of Christ we pray….Amen
Closing Song – #452 – My Faith Looks Up To Thee
Benediction
Grant us, O Lord, that what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts,
and that what we believe in our hearts, we may practice in our lives;
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
This sermon series is based on Roy Hession’s classic, “The Calvary Road” which can be purchased by calling Christian Literature Crusade (CLC) at 1.800.659.1240.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful or would like to make a comment or ask a question, please feel free to contact me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn Spiritually and professionally.
