Mary Had a Little Lamb

Luke 1:26-38; John 1:29

We all know and love the Christmas song that asks, "Mary Did You Know?"

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters? [Luke 1:50]
 

Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you’ll deliver, will soon deliver you [1:47]

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God [1:35b]

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb [“I thought this was about the Messiah?]

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations? [1:32,33]
 

Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb? [“why are you calling Him a Lamb again?”]
That sleeping child you're holding is the great, I AM

Much of this she didn’t know, but some of it SHE DID!  The angel told her!

But did she know that He was a Lamb?  How could she know?  Had anyone told her?  The angel Gabriel never mentioned it in his announcement.  Did anyone in the OT directly state that the Messiah would be a lamb?

Isaiah 53:7      

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

[‘as’?]  The OT constantly used a lamb as a picture of what Messiah would be like, but who knew He would become the literal Lamb?

Adam and Eve sinned.  Their boys inherited that sin nature.  Both were told to bring a sacrifice for their sins.  Abel brought a lamb, Cain brought fruits and vegetables / Abel’s offering was accepted, Cain’s rejected…what made the difference?  The Blood of the lamb!

That’s Gen. 4:4—it was a lamb for one man in those days.

Next we come to Exodus 12, where God told every family to take one lamb, sacrifice it, and apply its blood to the top of the doorpost and the sides (what were they forming?  A cross!)

Now it’s a lamb for each fam.

Lev. 16—God told the high priest to kill a lamb for the sins of the whole nation (this was done once a year for hundreds of years)

A lamb for the whole land.

Here’s the best part: 

Jn. 1—Jesus is introduced by John…Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!

    All the other lambs were leading up to this, they were just pictures of the perfect Lamb to come.

The Lamb to span all eternity!  Now there's no need to sacrifice literal lambs...they were only pictures of Christ, and once you have the fulfillment, you no longer need the 'picture.'

Today we understand more what OT saints didn’t piece together.  Today the light is clearly shone on what God was doing all along.  Now it makes sense that Revelation says He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

So what about Mary’s little lamb?  John 1:29 is when the light came on for those who were listening…

This Lamb was a…
 

• Substitutionary Lamb - “the lamb”
  
  A. Lambs were commonly used for sin-offerings in the Old Testament.
  Leviticus 4:32

    And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it…without blemish.

B. Three lambs were used for cleansing a leper.
Lev. 14:10

C. Two lambs were killed every day (9 a.m.) & (3 p.m.)

Ex 29:38          Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

This speaks of continual substitution. The blood was shed every day, twice a day, for the sins of Israel.

D. The Paschal Lamb was slain every year at Passover.

Ex 12:13          And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

In each of these offerings, the lamb was the substitute for Israel’s sins. They died in place of Israel. Jesus, Mary’s little Lamb, was our substitute. He died in our place. He died a vicarious death!

Isa 53:5           But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb. Secondly, He was a:
 

• Supernatural Lamb – Behold the Lamb “of God”
  
  Gen. 22:7        And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father…Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:

All other lambs were chosen by men, but not Mary’s Lamb. He was chosen by God.

Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, and then thirdly He was a:
 

• Sacrificial Lamb - “that taketh away the sin”
  
  The death of the lamb was the sacrifice demanded by God.

Through His sacrifice on Calvary, Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away everything that is offensive to God and destructive to men.

He takes away the:

A. Penalty of sin by His death
B. Power of sin by His grace.

The word “taketh” is in that present progressive tense. The “expiatory” effect of Christ’s sacrifice is perpetual. The fountain of His forgiveness never runs dry.

Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, and then fourthly, He was a:
 

• Special Lamb - “of the world”
  
  Jesus purchased pardon for all who will repent of their sins and turn to Him, believing the gospel.

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Mary’s little Lamb was a substitutionary Lamb, a supernatural Lamb, a sacrificial Lamb, a special Lamb, and then lastly, He SHOULD be a:
 

• Sought Lamb - “Behold”  [we should follow John’s 1^st word, and we should echo John’s first word!]
          It is our duty to “behold” the Lamb of God!  Christ’s sacrifice is possible [effectual] for every man, but it is only effective for those who behold Him with the eyes of faith.

Poem - Mary’s Little Lamb
Mary had a little Lamb, His name was Jesus Christ.
Though some may not believe it, He came to give us life.

This little Lamb was special, For He was sent from God.
And so to earth He came one day, On His mission He did trod.

He grew to be a fine young man, Mary’s little Lamb.
He healed the sick and raised the dead, and taught as no one can.

Then, in the prime of man-hood, His mission He did alter,
He set His heart toward an old rugged cross, and never ever faltered.

He gave Himself a sacrifice for the sin of mortal man.
His death and blood atone for sin like no other lamb’s can.

Yes, Mary had a little Lamb, Who did us all great favor.
He gave His life a sacrifice, So He could be our Savior.

(Tony Fox, sermoncentral.com)

Do you know Mary’s little Lamb? John said: “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”