Episode 426 - Show Notes
- What an interesting statement! He announces Jesus as the lamb of God, that in itself was strange, but he goes on to make this bold claim: he is the one who takes away the sin of the world. John, of course, was prophesying Jesus’ death on our behalf that would come three years later.
- To understand John’s announcement of Jesus we have to go back to the Old Testament, in fact, we need to go all the way back to the Book of Genesis. In chapter three we see that when Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover their sin themselves by sewing leaves together to wear. But God had to kill an animal Himself and shed its blood in order to provide an acceptable covering for Adam and Eve. This led to the sacrificial system throughout the Old Testament by which the wrath of God against sin could be satisfied.
- Each year, Israelites sacrificed a lamb as payment for their sins. The sacrifice did not completely forgive and remove their sins, but it did push it forward one year. Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
- The Old Testament sacrificial system was one of always looking forward. The people lived with anticipation of a Messiah. They lived in anticipation of complete forgiveness of their sins by God.
- And then came the day when John the Baptist announces Jesus as the lamb of God. He is boldly saying, “Everyone, this is what we have been waiting for. Our salvation has finally come.”'
- On the cross, John’s words come to prove to be true. Jesus, the sinless lamb of God, would be slain. He would become our sacrifice. He would be our substitute. Jesus would die in our place. The justice of a righteous and holy God would be satisfied. Sin would be accounted for. The payment had been paid.
John 1:29 - “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 John 2:2 says, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Revelation 5:9 says, “By your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
5Minute Discipleship.com
