April 9

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." — John 1:29.

LET us proceed to contemplate the Saviour in

HIS ALL-SUFFICIENT ATONEMENT. And here we have

Its cause. It is sin. The very idea of atonement supposes this. Sin is of such a nature, that no efforts of ours can remove it. Its stain is too deep to be washed away, could we even shed tears of blood.

Its efficacy. Sin is taken away. The sacrifice of Christ does not alter the nature of sin, but delivers the sinner from its power, ransoms him from its guilt, and saves him from its awful consequences. Here is an allusion to the scape-goat, on whom the priest laid his hands, and over whom he confessed the sins of the people; after which it fled into the wilderness, and bore with it the iniquities of the people. Leviticus 16:20 — 22.

Its extent. "The sin of the world." It were derogatory to the Almighty to imagine that he would provide a remedy inadequate to the malady. The mercy of God is boundless; the atonement of Christ is infinite; and the Gospel commission, so far from being limited to a particular spot, is as wide as the world.

HIS EXALTED CLAIMS. We are called upon to behold him. This includes

A high admiration of excellences. Who can enumerate them? In vain do we employ the power of language, the force of imagery, and the sublimest strains of thought, on a subject so vast, that like the mighty ocean defies our attempts to fathom it; or, like the bright luminary of day, dazzles our eyes when we attempt to gaze on its splendor.

An entire dependence on his merits. Some behold, and wonder, and perish; but the Christian beholds, believes, and is saved.

Complete devotedness to his glory. If our eyes behold his glory, our minds will be filled with admiration, our hearts will beat with his love, our lips be employed in his praise, and our bodies be presented a living sacrifice. Blessed Jesus, may I behold thee as the Lamb of God, bleeding on the cross, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne!