John was the Baptist. Jesus is the Saviour.

The story of Jesus Christ begins with the word, "In the beginning" (John 1:1).

The Old Testament prophets paved the way for Jesus Christ. They spoke of His coming.

According to John 1:45, Jesus Christ is "Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote."

When we come into the New Testament, we find that the first preacher is not Jesus the Saviour. It is John the Baptist.

John was the forerunner of Christ. he was the last in a long list of men sent from God to prepare the way of the Lord. John was not the Son of God. He was the Lord's messenger, pointing his hearers to the Son of God. John was not the Lamb of God. He was the preacher who directed attention to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

In the opening chapter of John's Gospel, we read much about John the Baptist, but our main focus of attention is to be on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became the Lamb of God.

In this chapter, Jesus is described as both "the Son of God" and "the Lamb of God" (vs. 34, 49 / vs. 29, 36).

This is the story of Jesus Christ. The Son of God became the Lamb of God.

The story of Jesus Christ takes us from Bethlehem to Calvary. It tells us the story of how the Son of God became the Lamb of God.

Coming in faith to Jesus Christ, we acknowledge Him to be both the Son of God and the Lamb of God.

As we come to Christ, confessing Him as God's Son and trusting Him as our Saviour, we receive the gift of the holy Spirit (v.33).

Christ gives the Holy Spirit to all who trust Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to confess Christ before men and to live as His witnesses.

We can learn a great deal about what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in our lives, as we look at four of the first followers of Jesus,

(1) John the Baptist (v. 36)

(2) Andrew (v. 41)

(3) Peter (v. 42)

(4) Nathaniel (v. 51).

First, in our witnessing for Christ, we are to point people to the Saviour of sinners.

Second, we are to give our personal testimony - "We have found the Messiah." He has fulfilled the meaning and purpose of our lives.

Third, we are to give the testimony of transformed lives, lives which are founded on Christ, the Rock of our salvation.

Fourth, we are to live and speak as a people of hope, looking to Christ who is our Hope of glory.

As we approach the Lord's Table, let us ponder all that Christ is - the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Coming King. Let us ponder the cradle, the cross and the crown, and let our hearts go out to Him in praise and worship.