John 1:29
Scripture:
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 1:29 NIV
But instead John reached out to the greatest need of mankind, and called Jesus The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He knew that even when forgiven each year on Yom Kippur, the forgiveness was temporary and it wouldn’t take long till mankind was in need again to restore his relationship with God. When John called Jesus the Lamb of God, he was referring back to the Passover where all of Israel would sacrifice a lamb and that lamb would encounter God’s wrath to pay for Israel’s sin.
But John also said that this Lamb, Jesus would take away the sin of the world! Not just forgive our sin, but take it away. The world sin here mean’s to fall short of miss the mark. It was a term used in that day for sporting events, when the archer would shoot an arrow it would fall short of the target. John was prophetically saying that what Jesus would do, was not just provide forgiveness but he would take away that awful condition of always falling short, and separating us from God.
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 1:29 NIV
Observation:
John the Baptist was given the awesome task of introducing Messiah to the World. Of all the names he could call him, from cousin to King, John introduced him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John could have gone to the Book of Genesis and introduced Christ as the promised seed who would crush the head of the serpent. The many names referring to Messiah throughout the pages of the Old Testament, he could have called him The Lily Of The Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Fairest of Ten Thousand, and on and on we could go.
John the Baptist was given the awesome task of introducing Messiah to the World. Of all the names he could call him, from cousin to King, John introduced him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John could have gone to the Book of Genesis and introduced Christ as the promised seed who would crush the head of the serpent. The many names referring to Messiah throughout the pages of the Old Testament, he could have called him The Lily Of The Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Fairest of Ten Thousand, and on and on we could go.
But instead John reached out to the greatest need of mankind, and called Jesus The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He knew that even when forgiven each year on Yom Kippur, the forgiveness was temporary and it wouldn’t take long till mankind was in need again to restore his relationship with God. When John called Jesus the Lamb of God, he was referring back to the Passover where all of Israel would sacrifice a lamb and that lamb would encounter God’s wrath to pay for Israel’s sin.
But John also said that this Lamb, Jesus would take away the sin of the world! Not just forgive our sin, but take it away. The world sin here mean’s to fall short of miss the mark. It was a term used in that day for sporting events, when the archer would shoot an arrow it would fall short of the target. John was prophetically saying that what Jesus would do, was not just provide forgiveness but he would take away that awful condition of always falling short, and separating us from God.
Through Christ God not only forgave our sin, he took away our sinful condition, that constant falling short. Because now God sees us not through our performance but rather Christ’s performance on the cross. God sees you perfect, because of the spotless Lamb of God.
Application:
Today meditate on the wonderful forgiveness we have been given through the cross. But also understand that we have been given sonship through Christ. God has adopted us into his family and he sees you as his child, and not just your performance.
Today meditate on the wonderful forgiveness we have been given through the cross. But also understand that we have been given sonship through Christ. God has adopted us into his family and he sees you as his child, and not just your performance.
Prayer:
Father today I give thanks that you took away my sinful condition. You gave me sonship through Christ and you no longer see me as falling short. Help me to live out my faith, so as to be an example to others of your love and forgiveness.
Father today I give thanks that you took away my sinful condition. You gave me sonship through Christ and you no longer see me as falling short. Help me to live out my faith, so as to be an example to others of your love and forgiveness.