T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON …& ON…& ON…& ON.
MARCH 25, 2005

HAVE A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION DAY!

SUBJECT:  "THE LAMB OF GOD"

THE LAMB OF GOD  HAS BORN THE SIN, TRANSGRESSION AND INIQUITY OF US ALL.  THE BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE OF THE LAMB  OF GOD WAS MARRED WITH THE SIN OF US ALL. 

NOTEWORTHY:   1st  PETER 1 

TJIFA'S BOOK SHELF:  OUR NEW BOOK TO BE READ IN 40 DAYS. 

FRIDAY'S WORD:  LAMB OF GOD 

IN THE MIRROR:  A MESSAGE OF INSPIRATION

O TASTE AND SEE!  HALIBUT, GREAT NORTHERN BEANS AND TOMATOES.  THIS IS A GREAT DINNER FOR RESURRECTION DAY AND IT'S EASY.  BMCC

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME!

TER 


THE LAMB OF GOD

Isaiah 53:3-5; 3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But 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. 


The Lamb of GOD was born in a stable in Bethlehem, to His proud parents Mary and Joseph.  According to the Word of GOD, Shepherds were the first to acknowledge His birth, because they were notified by the heavenly Host at night while they watched their flocks, outside of Bethlehem.(It is often remarked that these shepherds were keepers of the sacrificial lambs.  Those without spot or wrinkle.  Taking this same assumption, we'd know that these particular shepherds were adept in recognizing a lamb fit for sacrifice. Is it no wonder that they came to confirm to the virgin mother indeed this child was fit to be called " The Lamb of GOD.") 
1Peter 1:18; describes Jesus as the "Lamb without spot or wrinkle."  Peter had been with His Master and Lord for approximately two and a half years; walking with Him into some of the most Holy places,  i.e. ‘The Mount of Transfiguration'.  Peter had observed this man called the "Lamb of GOD"; and boldly Peter proclaimed the purity and worthiness of Jesus Christ to the skeptics in the book of Acts. Then Peter went on to describe this "Lamb of GOD" in his epistles.

Jesus was the substitutionary   sacrifice for every type  of trespass; every sort of sin and  every imagined iniquity.  He was the scapegoat (Lev. 16:20-22)as He met John the Baptist in the wilderness.  There He was baptized with water or ceremonially cleansed, and GOD spoke of His deity announcing  to the world that He, GOD, was well pleased. 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(Matt.3:16,17)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, "The Lamb of GOD" waited for His accusers. He didn't run from His calling.  The Friend of Man whispered to His companions.  "Sleep on."  The Son of GOD spoke with authority.  He recognized the kiss of betrayal, and rebuked His sword brandishing disciple. He acknowledged who He was, and healed a soldiers ear which had been injured by the same impetuous follower. The Lamb of GOD watched as His ministers scattered; and  He gave Himself over to the shackles of His captors.  They led Him away as a lamb to the slaughter, and He opened not His mouth.  The captors took the flawless, sinless Lamb of GOD. Mockers jeered; hypocrites tore their robes; the crowd bellowed for Barabbas (a murderer) to be released instead of "The Lamb of GOD." Judas took his own life; a wife was troubled in her sleep regarding Jesus(this innocent man); and two rulers became friends because of this crucifixion.

The air was filled with hatred and disdain.  The people joined co-operatively, as one man, they agreed to kill, steal and destroy the life of the life giving "Lamb of God."   

He was turned over to professional executioners who ripped the skin off His body with a whip called the "Cat of nine tails." They braided a crown of thorns and pushed it down into His brow; His beard was snatched out; He was buffeted, bruised, beaten and battered; He was spat on; pushed and shoved; He was rejected as He staggered through streets with His cross.  People laughed and threw insults at Him.  These were the same people who, not even a week before, had praised, sang Hosanna, and laid blankets and palm branches on the ground for His borrowed donkey to tread upon.  They looked without seeing to the "Lamb of GOD" to be their anticipated King, who would relieve their bondage,  and bring peace, ease and comfort to their physical bodies.  He was flawless, He was beautiful and like Saul, in the book of Samuel, He fit the description of their longed for redeemer and king. 

They didn't know who He was.  Do you?

A Man named Simon, of Cyrene, was compelled to carry His cross to its final destination.  The Lamb of GOD's  clothes were taken from him.  Nails were driven into His hands; His feet were spiked to the bottom of the cross; His crown was secured on His brow; He was lifted up, suspended  between heaven and earth; the soldiers cast lots for His clothes; a sign was placed over His thorn crowned head . . ."The King of the Jews" the son of man was thirsty; the son of the virgin comforted and confirmed her; the "Lamb of GOD" forgave us of our ignorance; the Son of GOD pardoned a thief then with a loud voice He commended His Spirit into the hands of His Father, hung His thorned head and died. 

Where is "The Lamb of GOD?"  Is this all there is?  A lifeless body destroyed in
this life and now, revealing all sin, iniquity, trespass and transgression.  What did
we do? The fun that we had berating Him doesn't seem like fun anymore.  What if He was the Son of GOD?  That's impossible!  If He were, He wouldn't have let this happen.   It's His fault. 

Remember, He started as the flawless, spotless Lamb of GOD.  When He was finally lifted up, He exhibited all of the evil, rejection the despising hatred of mankind. 

Have you ever seen your sin?  Look on the crucified "Lamb of GOD."  Every bruise, gash, every stripe, every tear in His flesh, the misused words which were hurled at His character and every moment of disbelief that you refused His sacrificial death, is imprinted indelibly.  No fuller's soap can remove its  gnarled appearance; only the acceptance of "The Lamb of GOD'S" sacrifice.

What will you do with this "Lamb of GOD?"  The night of His death, Joseph of  Arimathaea and Nicodemus begged the authorities for His body, then buried it in the borrowed tomb of Joseph. 

BUT . . .ON THE THIRD DAY, JESUS, THE RESURRECTED SON OF GOD WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY ALMIGHTY GOD! He only needed the cold stony tomb for a little while.  Now, He abides in the flesh heart of every man, woman, boy, or girl who accepts who He is and what He's done.  For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.  (Rom. 10:13)

If you haven't done it . . . DO IT!  NOW is the acceptable day of the Lord.  Now your salvation draweth nigh.  Tomorrow will be too late. 

LOOKING  FORWARD. . .  TO A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION DAY

SEE YA NEXT TIME!

TER




NOTEWORTHY:
1 Peter 1-25
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.


TJIFA'S BOOK SHELF:
 
"How rich the truths within GOD'S Wordâ€"
What gems beyond compare,
By faith we can discover them
When study joins with prayer."  D. De Haan
From "Daily Bread" March 2005


Many TJIFA Readers have surely heard about the situation in Atlanta, GA where a dangerous criminal was brought to justice  peacefully.  We send our prayers and condolences to every hurting family member of the victims of this senseless crime. 
   For TJIFA's Book Shelf it is the book which was mentioned by the young woman who was apprehended for hours by the fugitive.  That book was "The Purpose Driven Life."  We decided to feature that book this week, and visit it for the next forty days.  It is written by Rick Warren, and promises that after 40 days you will have a good handle on what your own personal purpose is in this life. 
CBD (Christian Book Dealers) had this book on sale this month, and it was going to be one of our picks after we read it, however, since we have seen what one reader has accomplished after reading this book, we decided to try it for ourselves. 

Now, we're going to start reading the week following ‘Resurrection Day'.  Please write to us about your findings. 
TER

FRIDAY'S WORD: "THE LAMB OF GOD"

LAMB OF GOD John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). The meaning of this statement has been greatly discussed. Some regard "The Lamb of God" to be derived from an Aramaic phrase which could mean either "lamb of God" or servant of God." John's testimony probably should be seen as a combination of both concepts. Acts 8:32-35 identifies Jesus as the servant of God whom Isaiah described as one "brought as a lamb to the slaughter" (Isa. 53:7), who "bare the sin of many" (Isa. 53:12), and who was an offering for sin (Isa. 53:10). The law for guilt offerings (Lev. 5:1-6:7) prescribed a lamb for atonement to be made before the Lord. Peter stressed this sacrificial motif when he described redemption accomplished with "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:18). John's identification might also entail a reference to Jesus as the scapegoat sent into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement  to bear the iniquities of the Israelites (Lev. 1t6) or to the Passover lamb (Ex. 12). Paul, in fact, referred to Christ as "our Passover" who has been sacrificed (1 Cor. 5:7). John 1:29, therefore, signifies the substitutionary, sacrificial suffering and death of Jesus, the Servant of God, by which redemption and forgiveness of sin are accomplished.
Revelation often refers to the exalted Christ as a Lamb, but never as "the Lamb of God," nor with the same Greek word for "lamb" as used elsewhere in the New Testament. See Atonement; Christ, Christology; Passover; Redeem, Redemption, Redeemer; Sacrifice and Offering; Servant of the Lord
Barry Morgan
FROM Holman=s Bible Dictionary 

IN THE MIRROR: 

Title:  Father at the Game
Some years ago Columbia University had a great football coach by the name of LouLittle. One day Lou had a boy try out for the varsity team who wasn't really very good. But Lou noticed that there was something unique about him--while he wasn't nearly good enough to make the team, he had such irrepressible spirit and contagious enthusiasm that Lou thought, This boy would be a great inspiration on the bench. He'll never be able to play, but I'll leave him on the team to encourage the others.
   As the season went on, Lou began to develop a tremendous admiration and love for this boy. One of the things that especially impressed him was the manner with which the boy obviously cared for his father. Whenever the father would come for a visit to the campus the boy and his father would always be seen walking together, arm in arm, an obvious indication of an exceptional bond of love between them. They could always be seen on Sunday going to and from the university chapel. It was obvious that theirs was a deep and mutually shared Christian faith. Then, one day, a telephone call came to Coach Little. He was informed that the boy's father had just died--would he be the one to tell the boy? With a heavy heart Lou informed the boy of his father's death, and he immediately left to go home for the funeral.
   A few days later the boy returned to the campus, only two days before the biggest game of the season. Lou went to him and said, "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?" And to the coach's astonishment the boy said, "Let me start the game on Saturday!" Lou was taken aback. He thought, I can't let him start--he's not good enough. But he remembered his promise to help and said, "All right--you can start the game," but he thought to himself, I'll leave him in for a few plays and then take him out. The day of the big game arrived. To everyone's surprise the coach started this boy who had never played in a game all season. But imagine even the coach's surprise when, on the very first play from scrimmage, that boy was the one who single--handedly made a tackle that threw the opposing team for a loss. The boy went on to play inspired football play after play. In fact, he played so exceptionally that Lou left him in for the entire game; the boy led his team to victory and he was voted the outstanding player of the game.
   When the game was finally over Lou approached the boy and said, "Son, what got into you today?" And the boy replied, "You remember when my father would visit me here at school and we would spend a lot of time together walking arm in arm around the campus? My father and I shared a secret that nobody around here knew anything about. You see, my father was blind--and today was the first time he ever saw me play!"
   It is because of resurrection vision that we are able to "play above our heads" in the game of life and "see" the purposes and power and love of God.

   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 171-172.

It's one of those stories that just seem to grab at the heart! It's always at this time of year that my mind always falls on one particular scripture, and if I somehow   failed to share it with you, well here it is:"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."( 1st Corinthians 15:19) KJV

The reason I continue to share this as a favorite is because of the wake-up which I experienced when realizing it made much more since to me than much of the messages that were coming into my spirit.

My ‘Resurrection' message of encouragement to you is: Don't be just sold on the idea of ‘what Jesus can do for you', but stop and look at what He's already done! God Bless! SLC


O TASTE AND SEE!

ITALIAN-HALIBUT WITH TOMATOES AND WHITE BEANS

INGREDIENTS:

2 TBLSPS. OLIVE OIL  
½ CUP SLICED GREEN ONIONS   2 CLOVES GARLIC MINCED  
2 14 ½ OZ. CAN DICED ITALIAN-STYLE TOMATOES, LIGHTLY DRAINED  
1 15 TO 19 OZ. CAN RINSED GREAT NORTHERN BEANS  
2 TSPS. RED WINE VINEGAR  
¼ CUP SLICED FRESH BASIL LEAVES OR 1 TBLSP. DRIED BASIL  
4 TO 6 OZ HALIBUT OR COD FILLETS   SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE  

DIRECTIONS: 
HEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES.
IN A MEDIUM PAN, HEAT OIL ON MEDIUM.
ADD GREEN ONIONS AND GARLIC; COOK, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY, 3 MINUTES, UNTIL SOFTENED BUT NOT BROWN. 
ADD TOMATOES TO ONIONS GARLIC MIXTURE; BRING TO BOIL, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY, AND COOK 4 MINUTES. 
ADD BEANS, VINEGAR AND BASIL. 
BRING TO BOIL; SIMMER 2 MINUTES.  REMOVE FROM HEAT. 

SEASON FISH WITH SALT AND PEPPER AND COAT WITH COOKING SPRAY OR BUTTER.
PLACE IN FOIL LINED ROASTING PAN.   COVER WITH FOIL, PLACE INTO HOT OVEN.
BAKE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL FISH IS TENDER. 
PLACE HOT FISH ON TOP OF BEANS & TOMATOES. SERVE WITH RICE AND YOUR FAVORITE  HOT VEGETABLES. 

SUBMITTED BY: BMCC    EVALUATION . . . GOOD!