John 1:29, Psalm 103:12, 1 Peter 2:24

Karunakar Mallamari considers afresh what Jesus accomplished on the cross

Karunakar Mallamari

'The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, look! There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:29

How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?

Farther than the distance from east to west! (Psalm 103:12)

God's thinking and His ways of working are higher than our human imaginations. He wanted a voice who can present His Son to the world and God planned ahead to use a man born to a barren woman in her old age. Isn't it a unique way of working things? To get the job done, God didn't choose somebody who wore fine clothes or priestly robes, or ate hygienic food, but he chose a person who ate wild honey and locusts. John the Baptist is the voice in the desert preparing the way for the Lord and he introduced Jesus, born of a virgin, as the Son of God who will wipe away the sin of the world.

Sin entered the world with the disobedience of man, who God created in his own image and God needed to become human to rebuild the broken relationship. The consequences of sin are the same even in our post-modern era; none can escape death as a result of sin, even if we are living in days of high-standard world technology. God's standards are higher than the heavens are above the earth and God didn't compromise with the world in bearing the cross of shame on his sinless body. It is the way God wanted to save the sinner from death to life; the perfect redemptive work for all mankind.

'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.' 1 Peter 2:24

God dealt with sin by cutting the roots of it as he bore the cross at Calvary. This was in order to bring forth the fruit of righteousness and eternal life. When we bear guilt inside that burns us up, it is something that God didn't want to happen to us. He is waiting to see you come near to him, just as the prodigal son returned home to see his father when his senses started functioning. Don't lose the opportunity in following him like the rich young man who sadly went away from his presence when Jesus asked him to follow him, leaving everything he possessed.

The world always offers things which never satisfy and make us live forever in darkness.
God is the one who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases and he satisfies your desires with good things.

Don't allow sin to rule your life, but let the Lord of Peace rule you. Reach out to Him just as you are, with your problems and he will help you find the right solution.

Do you want to become God's voice in introducing Jesus, like John the Baptist did, where you're studying and working in your community? The door is always open and God requires many voices to share His love in our world, in encouraging and lifting up dying spirits.

There were many wonderful witnesses and voices for Jesus around the world in the past. They travelled long distances to different nations, leaving their loved ones in reaching and transforming lives with the message of the cross; because of these voices, who sacrificed to the Lord and brought light to dark continents, the word of God is made available in many people's native language. They just followed their Master's voice in reaching the unreached.

How wonderful it is to sing together praises to the Redeemer of our lives. It was a wonderful and blessed moment to see a Welsh children's choir singing on a mountain top the great hymn, Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, at the opening ceremony of the recently held London Olympics. This is a great witness again by a nation, which presented to the world the standard version of the English Bible.

Look up, all ye who are without hope,
And see Jesus, the Truth and the Life,
He's the way to freedom's open doors,
The life of liberty in love!
Let the whole world know
soon all oppression will be over!
Sing, all ye on bended knee,
To Jesus, Jesus!
Let the whole world know
He'll wipe away ev'ry sorrow and stain!
(song lines from Let The Whole World Know).

Have a meaningful and blessed time this Easter/Passover, contemplating the supreme sacrifice and victory of Jesus over death.