Lamb of God (1:29–34)

Lamb of God (1:29–34)
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The apostle John wrote this passage on the second day of the week. Some of the same people were probably there to hear John the Baptist's message. He called Jesus "the Lamb of God" this time, and he would say the same thing again the next day (John 1:35–36). This title sums up the message of the Bible in a very special way. The Old Testament asks, "Where is the lamb?" (Gen. 22:7). "Behold the Lamb of God!" is the main point of the four gospels. Here He is! "Worthy is the Lamb" (Rev. 5:12) is what you sing with the heavenly choir after you trust Him.

People in Israel knew about lambs for sacrifices. During Passover, each family had to have a lamb. The temple altar was used to sacrifice two lambs a day, plus all the other lambs that were brought for personal sacrifices. Men brought those lambs to other men, but God gave this Lamb to men! The lambs couldn't take away sin, but the Lamb of God can. Those lambs were only for Israel, but this Lamb would die for everyone!

What does John's baptism have to do with Jesus being the Lamb of God? Most Bible teachers agree that baptism in the New Testament was done by immersion. It showed death, burial, and resurrection. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, both Jesus and John were thinking about the "baptism" Jesus would go through on the cross when He died as the Lamb of God (Isa. 53:7; Luke 12:50). The Lamb of God would "fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15) by dying, being buried, and rising again.

Maybe John was a bit confused. John may have been uncertain that Jesus of Nazareth was the Lamb of God or the Son of God. But the Father made it clear to John who Jesus is when the Spirit came down like a dove and landed on Him. What a lovely picture of the Trinity!