Week 3 - Behold, the Lamb of God

John 1:29-34
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! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." ESV

A Christian witness is first and foremost about Christ.

We tell people what the early church enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed: that Jesus is God’s only Son and our Lord; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; that He experienced death for three days and then rose from the grave; that He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and that from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. …

[The message of John the Baptist] was not about his experiences or what he felt about God, but about Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We, too, must testify that Jesus is the One who came to do God’s will by God’s power. John the Baptist said, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34), and we must, too … (Phillips, 12-13; also, see chapter 3)

In chapter 3, Phillips points out the powerful connection between Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the Passover lamb of Exodus 12. He says, “So calling Jesus the Lamb of God was John’s way of saying that his blood causes God’s wrath to pass over all those who trust in him.” The imagery of the Lamb of God wonderfully unites the typical symbol (the Old Testament sacrifice of lambs) to the ultimate reality, Jesus. Just like the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus protects fully all of those for whom he died. What an encouragement to know that your sins—past, present and future—are covered by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.

What does this mean in daily life? It means that you don’t have to live a life of constant excuse-making for your sins, because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. It means that you can extend kindness and mercy to friends and coworkers who mistreat you because the Lamb of God takes away your sin. You have a message of hope to give to others, that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of all those who ask in faith. It means that you can face each day with joy and peace because the Lamb of God has paid the price for your sin. It means you are not like the unbelievers around you because the Lamb of God has been slain in your place.

What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Lamb of God?

· For each day this week think of a particular way that you are blessed because Jesus is the Lamb of God.

· Thank God in prayer for this reality.

· Tell your wife about this blessing from the Lamb of God. Tell a friend or a co-worker. Start with some ideas from the paragraph above and then add your own life experiences to the mix.

· Finish your week by praising God in prayer for a particular way in which the Lamb of God has brought comfort to your life because you no longer bear the guilt of your sins. Ask God to make this personal application grow in importance to you. You have been blessed by Jesus the Evangelist.

Think where you would be if the Lamb of God had not taken the punishment for your anger, your greed, your lust, your selfishness. Praise God that he did. Because of that personal sacrifice you don’t have to live under a cloud of guilt and defensiveness. The Lamb of God has taken away your sin.