THE LAMB OF GOD
“John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”–John 1:26–29
At the very beginning of the Old Testament, following the entry of sin into the world, God instituted a system of animal sacrifices. These offerings did not in and of themselves make an atonement for sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Rather, they were a reminder that the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and were offered as a tangible expression of faith in God’s promise of the coming Messiah who would provide salvation for those who believed in His substitutionary death. People before Jesus were saved by faith looking forward to the cross, just as we are saved looking back to it.
John the Baptist had been preaching with power and effectiveness of the need for repentance and preparation for the Lord’s coming. Huge crowds left the cities and went out across the Jordan River into the desert to hear John preach.
When John saw Jesus, he could have announced Him in any number of ways. There are dozens of names for Jesus found throughout Scripture. The one that John chose to use, “The Lamb of God” is a statement of the purpose of Jesus’ life. He came into the world to be the willing sacrifice for our sins. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). This is our hope and confidence of eternal life—the substitute who paid for our sins in full. Take time today to specifically thank God for the amazing gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Daily in the Word)
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
