The Lamb Of God

What are we here for? What is the purpose of the church? Let’s understand how important pointing to Jesus is. Let’s look at John the Baptist’s example of pointing to the Lamb of God in John 1:29-42.

The Lamb of God

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John the Baptist’s words are profound, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” The Lamb stands at God’s throne (5:6-13), opens the seven seals (6:1-16; 8:1), is shepherd of the nations (7:9-17), and men triumphed in his blood (12:11).

It’s His book of life (13:8), standing with the pure (14:1-10), singing Moses’ song (15:3), His victory (17:14), His wedding (19:7-9; 21:9), His city (21:22-27), His river (22:1-3). It’s Jesus, the Passover lamb of God (Exodus 12:1-28; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

Plummer, Alfred. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. John. Cambridge University Press. 1902.

He it Is

John 1:30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’

This is He. John had no Messiah complex, no delusions of grandeur, no inflated sense of self-importance. We are all appointed missionaries, sent by God to tell the story of Jesus and His love. John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus. Yet, Jesus, as God, was before him.

Look, the Lamb of God

John 1:31-37 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.” 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Apparently John had not recognized Jesus as the Messiah. The next day he pointed his own disciples to Jesus. From other passages, we deduce that these two disciples were probably Andrew and John. Every Christian is called to be so selfless and point others away from themselves and to Jesus?

Come and See

John 1:38-39 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Jesus asked John’s disciples what they were looking for. Do we see Jesus and His Spirit at work in our faulty churches? This event was so important to John, that he even remembered the time of day it occurred. If we begin to follow Jesus, we will eventually truly see?

Christ

John 1:40-41 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

Messiah is Hebrew for Christ, the anointed one, a male anointed by divine command as king, high priest or patriarch.[1] Andrew simply announced to his brother. It was up to Simon to choose what to do. We too, just need to go, and tell others what we have found.

[1] Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

Peter

John 1:42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

Simon means doubtful,[2] would be changed to Peter, a rock,[3] a person of rock solid character. An ancient Christian custom was to give a new name at baptism. These leaders of the church, without visible support, only faith and Jesus as their teacher, pioneered what we enjoy today.

[2] Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

[3] THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com