Melatiah

Q4. Why is it so important to forgive those who have offended us before partaking of the Lord's Supper? In what sense are the Lord's Supper and unforgiveness incompatible? How can Jesus' work on the cross be sufficient to cover our own sin but at the same time be insufficient to cover another's? Jesus already paid the price to redeem the person who wronged us from sin. If the person is a Christian, he has exchanged his sin for Christ's sinlessness. If we, then, harbor unforgiveness because of a sin he's committed, aren't we, in a sense, harboring unforgiveness towards Christ? Couldn't unforgiveness be a form of idolatry? In choosing not to forgive someone that God has already forgiven (whether or not that person has received God's forgiveness), aren't we actually saying that (1) our ways (standards for acceptable behavior) are higher than God's ways and that (2) we were more offended/harmed by that person's sin than God was? That person's sin cost Jesus his life. However awful the effect of another person's sin in my life...it cost God more. Finally, the blood and the wine of communion signify our identification with/submission to Jesus. He bore the cost of our old sinful life...we now bear His sinless life. If we refuse to forgive what He's already forgiven, we are out of submission to Him....thereby choosing to bear our own sinful life with all its consequences. Not fun. For the Christian, unforgiveness really doesn't have much to do with the other person or the offense, however awful it may be. I believe many struggle with forgiveness because of a misunderstanding of what it is/means. But...that's another topic. Forgiveness is choosing to relinquish one's "right" to exact punishment on someone; refusing to hold the sin against that person; asking God to bless the offender and restore the offender to Him; NOT to be confused with reconciliation or denial/forgetting of the event. Forgiveness is an initial decision of the will...and a process/attitude in which we walk daily. Whew...I'm long-winded this morning! Thanks for letting me share my heart.

Q3. What is the significance to us of drinking Jesus' blood and eating his flesh (John 6:53-56). Let's not argue whether this is meant literally or figuratively. Whichever it is, what does that act signify for us? This act signifies our identification with Christ. It's a reminder that Christianity isn't a one-sided relationship. He bore our sin...now we "bear" His life. It was an exchange. What a graphic (yet mercifully painless) identification with the cross! Jesus took our sin into his body and experienced its effects physically. We take His lifegiving sinless body and blood (literally or figuratively) into our bodies (the Lord's Supper) and experience its effects physically as the wine and the bread are digested and nourish our bodies. As we prepare ourselves for communion, we forgive and ask God to forgive ourselves and others....just as Jesus did on the cross. In the same sense that Jesus came to (1) fulfill the law, not abolish it, and (2) complete the redemptive work foreshadowed by Old Testament sacrifices/offerings, I believe the Lord's Supper is the "completed version" of the Passover meal. Why was this such a radical idea for Jesus' disciples? (John 6:60, 66) In what way should it be a radical idea for us? It was radical for the disciples to mentally grasp the concept of actually eating and drinking Jesus. Dietary restrictions prevented the drinking of blood. Juanita commented on how "the life is in the blood" and if one was to drink spilled blood, he would actually be drinking death, in a way. That spurred a thought -- Jesus' spilled blood wasn't dead because He lives! His spilt blood is a life-giving flow! When we drink His "blood", we drink His life. Kind of like a divine blood transfusion. So, Jesus wasn't telling them to disobey the law....He was showing them that the Spirit of the law (don't drink death) supercedes the letter of the law (don't drink spilt blood). The message to us today is just as radical. He lives...and as we commune with Him, we LIVE too. He writes His law on our hearts...frees us from the bondage of sin...and enables us to worship/commune/have intimacy with Him and the Father in Spirit and in truth. Praise Him! And, now for the disclaimer...I'm no theologian! These are just my ponderings...so, as with all new info, test them against His Word in your Bibles and hearts. And, if you discover I've missed something, please don't hesitate to post a correction...thanks!

I loved this question! So timely. I've been saved since I was a child but am just now beginning to know Jesus as Friend, Kinsman Redeemer, and the Lover of my very soul. For this truth (i.e., Jesus paid a very high price to buy me) to rightly affect my living, it first needs to settle in my heart and mind. Lord, help me to understand the price you paid for me. Help me to see that your desire for my companionship forever was greater than any amount of physical/emotional/spiritual/mental pain possible. I need to be consumed with the knowledge of His love for me first. Otherwise, action is just lukewarm lip service, not the loving response God desires. Then, when my heart is right and my head is on straight my acts of service to God (obeying His Word, spending time listening/praying to Him, loving people, taking care of what He's given me stewardship over, honoring Him with my resources and words, running to Him first when I fall) will be true -- from the heart. I am so thankful that God desires true worship -- "truth in the inward parts" -- that when I say "yes" to Him, He wants that yes to be a yes inside and out. No more faking it to make it. 'laughing' Well...thanks for letting me share this stream of consciousness! Blessings and love in Christ.

Q5. Which single New Testament passage best sums up for you the lessons of Isaiah 53? Why did you chose this passage? "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:24-25) I chose this passage because I have such a hard time doing the things listed (not retaliating, but trusting, etc.). If Jesus did that...and calls me to imitate Him...surely He will empower me to do that, as well. He is an amazing Savior.

Q4. The Servant also bears the punishment deserved by sinners. In what sense, if any, did Jesus bear the punishment due you when he died on the cross? Jesus bore the punishment I deserved in every sense. Otherwise, wouldn't His sacrifice be incomplete? Furthermore, my peace wouldn't be complete -- shalom means nothing missing, nothing broken, right? He bore my punishment. He freed my body from the effects of sin, my soul from the devastating wounds of sin, my spirit from the separation of sin. I'm no theologian, so please take my ponderings with a very large grain of salt. I view this "freeing" like I do salvation. We are saved...and we are continually being saved. (Past work with a present continuing working out.) I am healed from sickness...and I am continually being healed from sickness. Patience (and everything else) is a continuing work in me. I am free from the effects of sin...and I am continually becoming more and more freed from the effects of sin in my life. Thank You, Lord.

Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words. This point really hit home with me. I'd always focused on Christ bearing the punishment of my sin...not on Him bearing my actual sin. The thought of His taking from me all my sin...past, present, future...at the cross -- amazing. Like everyone else, I have "besetting sins" which I can't seem to completely overcome. I experience victory for awhile over them, then fall back -- so frustrating -- very discouraging. I feel so guilty -- so wrong when I come to ask forgiveness for yet another occurrence of the same sin. How could God still welcome me? Will there ever be a time that I come and He won't? These verses answer those fears with peace. If Jesus bore ALL my sin at the cross, He knew just how many times I'd fall -- and He's already provided for my forgiveness for them all! Yay! He's waiting on me to come -- not the other way around.

Q2. Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convince you that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? If you aren't convinced, what stands in your way? To me, this one speaks the most clearly: "It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." (Luke 22:37). It's hard for me to understand Jesus' desire to fulfill that prophecy. Why would anyone desire an excruciatingly painful experience, for whatever reason? It comes back to love. "Greater love hath no man than this...than he lay down his life for his friends." I wasn't even Jesus' friend when He died for me...He died in the hope I someday would be. Thank You, Lord.

Q1. From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? In what sense is Jesus' sacrifice wasted on some people? Jesus bore the sins of all people...everyone who had or would ever live....once and for all. Jesus' sacrifice is wasted on some people when they choose to harden their hearts and pay for their sins all over again instead of accepting his sacrifice as sufficient.

I admit it...I cheated on this question and read everyone else's responses before posting mine. So much insight -- especially from Patty Heard and Missy (read their posts, if you haven't already!). As one who can barely stand to watch a church's portrayal of the crucifixion of Christ at Easter, I can't even imagine killing an animal because I had sinned. Three points hit home. 1) I need to keep that association between the horror of blood sacrifice and my sin ever before my eyes. 2) How much the people of the OT must have desired rightness with God to be willing to kill a beloved, treasured, spotless lamb -- a lamb they had most likely helped to be born. 3) How much God must love me (us) to have killed His Spotless Lamb to purge my (our) sin. His love is extravagant.

Why is anger an appropriate response to sin? This is my take on anger. Anger is God's "fire alarm" to alert us to danger. Whether one labels that danger a crossed emotional boundary, verbal abuse, or manipulation for selfish gain, at the root, it is simply sin. Anger amplifies the truth that sin is wrong...and, hopefully, motivates us to act. If sin didn't anger God, would He have been motivated to pay the price to redeem us from it? Would we have been left to wander farther and farther from the Shepherd? What is the difference between capricious or uncontrolled anger and anger that brings about justice? This question reminds me of the "be angry but don't sin" verse in the Bible. I don't think anger (emotional response to sin) is ever wrong. I think that, when angry, we can choose right or wrong actions. Wrong actions in response to anger might include words, thoughts, desires, actions that seek to tear down or destroy something God values (person, place, thing, idea). Right actions might include words, etc. that seek to build up or restore.

Hi, everyone. I am Melatiah (Yahweh has set free) and I am so excited about the "Behold, the Lamb of God" study. I'm a "Martha" at heart...I love Jesus so I serve Him but I lack understanding of His love for me -- so I forget to just sit at His feet and be intimate with Him. I'm looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of His heart. I'm 28...currently living in southwest Georgia...and the proud mama of a cat and dog. God bless you, Pastor Ralph, for bringing God's Word to the internet. Look forward to learning from you all.