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

TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS:

1. The contemplation of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb.

Isaiah 53:5-7 But He was wounded for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, He was bruised for OUR INIQUITIES; The chastisement for OUR peace was upon Him, And by His stripes WE are HEALED. [6] All WE like sheep have GONE ASTRAY; WE have turned, every one, to HIS OWN WAY; And the LORD has laid on Him the INIQUITY of US ALL. [7] He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; HE WAS LED AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER…

The Passover lamb is the foreshadowing of Christ.

Exodus 12:1-13 (Summary) God commands Moses and Aaron to establish a new beginning for Israel, marking the first month of their year. Each household is to take a spotless, one-year-old male lamb and sacrifice it at twilight. THE LAMB’S BLOOD MUST BE APPLIED TO THE DOORPOSTS AND LINTEL OF THEIR HOUSES AS A SIGN OF PROTECTION. That night the angel of judgment will pass through Egypt that night, striking down all firstborns—both human and animal—as an act of judgment against Egypt’s gods. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

The Lamb became a symbol of atonement.

Hebrews 10:10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the SACRIFICE OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST, once for all time.

Romans 5:8-10 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, having now been JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through Him. [10] For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

2. The shadow of the cross was cast over the entire ministry of Jesus.

John 1:29b …Behold! The Lamb of God…

Behold = we are to see Jesus as the Lamb of God.

John’s knowledge of Scripture and revelation from God enabled him to call Jesus the Lamb of God:

Before the world began.

1 Peter 1:19-20 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN, but now in these last days he has been REVEALED FOR YOUR SAKE.

Animal slain in Eden to cover the nakedness of the first sinners.

Genesis 3:21 And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins FOR Adam and his wife.

Ram that became the substitute in Isaac’s place.

Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham LOOKED UP (Behold) and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering IN PLACE OF HIS SON.

3. The sacrifice that would have the capacity to forgive sin and cleanse every sinner.

John 1:29c … who takes away the sin of the world!

Galatians 3:13 But Christ has RESCUED US from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE CURSE for OUR WRONGDOING. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He MADE HIM who knew no sin TO BE SIN FOR US, that WE MIGHT BECOME the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Him.

Philippians 3:8b-9 …that I may gain Christ and BE FOUND in him, NOT HAVING A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN THAT COMES FROM THE LAW, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST—the righteousness that comes from God on THE BASIS OF FAITH.

Hebrews 10:12-13 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, GOOD FOR ALL TIME. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Revelation 5:5-6 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” [6] And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, STOOD A LAMB AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SLAIN…

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; FOR YOU WERE SLAIN, AND HAVE REDEEMED US TO GOD BY YOUR BLOOD out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Revelation 12:11 And they OVERCAME HIM (Devil) BY the BLOOD OF THE LAMB and by the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY (our confession of faith)…

Conclusion:

The questions for us today:

What will we do with this truth?

Will we behold Him, embrace Him, and allow His sacrifice to transform our lives?