We Pray For America!
- Behold, the Lamb of God
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29
Behold… it is an unusual word, isn’t it? While it means to look or see, you may opt not to work it into your conversations today. “Behold, the laundry is folded” – sounds a little funny! The dignity and connotation are difficult to capture in a single word. “Behold“ means more than seeing with your eyes; it is more like to “gaze and ponder.“
In ancient Jewish history, the law provided atonement for sin through the substitutionary sacrifice of animals. On the most momentous night in the Jewish saga, the Passover, a lamb was sacrificed, which memorialized the deliverance of the Hebrews from the plague of death and their release from slavery. This image was in the mind of each prophet who awaited the Messiah in Jesus’ day.
John the Baptist recognized Jesus as God’s Messiah before His baptism. Shortly after, when he again sees Jesus in their midst, he cannot help but confess to everyone listening: Look here and consider the miraculous reality standing among us! The Man spoken of in Isaiah, the One to bear sin on behalf of the entire world, is right here! If John spoke English, he would shout, “BEHOLD!“
In this season of celebration and distraction, pause to behold the Christ. Observe the cost of His sacrifice on your behalf, recognize Him as the sacrificial Lamb of God, rescuing humankind from the bondage of sin. Pray that many in the halls of the federal government will come to see the true gift of Christmas as Jesus Christ.
Today’s Verse: John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 3
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
TODAY’S NATIONAL LEADER FOR PRAYER
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- Ed Markey, Senator from Massachusetts
Ed Markey, Senator from Massachusetts
- Born – July 1946 in Malden, Massachusetts
- Education – B.A., J.D., Boston College
- Military Service – U.S. Army
- Profession – Lawyer
- Political Experience – Massachusetts House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives
- In office since – 2013
- Family – Married to Susan
- Religious Affiliation – Catholic
- Ed Markey, Senator from Massachusetts
CONTINUE PRAYING WITH US
Read the Daily Prayer Briefing to view the president’s schedule and to pray for the day’s current events.
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