The Perfect Christ Series

The Perfect Christ

John 1:29-34

Rev. Brian Bill

December 20-21, 2025

In the rolling hills just outside Bethlehem, under a canopy of stars in the cool night air, a group of shepherds kept careful watch over their flock. These fields were only a few miles from Jerusalem, and some scholars believe many of the young lambs bleating softly in the darkness would eventually be offered as blood sacrifices in the Temple to provide a temporary covering for the people’s sins. As a result, these spotless and unblemished lambs were vigilantly protected from injury or harm.

Nearby stood an ancient watchtower, what the prophets called Migdal Eder, known as “the tower of the flock.” Some believed the Messiah would be revealed from this tower as prophesied in Micah 4:8: “And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.”

As the night deepened, the shepherds warmed themselves around a small fire, their staffs close at hand, eyes scanning the shadows for predators. They knew the weight of their task. A single flaw, like a bruise or a scratch, could disqualify a lamb from sacrifice. They inspected each newborn with care, wrapping the most perfect in strips of cloth to protect them, ensuring nothing marred their purity before the priests claimed them for the holy rites. These lower-class men lived on the margins, often looked down upon, yet their work sustained the very heart of Israel’s worship: the constant reminder that sin required a cost, that reconciliation demanded a spotless substitute.

Little did they know, on this ordinary and silent night, that the heavens were about to bust open with good news of great joy that would forever change their world, and ours. Imagine their unbridled awe and sense of wonder when the angel suddenly appeared and declared, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

Immediately, the shepherds left their valuable flock behind and went with haste to find the perfect Lamb of God swaddled snugly in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough. I wonder if, as they stood there, some of them recalled occasions when fragile newborn lambs were carefully wrapped and gently placed in mangers where they could be protected from the cold and the danger of the night.

Isn’t it intriguing that the perfect “Lamb of God” was born in the area set aside for sheep to be sacrificed? The shepherds who watched lambs born to die were invited to witness the birth of the newborn lamb of God, born to die, and to live again, so substitutionary sacrifices would never be needed again.

We’re continuing in our series called, “Behold the Wonder” from the first chapter of John. Two weeks ago, we focused on the Lord who is the Word who created the world. Last weekend, we considered the Lord who is Light and Life. Today I’m praying we will be captured by the wonder of the Lord who is the Lamb of God.

John the Baptist, the forerunner to Christ, had been testifying to Jesus being the light of the world and just denied being the Messiah himself in John 1:19-28. For our purposes today, we’re going to unpack one primary verse. I invite you to turn to John 1:29: “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’”

Here’s our main idea: Behold and believe in the Lamb of God so He will lift away your sin.

Let’s consider this verse closely.

1. The Urgent Look. The phrase, “the next day” refers to the day after the religious leaders questioned John. It was also the day after Jesus returned from His 40-day temptation in the wilderness. This helps us see how the Savior stepped into time and space. Christianity is not a myth or a legend but is rooted in history. Jesus was born on a specific day, He walked toward John on a precise day, He died on a particular day, He was raised three days later, He ascended on an exact day, and He will return on a definite day.

We see this in Galatians 4:4: “But when the fullness of TIME had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” The phrase, “the fullness of time” is a very eloquent expression which means something is complete and fully developed, like ripe fruit ready to be picked. It was also used of a pregnant woman experiencing labor pains. The stage was perfectly set for the Savior to be sent as we see in Luke 2:6: “And while they were there, the TIME came for her to give birth.”