John 1:29-34 Sermon

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.”

Introduction

Main Idea: The appearance of Jesus revealed and confirmed Him as the One promised by God.

TV talk-show host Larry King was asked the question, "If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?" Larry King's answer was that he would like to interview Jesus Christ.

Outline

The questioner had a following question where he asked "And what would you like to ask him?" King replied, "I would like to ask him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me."

The truth of Jesus Christ is the most important truth in all of history.

If Jesus is not who He said He was, then He has deceived countless millions.

What we believe about God, salvation and sin are but myths. And what we have felt about these things are but emotions with no meaning or purpose.

But if Jesus is who He said He was. Which I believe to be absolutely true, we who have come to saving faith have every reason to be encouraged.

We have every reason to have our hearts lifted into praise and awe.

Most importantly, when we read of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures it should impress into our hearts wonder and thankfulness for what He has done.

Especially, in what He has done with our sin. Which is why Jesus came.

Romans 15:8–9 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Jesus became a servant (when He appeared) to show God’s truthfulness to the Jews and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.

This goes with what He said in

Matthew 20:28 ESV

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 18:37 ESV

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

1 John 3:5 ESV

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

1 John 3:8 ESV

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus became a servant (meaning when He appeared) to show God truthfulness. Namely, the truth of who He was in order that both Jew and Gentile (meaning anyone who comes to saving faith) would have their sins forgiven.

He gave His life as a ransom for many who were lost and guilty of sin.

In our text today we are seeing the appearance of the Savior. Who was sent into the world by the Father and confirmed by John’s witness. (Not that He needed John’s witness).

The appearance of Jesus is the appearance of grace and mercy. In His very own life there is life and in John’s announcement of Him, he proclaims His death and the forgiveness of sins.

Outline

Jesus appeared (v.29)

Jesus revealed (v.30-31)

Jesus confirmed (v.32-34)

1. Jesus appeared (v.29a)

Read Verse 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him.

Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe The Message (vv. 29–37)

The Lamb is our eternal message. Abraham and Isaac prophesied his sacrifice. The Passover applied the principles of his sacrifice. Isaiah 53 personified his sacrifice. John 1 identified the sacrifice. And it is magnified in Revelation 5:9–14. The sacrificial death of Christ—this is the essence of our message.

The setting.

In Matthew and Mark’s account we see clearly that this took place at the Jordan River (, ). This event was also in Luke’s account in .

In , we see that Jerusalem, all of Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were being baptized by him as they were confessing their sins.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

He warned of the judgement of God and spoke about the One mightier than He.

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Meaning that it was a call for people to repent because of the coming of the Christ.

John the Baptist gave warning and hope. Warning because of the coming judgement and hope because of the life that would be found in the One greater than him.

Warning because of the coming

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 1

1:29–34 This portion deals with John’s witness to a second group of Jews on the second day (see vv. 19–28 for the first group and day) regarding Jesus. This section forms something of a bridge. It continues the theme of John the Baptist’s witness but also introduces a lengthy list of titles applied to Jesus: Lamb of God (vv. 29, 36), Rabbi (vv. 38, 49), Messiah/Christ (v. 41), Son of God (vv. 34, 49), King of Israel (v. 49), Son of Man (v. 51) and “Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote” (v. 45).

This portion of Scripture continues the theme of John the Baptist and his witness of Christ.

Preparing the way for the Lord meant that John the Baptist would prepare people for the appearance of Jesus Christ through preaching repentance, confession of sin and baptism as a sign.

What John the writer (not John the Baptist) also does is introduce titles given to Jesus.

Lamb of God (vv. 29, 36)

Rabbi (vv. 38, 49)

Messiah/Christ (v. 41)

Son of God (vv. 34, 49)

King of Israel (v. 49)

Son of Man (v. 51)

“Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote” (v. 45).

The appearance of Jesus here is the beginning of revealing what John the Apostle wrote prior when speaking of the Word who became flesh.

This is revealing to us who John was writing about in his prologue.

And John the Baptist would confirm this when he saw Jesus appear to him at the Jordan River.

This brings us into our second point.

2. Jesus revealed (v.29b, 30-31)

Read Verse 29b and said,“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Notice first how John the Baptist announces the appearance of Jesus.

He starts with saying, “behold.”

Behold is used 9 times in the gospel of John.

It literally means to “look, to listen, to pay attention.” This is an imperative call. Meaning that John is commanding people to look and see.

‘look, listen, pay attention, come now, then.’

It has the sense of urgency in it.

It is crucial to his listeners to pay close attention to what he was announcing.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 811.

In fact, John would repeat this in verse 36 as Jesus walked by him.

John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is said with a great sense of urgency. John the Baptist told people to look, to listen and to pay attention because Jesus is the Lamb of God.

In some non-canonical Jewish writings it was thought that the Lamb of God was apocalyptic. Meaning that it was a term to refer to God’s judgement which spoke of the Lamb as triumphant. Which is true and found in Revelation 7.

This might have been what some thought.

The removal of sin would have been about judgement and destruction. Which meant the removal of enemies rather than what is called expiation.

Expiation is the cancellation of sin. The removal of sin.

This point of view meant that the focus would have been more about the removal of enemies than the removal of sin.

John spoke about the judgement to come.

Matthew 3:12 ESV

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

But this is not what John the Baptist was mainly speaking of in this verse.

With Roman oppression happening this would have greatly appealed to people at that time for their freedom.

But this idea is easily debunked by the following part of verse 29.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

The book of Isaiah actually gives us details as to what John the Baptist meant here in Isaiah.

Isaiah 53:7 ESV

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.

He was led to the slaughter and he opened not His mouth. Which speaks of the Lamb as coming to be sacrificed not the Lamb as coming to judge and remove the wicked.

Isaiah 53:7–8 ESV

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. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

This happens later.

This announcement has two things I want to point out.

The announcement here has two things I want to point out.

Isaiah

First, it announced the death of Jesus

John announced “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

The Saviour of the World Chapter III: The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

“Behold the Lamb of God,” cries the Baptist, “which taketh away the sin of the world.” Not, Behold the Prophet like unto Moses, whom ye shall hear; nor yet, Behold the Israelite without guile, in whom meet perfect purity, wisdom and truth; nor even, Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who shall scatter your foes and deliver you from all your enemies. He might have said any one or all of these things. They are all true of Jesus. Christ is our teacher, and our example, and our king. But there is something more fundamental than any of these things; something which underlies them all and from which they acquire their value. And it is this that the Baptist saw in Christ and sends us to Christ to find. “Behold,” says he, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

To Jewish ears who understood this from the Scriptures it would have taken them back to the Passover (Explain).

Jesus during His crucifixion, the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of Jesus and the other two men that were hanging there with Him. They broke the legs of the two hanging with Jesus but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

John 19:31–33 ESV

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

Question: Why?

John 19:36 ESV

36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”

In John 19:36

Which takes us back to , where God gave instructions as to what to do with lambs so that death could passover them.

Exodus 12:46 ESV

46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.

The announcement of Jesus as the Lamb of God was an announcement of His death and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Lambs were used as daily sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem in order to provide

Sins were covered in the Old Testament by sacrifice lambs.

But the death of the Lamb of God would provide a once and done sacrifice that not only would cover sin. But deliver and wash us from sin.

It meant that Jesus the Lamb sacrificed for sin.

It would reconcile us permanently with the Father.

Which brings us to the second sub point John the Baptist announcement of Jesus.

The Second of what it announced was the forgiveness of sins.

Second, it announced the forgiveness of sins.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Lambs were used as daily sacrifices for the sins of God’s people at the temple in Jerusalem ().

Sins were covered in the Old Testament by sacrificing lambs.

But the death of the Lamb of God would provide a once and done sacrifice that not only would cover sin. But deliver and wash us from sin.

It would reconcile us permanently, eternally with the Father.

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

This is how our sins would be taken away. By the means of His own blood.

John the Baptist announced that the sins of the world would be taken away.

Question: Does this mean that the world has had their sin removed when Jesus died?

Answer: No.

Universalism is the belief that everyone will be saved. Whether in this life or in the life to come.

It is clear that the Scriptures do not teach this.

It is clear that the Scripture do not teach this.

Jesus responded to what his disciples asked Him in

Matthew 24:3 ESV

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:3

In talking about the final judgement Jesus said in,

Matthew 25:41 ESV

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Jesus here is responding to what his disciples asked Him in

Matthew 24:3 ESV

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 25:46 ESV

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:41–46 ESV

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:46 ESV

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

So this cannot mean that sins are removed from everyone. If so then there would be no need for judgement.

There will be those whose sins have not been removed.

Question: So what does taking away the sins of the world mean?

A.W.Tozer Devotional

In the Old Testament, the sacrifices and offerings and the poured-out blood of animals were efficacious in ceremonial symbolism. But the death of Jesus Christ was efficacious actually and eternally. (Efficacious is a word theologians like to use; it simply means that it works. It is effective. You can count on it.) When Jesus poured out His blood on Calvary, He guaranteed eternal redemption to all who would put their trust in Him.

First, the atoning work (meaning the work that brought two people who were at odds together) the atoning work of Christ is applied to those who come to saving faith and not to everyone. Because not everyone will believe.

This is why we reject Universalism. There will be those on His left in whom He will judge and cast out.

Taking away the sins of the world cannot mean the removal of sins from every person. It only applies to those who come to saving faith.

The second of what I wanted to point out, is how one comes to saving faith. This is important in order to understand the taking away of sins.

is absolutely clear.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

So salvation is not a work done by us. It is a gift. It is not done by our own doing.

Salvation comes from God sovereign choice.

Answer: No.

Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

God, in His sovereign, eternal plan, chose us for salvation. And salvation is not a work of our own doing. It is a gift of God.

Salvation is not a work of our own doing. It is a gift of God.

So the world here must mean the world in which

So the taking away of sins can only be applied to those who come to saving faith.

And we cannot come to saving faith without God’s grace.

And God gives grace to those in whom He predestined. Which are those who were chosen before the foundation of the world.

We know that not everyone is going to be saved. So the world cannot mean everyone. Only those who come to saving faith.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

John MacArthur explained the use of world in this verse.

The ministry of reconciliation and the benefits of reconciliation are only given to those of saving faith.

Reconciling the world to Himself does not mean that everyone is reconciled. So it is with our passage.

The sins of the world is to be understood to mean those in the world who will; or have come to saving faith by grace.

This is a debate between those of Reformed theology and Arminian Theology. Here in Christ Alone Fellowship we believe and trust in a Sovereign God who will accomplish His will and save those in whom Christ died for.

John the Baptist announced the death of Jesus by calling Him the Lamb of God which by the way was sent and given by the Father.

John the Baptist announced that He would take away the sins of the world. Which only happens to them who come to saving faith.

B.B Warfield when speaking of this verse said,

Kent Hughes said,

The Lamb is our eternal message. Abraham and Isaac prophesied his sacrifice. The Passover applied the principles of his sacrifice. personified his sacrifice. identified the sacrifice. And it is magnified in . The sacrificial death of Christ—this is the essence of our message.

In this context “world” has the connotation of humanity in general, not specifically every person.

John the Baptist was simply a servant who was giving an announcement of salvation through the death of Christ for the forgiveness of sins!

This was the Lamb of God who was with God in the beginning.

Read Verse 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’

Verse 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’

The reason for John baptizing was to reveal this truth to all who had come to be baptized.

Read 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 was given details as to how to confirm who Jesus was.

The purpose to his whole ministry was to reveal Jesus.

The word of the Lord was given to him in the wilderness so that he could confirm Jesus as the Son of God!

3. Jesus confirmed (v.32-34)

Read Verse 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

Read Verse 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.’

We know according to that this was told to John in the wilderness.

In we are given what the Father said about Jesus.

Luke 3:22 ESV

22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

This confirmed that Jesus was the Son of God. This is what John says in verse 34.

Verse 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.’

Read Verse 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Not only was Jesus announced by John as the Lamb of God but the Father announced from heaven that He was His Son. Revealing that this Lamb was not just a sacrifice. But it was God the Son who would offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin!

John bore witness by remembering what was told to Him in the wilderness.

And when He saw and heard who Jesus was, He confirmed Him as the One who would take away the sins of the world.

The truth of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God is the most important truth in all of history. Because it deals with the core problem of man.

The core problem of man is a holy God. Because our sin is deserving of judgement.

Our sin

The wages of sin is death....

Ephesians 2:4–9 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jesus appeared

Titus 3:1–7 ESV

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 ESV

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is why we are here today! And this is why we take of the Lord’s supper. To remember that Jesus is our passover Lamb and that He will come again!

B.B Warfield when speaking of this verse said,

Communion

Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe The Message (vv. 29–37)

Exodus 12:43–51 ESV

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” 50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

The Saviour of the World Chapter III: The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

Kent Hughes said,

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