Lent Day 2 : The Lamb of God (John 1:29-34)
Lent Day 2
John 1:29-34
The Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'
31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Son."
◇ The Jews were eagerly waiting for the Messiah. They longed for a Savior to rescue them from the Romans, from the Gentiles. Then, a man appeared in the wilderness calling for repentance and baptizing. This was John. However, he declared he was neither the Christ nor Elijah. He claimed he was unworthy to untie the sandals of the one who was to come. When Jesus approached John to be baptized, John exclaimed, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John baptized him, and as Jesus came up from the water, John saw the Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus' head. And John proclaimed that he was indeed the Son of God. This was Jesus.
When John first saw Jesus, he declared him to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Lamb of God! To John, the end of Jesus' journey was clear. The fate of a sin-bearing lamb was death. The lamb was to shed blood and be offered as a sacrifice in place of human sin. It was also served on the table for the Passover meal. The ultimate fate of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is death. Jesus was to die for the sins of humanity. Through the lamb, people receive forgiveness and are restored as God's people.
What might have gone through John's heart when he received the revelation that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? How did John feel when he saw the Spirit descending upon Jesus? As he witnessed this sight so clearly before his eyes, what were John's emotions as he proclaimed the one destined to die like a lamb to be the Son of God? And what about the people who heard John's cry? Was John's announcement a joy to those who were waiting for a Messiah to deliver them from Rome?
Turning our gaze to Jesus, he hears the sudden cry of John as he comes to be baptized: that he is the Lamb. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Jesus knew very well what being the Lamb meant. Hearing John's cry about his impending, gruesome death, what might have filled Jesus' heart? "You will be sacrificed for the sins of the world!" - what emotions overwhelmed Jesus upon hearing this?
If I were among the crowd hearing John's proclamation, could I accept Jesus as the Messiah who would save us? If I were Jesus, could I be willing to be sacrificed brutally like the lamb for the sake of others?
God, open my eyes! Grant me the vision to see Your good plan! Give me a heart of obedience! Instill in me the will to obey Your good and righteous plan! Make me a herald like John the Baptist, and a disciple who follows Jesus! Holy Spirit, lead me into all truth!
John 1:29-34
The Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'
31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Son."
◇ The Jews were eagerly waiting for the Messiah. They longed for a Savior to rescue them from the Romans, from the Gentiles. Then, a man appeared in the wilderness calling for repentance and baptizing. This was John. However, he declared he was neither the Christ nor Elijah. He claimed he was unworthy to untie the sandals of the one who was to come. When Jesus approached John to be baptized, John exclaimed, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John baptized him, and as Jesus came up from the water, John saw the Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus' head. And John proclaimed that he was indeed the Son of God. This was Jesus.
When John first saw Jesus, he declared him to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Lamb of God! To John, the end of Jesus' journey was clear. The fate of a sin-bearing lamb was death. The lamb was to shed blood and be offered as a sacrifice in place of human sin. It was also served on the table for the Passover meal. The ultimate fate of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is death. Jesus was to die for the sins of humanity. Through the lamb, people receive forgiveness and are restored as God's people.
What might have gone through John's heart when he received the revelation that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? How did John feel when he saw the Spirit descending upon Jesus? As he witnessed this sight so clearly before his eyes, what were John's emotions as he proclaimed the one destined to die like a lamb to be the Son of God? And what about the people who heard John's cry? Was John's announcement a joy to those who were waiting for a Messiah to deliver them from Rome?
Turning our gaze to Jesus, he hears the sudden cry of John as he comes to be baptized: that he is the Lamb. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Jesus knew very well what being the Lamb meant. Hearing John's cry about his impending, gruesome death, what might have filled Jesus' heart? "You will be sacrificed for the sins of the world!" - what emotions overwhelmed Jesus upon hearing this?
If I were among the crowd hearing John's proclamation, could I accept Jesus as the Messiah who would save us? If I were Jesus, could I be willing to be sacrificed brutally like the lamb for the sake of others?
God, open my eyes! Grant me the vision to see Your good plan! Give me a heart of obedience! Instill in me the will to obey Your good and righteous plan! Make me a herald like John the Baptist, and a disciple who follows Jesus! Holy Spirit, lead me into all truth!