In times of distress our imagination plays tricks on us! Satan takes advantaqe of that. Oppressed by the Romans, Israel was confused in their hope of the Messiah’s coming. Satan will make even greater confusion concerning the return of Christ in the last days of history. Many will be misled.
So it was that John the Baptist’ s ministry created such a stir throughout Palestine. Many felt he might be the hoped for Deliverer.
“Who are you?” they asked. (John 1:18 and following) Forthrightly, John replies, “I am not the Christ. I am not Elijah come back from the dead. I am only a voice. I am the herald of Christ.”
What a magnificient introduction to Jesus John gives us. Our text is John 1:19-34. As you study these verses, bear in mind that you are viewing a dividing point in all history. The disheartened Jews had all but lost sight of the promises God made them throughout the Old Testament. All their remaining hope centered on the coming Savior. Hearing John teaching and making them ready for Christ caused their long-imprisoned spirits to stir within. How they needed the freedom He could bring!
Jesus our Lord is a wonderful Savior. John gives Him two titles — the Lamb of God and the Son of God. Now, we were not born in time to see Jesus step over the hill and be introduced to Him personally.
Yet, it is written here for all of us to read John’s words, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” verse 29.
I. LAMB OF GOD
“Lamb” is a special title by which Jesus is called. The lamb was the creature used for sacrifice in the Old Testament. The poor man who offered the lamb would be forgiven and would not have to die for his sin. Now, the punishment for sin is exactly death — nothing short of that. “The soul that sinneth, it must die,” says the Lord.
But, God makes the substitute ready — the Lamb of God. “Of God” means one of two things: l) The Lamb belonging to God — the lamb offered to God and for God. Recently the news carried a touching story of volunteers offering to give themselves to replace weakened hostages. They wanted to substitute themselves instead of the others. They said, “If we die, we die, but let these go free. We’ll take their place.” God has allowed only one substitute for sinners — Jesus Christ. Without Him you must die hopeless and apart from God.
Has that transaction happened for you? It is not automatic. Jesus Christ offered Himself to God. He is God’s Lamb. He now offers Himself to you. Will you have him? Make that choice. 2) When our text says Jesus is the Lamb of God, it also means that He came from God. He is God’s Lamb to us, for us, on our behalf. Though the Lamb was offered up to the Father, God was also giving Him. (Read John 3:16.) “Look, the Lamb of God,” said John.
Verse 29 describes what He will do. This Lamb of God will take away the sin of the world. Most of us define sin as the terrible things other people do. Actually, sin is the wrong which we commit — in word, thought, and deed, whether by omission or commission.
Read the commandments and ask, “Have I loved God with all my heart and strength and my neighbor as myself?” That is a big question. Oh, the weight of sin against an infinite God! Consider all the wars, violence, bloodshed, hideous immorality, all sorts of deception and thievery, bribery, dishonesty in individual lives throughout all the villages, towns, nations of the world. The hypocrisy, evil thoughts, sinful deeds of the entire world — throughout all the ages. Behold the one man who bears the sin of the world in His own body on the cross.
So many are like the little child who falls into the mud and tries to hide the stain, keeping in the shadows and even imagining that his clothes are still clean. Finally, however, Mother catches up to him. “What a sight you are!” she gasps. Trying to hide sin and imagining that we are something when we are not is a very destructive practice. It harms us physically and can destroy spiritually. We deceive ourseIves and the truth is not in us. Only the Lamb of God can take away sin. And, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” by the blood of Jesus Christ.
II. SON OF GOD
John changes to a quieter and more reflective tone in verse 34 as he calls Jesus the Son of God. What a contrast! Lamb of God and Son of God. Sacrifice and Savior. Dying — ruling. Humiliation — glory.
In the verses just preceding, John the Baptist explains how he did not at first know who was to be the Savior. He explains that he continued to baptize in obedience to God, looking for the one who was to be the great Deliverer, verse 31. He further mentions that God had ordered him to do this and to be watching for the official sign of the one who was to be Messiah. That sign would be the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Chosen One.
Triumphantly John records, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.” Next he refers to God’s promise that the one receiving the sign of the Spirit “is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” This is followed by John’s conclusion that Jesus is indeed “the Son of God.” (Read verses 33, 34.) Here then is an important truth:
All who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God will receive the Holy Spirit. It is not enough merely to accept Jesus as the Lamb of God to take away sin but we must worship Him as the Son of God who gives the Spirit of God.
We must be freed from sin and filled with the Holy Spirit or the Christian life will simply be too much for us. The Lamb of God settles our guilt and the Son of God gives His Spirit to make us like Him — a new strength of character.
Perhaps soon you will be gathered again at the communion table. I fear that some have put their feet under the devil’s table. It is awkward, then, to approach God’s table. However, the good news is that the Lamb of God takes away sin. God is ready to cleanse and refresh those who repent and claim Jesus as Savior and Lord. He wants to fill each one with the Spirit and give them confidence and new hope in their hearts. All this is for you today. Claim it.