Good morning!
As we walk through this time leading up to Easter, I feel urgency to know my Savior more deeply. How about you?
We had a sermon a few years ago at Berean that really brought this into focus for me. I want to share a little bit of how it touched me…the sermon focused on these verses but in particular on verse 29.
John 1:28-34…
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Behold, the Lamb of God
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[a] of God.”
Looking at verse 29 here, we see John the Baptist reacting to the presence of Jesus. And what does he declare? I imagine John is not just matter of fact here but almost yelling this out in a loud voice – in typed fashion this would be in capital letters (just saying...) – BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD! What jumps out from this short statement? Several things to note here.
All of this is important for us to know – and all of this can lead us to a deeper relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. But as for me this Lent as I walk towards celebrating Jesus death and resurrection…I am going to focus on the word BEHOLD because I do not want to miss how important this one verse, verse 29 is in knowing Jesus. It reminds me that on the Cross on Good Friday, Jesus Christ declared in fulfillment of this verse, “It is finished!”. So BEHOLD for yourself, know that it is finished if only we accept His perfect gift freely given for each of us.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we stop and indeed truly BEHOLD You, Our Savior and what you did on the Cross and through the resurrection! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
As we walk through this time leading up to Easter, I feel urgency to know my Savior more deeply. How about you?
We had a sermon a few years ago at Berean that really brought this into focus for me. I want to share a little bit of how it touched me…the sermon focused on these verses but in particular on verse 29.
John 1:28-34…
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Behold, the Lamb of God
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[a] of God.”
Looking at verse 29 here, we see John the Baptist reacting to the presence of Jesus. And what does he declare? I imagine John is not just matter of fact here but almost yelling this out in a loud voice – in typed fashion this would be in capital letters (just saying...) – BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD! What jumps out from this short statement? Several things to note here.
- John calls out Sin as an issue that needs addressing – not just for an individual but for the whole world.
- There is a price for Sin - wages of Sin is death
- Sin should be a concern for each of us – our eternal home is tied to Sin - Heaven and Hell
- There is an answer to Sin
- Sin can be removed.
- There is a person who can remove Sin
- That person is Jesus.
- Jesus is the Lamb of God – those hearing this would understand the reference of Jesus as the Lamb of God to mean Jesus is perfect sacrifice for Sin. They would see the reference and know John is talking about substitutionary atonement, although most would not have understood that Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice for them and for you and I.
- And finally John is asking those present and us today to BEHOLD!!!!! Not just look and see – but meaning “do not miss this”, “this is most important so grasp what you are seeing”, or “pay attention as this is life or death for you to get”
All of this is important for us to know – and all of this can lead us to a deeper relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. But as for me this Lent as I walk towards celebrating Jesus death and resurrection…I am going to focus on the word BEHOLD because I do not want to miss how important this one verse, verse 29 is in knowing Jesus. It reminds me that on the Cross on Good Friday, Jesus Christ declared in fulfillment of this verse, “It is finished!”. So BEHOLD for yourself, know that it is finished if only we accept His perfect gift freely given for each of us.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we stop and indeed truly BEHOLD You, Our Savior and what you did on the Cross and through the resurrection! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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