The Lamb of God

The Lamb of God

John 1:29-34

Introduction

Over the past two Sundays, we have looked together at two different psalms in preparation for Advent. 

In Psalm 130, we saw the hope of the coming Messiah in that He would save His people from all of their sins - for with Him there is plentiful redemption.

In Psalm 98, we looked at three of the roles the Messiah would fulfill - Savior, King, and Judge - through which He would conquer sin and death forever - for He has made known His salvation.

The work and person of Jesus is captured in His titles - in that they tell us who He is and what He does.

Over the course of Advent this year, we will be looking at some of these titles and how they communicate the hope we have in what He has done for us in His coming. 

Today we begin with the title that John the Baptist ascribes to Jesus - The Lamb of God.

This title is one that is very familiar to Christians in our day, and one that we see highlighted in hymns that we sing throughout the year and during Advent.

But this title for the people of Israel at the time in which Jesus came was not one they necessarily anticipated. 

They were looking for a King to restore David’s throne, as one who bring about a new era for the Kingdom of God in an earthly sense. 

They weren’t anticipating one who could come as a lamb to be sacrificed, but rather as one who would come as a conquering lion.

For the people of that day, they really weren’t ready for a cross that would come before the crown.

Even as John the Baptist announced this title of Jesus on this day, he too eventually struggled in his understanding - as we witnessed in our study of Matthew’s gospel when John later (while in prison), would send his disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah.

The reason this is important to understand at this point is that this utterance John makes is as a prophet.

Prophets spoke what God revealed to them, even when they didn’t fully realize all of the ramifications of their prophecies. 

But it is notable that John understood more than most at this point, as we see in the unfolding dialogue - for he announces important truths about Jesus.

Yes, he would later struggle with doubts while in prison (understandably), but here he boldly confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

These truths are what we celebrate every Lord’s Day - indeed, every day of our lives - and especially at Christmas - that the Messiah has come as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

II.The Lamb of God (29)

Looking now at verse 29 we read, The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John, the gospel writer, tells us that is the next day that the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him among the crowds.

The Baptist has been baptizing people with water when the religious leaders sent a delegation to him on the previous day. 

During their exchange they ask him who he is, and specifically if he is the Christ.

John’s response is that there is one who is coming after him who is greater than he.

And so, on the following day, we have this exchange where this One whom he is preparing the way for comes and John declares of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

We have already noted that this declaration was unexpected for this people at this time.

But for us, it is difficult to understand why, because we know Jesus so well by this title and this work.

As we read in the call to worship this morning, the Lamb is foreseen in the New Jerusalem as victorious in the book of Revelation.

We understand that His victory has come about through His taking away our sin by His sacrifice. 

When we look back through the OT, we see a thread of this plan, veiled as it was, through a variety of passages.

In Genesis 22, Abraham was called on by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac.

(1)Abraham obeyed and went up to the mountain with Isaac to carry out this unimaginable task.

(2)But God stopped him, upon seeing his willingness to obey.

(3)There he revealed to him a male lamb for him to sacrifice instead.” (Gen 22:14) So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.

(4)This is one of the first pictures of the promise that God would provide the Lamb.

In Exodus 12, the people were delivered from enslavement in Egypt after the final plagues in which the Passover was instituted.

(1)On that night, they were instructed to kill a lamb for each household, and paint with its blood their doorposts.

(2)When the angel came through Egypt that night, he passed over the homes with the blood - sparing the firstborn within those homes.

(3)That pattern of salvation was preserved among Israel through the celebration of Passover each year after.

(4)Richard Phillips writes, “” There are many links between Jesus and the Passover lamb. For instance, he was handed over to be crucified at the sixth hour on “the day of Preparation of the Passover” (John 19:14). That was the very hour that the Passover lambs were slain throughout Jerusalem. 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.

Another OT passage that comes to mind when we think of the title “Lamb of God,” is that of Isaiah 53, which we read together this morning,. (Is 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth

(1)This passage describes The Suffering Servant who is Jesus.

(2)Yet, for the people of Israel, this was not seen as a prophecy concerning the Messiah.  

(3)Again, they weren’t looking for one who would come to suffer and die, but for one who reign as king.  

(4)Of course, Jesus came as the King of kings - for that is who He is - but this King came in a manner so contrary to human expectations - He came as a suffering servant who would lay down His life as a Lamb for His people.

All of the pieces of the puzzle were there, strung throughout the OT - yet the people were not ready to receive such a Savior. 

Additionally, as we have seen throughout our study in Matthew’s gospel, they did not see their greatest need as the forgiveness of their sins. 

Instead, they wanted earthly deliverance to live a comfortable life among other reasons.

That Jesus came as a lamb to take away the sin of the world speaks of the role and the work that He came to accomplish. 

This is not teaching universalism - that Jesus came to save all. 

John would later write his most well known words of Jesus, “” (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Here we see it is only those who believe in the Lamb of God who sins are forgiven.

Yet the work of the Lamb is for the whole world in two ways.

The Jews thought salvation was exclusive to them, but the Messiah comes to redeem people from the whole world - from every nation, tribe, and tongue. 

Furthermore, He comes to redeem creation from sin and it’s effects, as we saw in Psalm 98 last week when all of creation joins the song of salvation.

In and through the work of the Lamb of God, all of creation will be renewed and restored.

III.He Who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit (30-33)

John then goes on to explain the person and work of Jesus in verse 30, “” This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’

Here, he is referencing what he said on the previous day.

John had been sent as a prophet - the final OT prophet - to prepare the way of the Messiah.

So he says here that this One who He calls, “The Lamb of God,” ranks above him, because He was before Him.

John speaks here of the rank of Jesus as above and before because of who Jesus is, which John will conclude with.

Jesus is the Son of God - God in the flesh - who is eternal.

He has always existed because He is God.

This was perplexing for the crowd because they witness Jesus as a man - coming after John.

Few would or could have grasped the significance of this in the moment.

John the Baptist continues his explanation in verse 31, “” I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.

John is not saying that he did not know Jesus at all, but rather he did know Jesus yet for who He is.

He made this same statement previously when he baptized Jesus and there made clear it had been revealed to him by God.

John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, and he did this through his work of baptizing with water.

John’s baptism with water was a cleansing act - a call for people to repent and confess their sins. 

This was preparatory work that Jesus might be revealed as the one who would accomplish this cleansing that John’s baptism pointed toward.

In verses 32-33, John the gospel writer takes us back to the baptism of Jesus when he recounts the words of John the Baptist from that event,’ And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 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.

At the baptism of Jesus, John the Baptist witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus like a dove.

We know that God is a spirit and has not a body like man.

(1)This is true for the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit - up until Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among mankind.

(2)At this time of His baptism, the Spirit is revealed in form that could be seen - a dove.

(3)And the dove descended and rested upon Jesus to signify who He was and to affirm that He is the Christ.

At this event that John the gospel writer is referring to, John the Baptist uttered the same expression that we saw in verse 31, “ 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.”

It was revealed to the Baptist by God, which is how he now knows that Jesus is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Again, we see that John the Baptist is a prophet sent to reveal the Word of God to man.

(1)That the Baptist was sent to baptize with water was preparatory.  

(2)A greater and final baptism would come through the work of Jesus through the outpouring of the Spirit.  

(a)Unbelievers can be baptized with water - indeed many have been.

(b)But only true believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit.  

(c)This is because that through the Baptism of the Spirit, true believers are regenerated and made willing to believe.  

We must remember that we were dead in sin before we were saved. 

We were unable and unwilling to believe in this state. 

iii)But in God’s mercy, He poured out His Spirit upon us - granting us new life and making us willing and able to believe.  

iv)And His Spirit then never leaves us - for He indwells each believer.  

(1)His Spirit empowers us to grow in Christlikeness.  

(2)His Spirit comforts us in our heartaches.  

(3)His Spirit convicts us of sin and leads to grow in holiness.  

(3)What John the Baptist’s baptism pointed to, the baptism of Jesus accomplishes.  

(a)The Baptist was a spokesman - a prophet.  

(b)Jesus came as the Lamb to accomplish the Gospel work of this prophecy.

(c)One commentator writes, “By saying, John points out that there is, after all, a vast difference between what is doing and what the will do. All John can do is administer (water); the Messiah—he alone—can bestow (the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit).” “I baptize with water,”heMessiahthe signthe thing signified

That the Baptist states, “,” points to the authority of all that He says, both here and before at the baptism of Jesus.He who sent me to baptize said to me

These declarations were not inventions of the Baptist - but were revealed to him by God Himself. 

And by the authority of his witness to Jesus being the Lamb of God, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, he affirms the very authority of Jesus Himself.

John the Baptist was a witness who proclaimed a testimony from God as to who Jesus is.

Today, we as the Church of Jesus Christ, are also witnesses.

Another work of the Spirit within us today is that we are empowered to give a testimony to who Jesus is.

We have been saved not merely for ourselves, but also to proclaim the hope that we have that others might come to saving faith.

We read in Acts 1:8 of Jesus saying to His disciples then, but also speaking to us today, “” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

(1)Because we have this great hope that the Lamb of God has taken away our sins, so we ought to share this hope with others.

(2)Sharing our faith is not merely speaking the information of the Gospel, but is especially giving testimony to His saving work and power in our lives.

(3)The sharing of our faith ought to be personal, based in the reality of the hope we have in this life - and our lives and how we live ought also to be a testimony to this great salvation.

(4)James Boice writes concerning this call to witness, “” This teaches us, among other things, that a Christian will never be an effective witness if he is placing either himself or his own needs first in his thinking. Our own needs possess a certain degree of importance, of course. But we will never be able to focus on the needs of others if our own needs dominate us. For one thing, there is a sense in which our own needs are already met, whether we recognize it or not, for Paul wrote to the Philippians, saying, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Our needs are met in Christ, and we have little to testify of if we do not see that clearly. Besides, we cannot really show love to the other person, which is the essence of witnessing, if we are not placing his needs before our own.

May we consider the needs of others more important than our own, in laying down our own lives for another, by speaking and living out the great hope we have in the salvation of the Lamb.

IV.The Son of God (34)

In the final statement in verse 34, John writes the summarizing words of the Baptist, “” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. 

That Jesus is the Son of God is the Baptist’s conclusion is based on the revelation of God to him, and his witnessing the Spirit descending upon Jesus. 

It transformed John from one who repeatedly said, “I did not know him,” - to this now surefooted confession.

That Jesus is the Son of God is clearly linked to the messianic role.

John likely had in mind Isaiah 42:1,. Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations 

The Baptist witnessed the Father fulfilling this prophecy, by the Spirit’s being poured out upon the Son.

The Son is here called “” - signifying this is the Messiah.my servant…my chosen

John the author of this gospel lays out this claim in these opening words, and then concludes near the end of his gospel by writing this, “” (Jn 20:31) these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Conclusion

As we begin this season of Advent, we celebrate that the Father has sent the Son, anointed by the Spirit.

He put on flesh to dwell among mankind, being made in the likeness of those He created that He might redeem them from their sins.

This work of redemption is captured in this title - Lamb of God - for Jesus “.”like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth

He willingly laid down His life for His sheep.

As the prophet foretold, “” (Is 53:4–6) Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 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.

You and I have gone astray and turned to our own way.

That is, all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard.

We have not only transgressed His perfect law, we have failed to live righteously - for there is no one who is righteous who seeks after God. 

But here is the hope of the Gospel - that God sent forth His Son as the Lamb of God - and laid upon Him all our sins.

So may we sing with thanksgiving and celebrate in our hearts by looking to the Lamb who came, to Him who takes away our sin, so that we might… …. (Col 1:10–14) walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins