Having sheep in the manger scene reminds us of two things. First, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The sheep also remind us that we as a people are lost sheep in need of a shepherd who will protect and lead us to safety. In this reading we will look at Jesus as the Lamb of God and in the next reading we will look at Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Hebrews 9:19-22
19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
1 Peter 1:17-21
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
What does the law require everything to be cleansed with? (Heb. 9:22)
Why?
How were we redeemed from our empty way of life? (1 Pet. 1:18-21)
Why are we able to have faith and hope in God? (1 Pet. 1:21)
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
What is sin?
What does our sin do to us?
Why did Jesus have to be sacrificed for our sin?
Blood carries life-giving oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body. It also takes away the waste materials and toxins that would poison our bodies and cause death. How is that similar to what Christ’s blood does for us spiritually?
PRAYER:
Thank Jesus that he came as a perfect sacrificial lamb to shed his blood for us, so that we can be forgiven for our sin. Pray that you would always remember this great gift, recognize your sin, and want to be made clean.
FOCUS VERSE: 1 Peter 1:18-19.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.