“Mary’s Little Lamb”
October 8, 2000 a.m. (John 1:29, 36) Rodgers Park Baptist Church
I suppose one the most familiar nursery rhymes is the poem, Mary had a Little Lamb. I don’t know if they still teach it in the public school, but they did when I was there. The lamb in the nursery rhyme was pure and sweet.
Surely, every child ought to be introduced to the poem. But more than that, every child and adult ought to be introduced to Mary’s little Lamb in our Scripture text this morning.
BI - “Mary’s little Lamb will separate you from your sin or unbelief will separate your from Mary’s little Lamb.”
I want to share 5 things with you about Mary’s little Lamb. Mary’s little Lamb was a:
I. Substitutionary Lamb - “lamb”
A. Lambs were commonly used for sin-offerings in the Old Testament.
Le 4:32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
B. Three lambs were used for cleansing a leper.
Le 14:10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
C. Two lambs were killed every day (9 a.m.) & (3 p.m.)
Ex 29:38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
This speaks of continual substitution. The blood was shed every day, twice a day, for the sins of Israel. There was daily intercession!
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
D. The Paschal Lamb was slain every year at Passover.
Ex 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Ex 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
In each of these offerings, the lamb was the substitute for Israel’s sins. They died in place of Israel. Jesus, Mary’s little Lamb was our substitute. He died in our place. He died a vicarious death!
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substutionary Lamb. Secondly, He was a:
II. Supernatural Lamb - “of God”
All other lambs were chosen by men, but not Mary’s Lamb. He was chosen, appointed, approved and accepted by God.
Lu 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Ge 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, and then thirdly He was a:
III. Sacrificial Lamb - “that taketh away the sin”
The death of the lamb was the sacrifice demanded by God. When the Old Testament priests followed God’s pattern, God looked upon His people with favor and forgave their sins. All of the lambs in the Old Testament were only types of the One who would come and give His life a sacrifice for all. They were only symbols of Mary’s little Lamb. Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb that takes away your sin!
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Through His sacrifice on Calvary, Jesus takes away everything that is offensive to God and destructive to men. He takes away the:
A. Penalty of sin by the merit of His death
B. Power of sin by the Spirit of His grace.
The word “taketh” is in the present tense. The expiatory effect of Christ’s sacrifice is perpetual. The fountain of His forgiveness never fails.
Some who seek to avoid the “vicarious” nature of Jesus’ death say that John meant that Jesus would gradually lift the world out of sin by His teaching. Dear friend, lambs do not teach: they die! Sin is not removed by teaching, but by a sacrifice!
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Re 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, and then fourthly, He was a:
IV. Special Lamb - “of the world”
Jesus purchases pardon for all who will repent of their sins and turn to Him, believing the gospel. The legal sacrifices in the Old Testament were just for one nation -- Israel, the Mary’s little Lamb was offered as a sacrifice for the propitiation of the whole world!
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, a special Lamb, and then lastly, He must be a:
V. Sought Lamb - “Behold”
It is our duty to “behold” the Lamb of God! Christ’s sacrifice is effectual for every man, but it is only effective for those who behold Him with the eyes of faith. We must behold Him with:
A. Eyes of Observation
B. Eyes of Admiration
C. Eyes of Gratitude
D. Eyes of Faith
E. Eyes of Obedience
BI - “Mary’s little Lamb will separate you from your sin or unbelief will separate your from Mary’s little Lamb.”
Poem - Mary’s Little Lamb
Mary had a little Lamb, His name was Jesus Christ.
Though some may not believe it, He came to give us life.
This little Lamb was special, For He was sent from God.
And so to earth He came one day, On His mission He did trod.
He grew to be a fine young man, Mary’s little Lamb.
He healed the sick and raised the dead, and taught as no one can.
Then, in the prime of man-hood, His mission He did alter,
He set His heart toward an old rugged cross, and never ever faltered.
He gave Himself a sacrifice for the sin of mortal man.
His death and blood atone for sin like no other lamb’s can.
Yes, Mary had a little Lamb, Who did us all great favor.
He gave His life a sacrifice, So He could be our Savior. (Tony Fox)
Do you know Mary’s little Lamb? John said: “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
