The Lamb of God
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
John was born for the soul purpose of preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. When he was pressed about who he was, he did not give a direct answer. He only told who he was not. Warren Wiersbe points out that “John had nothing to say about himself because he was sent to talk about Jesus. Jesus is the Word; John was but a voice.”
Like John, we are chosen by God and God is writing our life story even now. Ephesians 2:8-10 says that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We can ask the Lord to help us fulfill our calling.
Once Jesus came on the scene, John began to acknowledge Jesus’ ministry. In verse 29 of chapter 1, John says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Genesis 22:6-8 reminds us that God himself provided the lamb for the offering. Isaiah 53:4-7 reveals that like a lamb, Jesus was led to the slaughter. Hebrews 9:11-14 states that Christ “entered the most holy place once for all by his own blood.”
The sacrificial lambs offered by man to God could not take away our sin completely, but the Lamb of God took away the sin of the entire world. Has Jesus become your Lamb? Have you turned to Him to take away the guilt of your sin?
Jesus came to John for baptism in order to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17). When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him to reveal His divine anointing. While John’s baptism had been by water for repentance, Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit was for entrance into the family of God. Jesus stepped out of John the Baptist’s shadow to begin His own public ministry.
The rest of the chapter talks about the first disciples being called. Jesus invites us to follow Him, but it is our choice whether to do so. Warren Wiersbe pointed out that Jesus reveals the true heart of Nathanael. This is something that should take place whenever we study the Word of God either in personal study or at our churches. The more we know Christ, the more we will see God.
It is interesting to note that after Andrew and John became followers, they each brought their brothers to Jesus, and Phillip brought Nathanael. “It is a reminder to us that God uses people to win people to Christ!” What about you? Are you willing to be a “voice” to declare who He is?
Vocal - willing to speak out
Obedient - to go whenever and wherever He leads
Instructing - with Truth over your own opinions
Concerned - for the salvation of others
Encouraging - those who listen to follow Christ
(Taken from Live and Believe Harvest Study; Janis J. Vance)
Jesus is my redeemer. I was invited to follow Him and chose to do so. I am now to point at Christ’s work in my life and to draw others to Him. Because I have put my hope in Him, I have a future hope of eternity with the Lamb of God. To others, I say, “Come and see!”
Thank you, Lord, for being my Lamb and taking away my sin. Help me to keep the focus on You and not myself; to be a sincere “voice” to declare who You are to others.
The Christian faith engages the profoundest problems the human mind can entertain and solves them completely and simply by pointing to the Lamb of God. -A.W. Tozer
John was born for the soul purpose of preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. When he was pressed about who he was, he did not give a direct answer. He only told who he was not. Warren Wiersbe points out that “John had nothing to say about himself because he was sent to talk about Jesus. Jesus is the Word; John was but a voice.”
Like John, we are chosen by God and God is writing our life story even now. Ephesians 2:8-10 says that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We can ask the Lord to help us fulfill our calling.
Once Jesus came on the scene, John began to acknowledge Jesus’ ministry. In verse 29 of chapter 1, John says, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Genesis 22:6-8 reminds us that God himself provided the lamb for the offering. Isaiah 53:4-7 reveals that like a lamb, Jesus was led to the slaughter. Hebrews 9:11-14 states that Christ “entered the most holy place once for all by his own blood.”
The sacrificial lambs offered by man to God could not take away our sin completely, but the Lamb of God took away the sin of the entire world. Has Jesus become your Lamb? Have you turned to Him to take away the guilt of your sin?
Jesus came to John for baptism in order to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17). When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him to reveal His divine anointing. While John’s baptism had been by water for repentance, Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit was for entrance into the family of God. Jesus stepped out of John the Baptist’s shadow to begin His own public ministry.
The rest of the chapter talks about the first disciples being called. Jesus invites us to follow Him, but it is our choice whether to do so. Warren Wiersbe pointed out that Jesus reveals the true heart of Nathanael. This is something that should take place whenever we study the Word of God either in personal study or at our churches. The more we know Christ, the more we will see God.
It is interesting to note that after Andrew and John became followers, they each brought their brothers to Jesus, and Phillip brought Nathanael. “It is a reminder to us that God uses people to win people to Christ!” What about you? Are you willing to be a “voice” to declare who He is?
Vocal - willing to speak out
Obedient - to go whenever and wherever He leads
Instructing - with Truth over your own opinions
Concerned - for the salvation of others
Encouraging - those who listen to follow Christ
(Taken from Live and Believe Harvest Study; Janis J. Vance)
Jesus is my redeemer. I was invited to follow Him and chose to do so. I am now to point at Christ’s work in my life and to draw others to Him. Because I have put my hope in Him, I have a future hope of eternity with the Lamb of God. To others, I say, “Come and see!”
Thank you, Lord, for being my Lamb and taking away my sin. Help me to keep the focus on You and not myself; to be a sincere “voice” to declare who You are to others.
The Christian faith engages the profoundest problems the human mind can entertain and solves them completely and simply by pointing to the Lamb of God. -A.W. Tozer
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