by Kevin Lorow, Cuyahoga Valley Church Worship Arts Assistant
“Behold, the Lamb. The story of redemption written on His hands. Jesus, Youwill reign forevermore. The victory is Yours. We sing Your praise, endless hallelujahs to Your holy name. Jesus, You will reign forevermore. The victory is Yours.”
If you joined us at services this last Sunday, you got to hear our church sing these words for the first time. This song directs our attention to the cross and the One who died on it.
The cross is integral to our faith. There’s a reason why we see the symbol drawn out so many different places. There’s a reason it is discussed nearly every week when we gather together. There’s a reason behind its ability to sneak its way into our conversations each and everyday. The cross is the place where God resolved what stood between us.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were constantly making sacrifices to the Lord as a part of their service to Him. More importantly, to cover their sin and failure to keep the Lord’s commandments, they were to offer up a perfect spotless Lamb. This Lamb’s blood covered their sin, butdid not take it away.
Hebrews 10:3-7, 10, 14
“In these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.”…By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. or by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
This passage shows us that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away our sin, butserved as a consistent reminder that they had sin and needed a payment for it. They were a temporary covering. The Israelites often made the mistake in believing that what God wanted from them was their sacrifices.
Jesus Christ changed everything about that. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He revealed to us that He was the Lamb of God who could take away our sins.
Everything in our faith and relationship with God relies on the truth that Jesus Christ made a way for us to be restored to a right relationship with God through the cross. The cross must constantly be on our minds. As we consider the suffering and offering of Jesus Christ there, we can grow in our love and adoration for Him.
Brothers and sisters, let us continue to “Behold the Lamb” to consider the great and awesome love demonstrated there, and praise our Savior Jesus Christ for it.
