Behold The Lamb!
I remember the days that surrounded Micah’s, my grandson’s, open-heart surgery. He was a new-born baby lying in his bed at Vanderbilt Hospital. His chest remained open for tubes to carry his blood from his body through a machine and blended it with oxygen and then back into his body (the ECMO machine). It acted for his heart. I could watch his blood flow through large tubes in and out of his body. There were times, that I could see the suffering in his face. It was almost more than I could bear. I watched his mother, my daughter, Chaunta, as she stayed near him speaking the Word over him and her close communion with Jesus to stay strong when the jaws of death sought Micah’s life. The doctors did not give us much hope for this baby boy, but Jesus ministered hope through the Holy Scriptures. We kept our eyes on our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, The Lord Who prevailed against our enemies, and Who would prevail on Micah’s behalf. Micah is now three years of age and so filled with life. “Thank you, Jesus!!”
The story of Mary came to my mind as she stood at the foot of the cross and watched her Son suffer as no man had ever suffered. The Words that flowed prophetically from Simeon to Mary were, “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk. 2:34&35). Surely, Mary felt in her heart what was like the blow of a sword. She felt the agony of grief and sorrow for her Son, Jesus. I can imagine her tear-stained face as she leans upon John. The anguish of soul is almost more than she can bear. Jesus looks down from the cross and sees His mother and John, “whom He loved.” Jesus raises Himself up off of the nails that held him to the cross, in order to pull air into His lungs to utter the Words, “Woman, behold thy son!” Then Jesus said to John, “Behold thy mother!” (Jn. 19:26&27). Jesus, even in His suffering, saw His mother and saw her need. Jesus not only saw His mother, the one who carried Him in her womb, but He saw all mankind and saw their need. Jesus had asked in Matthew 12:48&50, “…Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? …For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” We, too, are His mother, if we are obedient to our heavenly Father. Let us look unto Jesus. He sees you, and He sees your need. He prepared the answers for us through His death and resurrection.
Every child that is placed on the ECMO machine is given a little, stuffed toy lamb. I wondered why the lamb? The ECMO machine was used on lambs to make sure that the machine would work properly on a human being. I don’t know how many lambs lost their lives until the ECMO machine was perfected for the use for little infants like Micah; but I do know, that there was one Lamb that laid down His life that all men, women, boys, and girls could have life and have life everlasting! Behold The Lamb, Jesus Christ! His blood will wash you and make you clean. Receive Him. He sees you and will meet your need. Amen!