Grateful For His Sacrifice

Once more the Sacrifice of our Lord is uppermost in our minds. Once again our hearts are lifted up in gratitude for this Supreme Gift to man. As in other years we are again overwhelmed that the love of the Sinless One was such that He suffered-terrible agony and went down into the very depths of hades in our stead. “There was none other good enough to pay the price of sin.” Jesus Christ was the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Looking back to the Law of Sacrifice, the lamb, offered by the High Priest for the sins of the people, had to be without blemish, mark or imperfection. Had any spot been found in it, the sacrifice would not have been acceptable to God, The Sacrificial Lamb had to be perfect in every respect.

Jesus Christ was the only one able to reach this standard of perfection. No mere human could meet this requirement or come up to the righteousness demanded by God. All were found with spot, stain or blemish. None were pure, none were perfect, so our Lord paid the price of man’s sin, so that man might be free.

The Sacrifice of our Lord was foretold many centuries before it took place. After the sin of Adam and Eve God promised the Saviour who would recover the heritage they lost. In the words “Thou shalt bruise his heel;” Satan’s evil work in slaying our Lord was foretold, and our Lord’s victory was indicated in “it shall bruise thy head.” Gen. 3:15.

From then onwards,-our forefathers looked for the coming of the promised Messiah. Many are the prophecies that speak of Him, the Psalms being especially rich in this respect.

The sacrifice of Isaac upon Mount Moriah was another pointer, Isaac also being a willing sacrifice. Though the supreme sacrifice was not required of Isaac, it is not fully comprehended that the Anglo-Saxon nations were also placed upon the Altar of Sacrifice, the descendants of Isaac being within his loins at the time. This was also an indication of the sacrifices necessary for the “Anglo-Saxons” to make, many being called upon to give their lives in battle.

But our Lord rose triumphant from the grave. Satan and death could not hold Him. His statement is the cry of VICTORY, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth!” Through our Lord’s victory we, His followers, can also gain the victory. “Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” II Cor. 2:14.

In the Book of Revelation we read of the victory and triumph of our Lord. Depicted as The Lamb we see Him seated in the Throne of God. In chapter 7 we see the white-robed ones standing before the Lamb, those who have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb.

In chapter 14 we read of the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. All through this marvellous Book we read of the victories of our Lord and of those who are with Him through overcoming. Read of the triumph of Jesus Christ in Rev. 19:11-16 and of His glorious Name – KING of KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Yes, the Lord is the VICTOR. Let us pray that He will soon come and claim His victory.