It's Not A Secret Anymore

IT’S NOT A SECRET ANYMORE

John 1:29-34

S: Jesus as our salvation

Th: My Life as God’s Light

Pr: WE ARE TO LOOK TO JESUS.

?: Why?

KW: Reasons

TS: We will find in John 1:29-34 four reasons why we are to look to Jesus.

The ____ reason why we are to look to Jesus is He is…

I. (our) SACRIFICE (29)

II. SUPREME (30-31)

III. SPIRIT-DIRECTED (32-33)

IV. (the) SON OF GOD (34)

RMBC 01/14/01 AM

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever tried to keep a secret?

ILL Notebook: Secret (I’ll give you a hint)

When Lisa Zerr found out that they were expecting a new baby, they carefully explained the news to their kindergartner, with instructions to keep it a secret. When the carpool mom brought him home the next day, she had a twinkle in her eye. “Alex tells me you have a big secret, but he can’t tell me what it is until his mommy’s tummy gets bigger.”

You know, there always seems to come a time when the secret gets out.

As much as we try to keep it under wraps, the secret comes out.

It is as if that’s the nature of secrets.

There comes a time when it is not a secret anymore.

TRANSITION:

1. Last week, we studied how John the Baptist communicated Jesus to people (John 1:19-28).

When the Baptist came, he was not interested on dwelling on himself.

The Jewish leadership questioned him on who he was—was he the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet?

He answered rather succinctly that he was none of those.

Instead, he said he was a voice, a voice that was preparing the way for the Lord’s coming.

When we come to today’s text, it is the next day.

And the very thing that John has been waiting for happens.

The Lord comes…

2. In our study today, Jesus arrives on the scene.

And it’s not a secret anymore!

His time of preparation is over.

His baptism has been accomplished.

His time of temptation has come and gone.

His time of ministry has begun.

And now John gives us some specific advice about Him.

He says, “Behold!”

It is time to look.

He says…

3. WE ARE TO LOOK TO JESUS.

John knows his time is coming to an end.

And although he will continue on in his ministry for a little while longer, He has essentially fulfilled his mission.

He has been a voice preparing for the Lord’s coming.

It is now evident to him that this is the very thing that has happened.

It is now time to look to Jesus.

So…

4. We will find in John 1:29-34 four reasons why we are to look to Jesus.

(29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (30) This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ (31) I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” (32) Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. (33) I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ (34) I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

OUR STUDY:

I. The first reason why we are to look to Jesus is He is our SACRIFICE (29).

John says: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

He refers to Jesus as the Lamb.

Admittedly, the idea of a lamb does not compute with most of us as well in today’s culture, for we are so far removed from the rural scene.

Nevertheless, it connected powerfully with those of that day.

For the common Israelite understood that…

1. Lambs were living symbols of innocence.

Lambs were often pets and were greatly loved.

Their playfulness and innocence often had a profound impact on the family.

But profounder still was the price innocence paid.

Because…

2. For every Hebrew, the lamb is the reminder of the Passover—a symbol of salvation through sacrifice.

It was a matter of atonement.

In the old covenant, it was the innocent lamb that took on the guilt of sin.

The lamb was killed so that the Hebrew would know the terrible cost of the reality of sin.

When John exclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” these images would come and stir in their minds.