John C Bennett PMM 440 Sermon Series February 7, 2005

Holy Week Sermon Series The Faithful Lamb of God Who Bears Our Sin

When Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, the fate of mankind was sealed. No longer perfect in the sight of God, man was now in need of salvation from sin, death, and the devil. Thus, “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) As we enter into this Holy Week, our focus is placed on the Passover Lamb, who is faithful to the promise of the Triune God to redeem mankind, who is the substitution for our sins, who redeems us because of His undying love for His creation.

Palm Sunday The Lamb of God Goes Up To Jerusalem – Isaiah 50:4-9)

On this day which is filled with shouts of glad “Hosanna’s” we see Christ, not upon a mighty steed as a victorious king, but upon a beast of burden, for He faithfully approaches Jerusalem to accomplish the salvation of mankind by placing upon Himself the burden of our sin.

Maundy Thursday

The Passover Lamb Who Feeds Us – Exodus 12:1-14 Our Lord Jesus Christ, who journeys to Jerusalem to be crucified, also journeys to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. As it was with that first Passover, it is with the Passover of our Lord: the flesh of the Passover Lamb is sacrificed and His blood covers us, that eternal death might pass over us, that His body and blood given to us in His Holy meal would grant that which the sacrifice of His body and blood accomplishes: forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

Good Friday The Lamb of God Who Bears the Iniquity of Us All – Isaiah 52:13-53:12

The One who days before was praised by the multitudes is now mocked, scorned, and crucified by the very people whom He came to save. There He is “stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” There “the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Here we see our Passover Lamb, sacrificed for our sin, bearing the burden of our guilt, bleeding and dying that we might be saved

Easter Vigil/Easter Sunrise The Lamb of God Who Breaks the Seal of the Tomb – Matthew 27:57-66

On that first Good Friday, it seemed as if all hope had been lost. The hopes had been shattered for those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. The apostles are left as orphaned children, void of direction and purpose. Yet no sealed tomb could hold Him, for even as the chief priests and Pharisees feared, it has come true, “After three days I will rise.”

Easter Day

The Resurrected Lamb of God In Whom We Rejoice – Matthew 28:1-10 On this blessed day, the Incarnation of our Lord has come full circle: He has remained faithful unto death on Calvary’s cross, He has paid the debt of sin, and now He has defeated Satan and the power of death by destroying them through His resurrection. Thus we are able to proclaim as Christ declared to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection, “Rejoice!”