the Lamb of God

 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 ESV

The great proclamation of John the baptist! The whole purpose of John's ministry was coming to it's fulfillment when Jesus came walking toward him that day. John had been preaching to Israel about Jesus coming and had been preparing the way for Jesus, he said "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." John1:23 John was testifying that prophesy was being fulfilled.

Think of the significance of that moment, God's plan for man's salvation was falling into place. The messiah that God had promised is now there. Four hundred years of silence on God's behalf and now the “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” is walking toward him.

We can look back in John chapter one and see that His own people didn't recognize Him. Even after John's proclamation those that had claimed to be followers of God did not know Him, even when He was right before their eyes. We can look back and say, why didn't more people see who Jesus was.

When the apostle John makes this statement about Jesus; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV He is looking back in retrospect. He is talking about the facts, after the fact of Jesus appearance. As he was writing his gospel he was writing about what he had witnessed. He now had clear hindsight of who Jesus was. Even the apostles didn't really understand who Jesus was until after His death, burial and resurrection. So, we shouldn't be too hard on the average Jew in the time of Jesus earthly ministry.

We should however be eternally grateful for the gospel accounts of the appearance of Jesus and the fulfillment of God's plan to reconcile man with Himself. The purpose of the Gospels is to show the world who Jesus is. Let's read the gospels and get to understand for ourselves the facts about Jesus. Then we too can proclaim with great confidence. “Look this is Jesus (the Lamb of God), he came to take away the sin of the world!” We can help others to see that the sin of the world includes their sins. They too can have forgiveness of their sins if they believe in Jesus and are obedient to His commands.

Read all of John chapter one today and see anew Jesus as He begins to reach out to the world of lost souls. See God fulfilling His promises. See Jesus, really see Him! Remember what He has done for you and determine to share that with others.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman