The Cross Throughout the Scriptures - Part 14
17. Behold the Lamb of God, Joh 1:29.
Luk 7:28 “I say to you, among those born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

John the Baptist - “Behold the Lamb of God!”

God’s plan to point out sin in their lives, so they would see their need for the Lamb of God who would take away their sin.

Rom 5:20 And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

He might now declare His oneness with sinful men, and reveal in the Jordan, signifying death, absolute identification with the sins of the world on the Cross.

Gen 22:7 “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Gen 22:8 “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

Phi 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, {that they are} enemies of the cross of Christ,

Gal 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Col 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Col 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

18. Destroy this Temple. Joh 2:19

Men are born to live, while Jesus came into the world that He might die.

The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world, Rev 13:8.

“And having made a lash or a whip of cords He drove them all out of the Temple, both the sheep and the oxen spilling and scattering the brokers money and upsetting and tossing around their trays,”

He was giving them an indication that unless they change and do what He has come to tell them, they were finished (in 70 AD)!

1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;

The first and the supreme matter in the life of an individual or a nation is our relationship with God.

The trouble with the Jews = they were misusing and misappropriating what God had given to them.

The apostle Paul warns the church of the same thing, Rom 11:13-23.

The Temple needs to be cleansed from the misappropriation of the things God has given us and using them for our own unworthy and selfish ends.

2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

There is nothing more terrible for an individual or a nation than a formal religion.

The formalizing and externalizing of religion is the greatest of all curses.

1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

It was the misuse of that which was right and appropriate.

The danger is taking things that God has appointed and using them for our own ends.

It was the manifestation of His glory, His authority, His zeal, and His power.

Joh 8:9 And when they heard it, they {began} to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones,

The temple in Jerusalem was ordained by God to celebrate His person and His commands.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries 2002