Jesus The Lamb of God
December 4, 2020
Commentary
The baptism of Jesus is not recorded in John’s Gospel, but John testifies that he had been told by God that when the sign of the dove would occur, the person so marked would be “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (v.29). John goes on to explain that a man is coming after him who is far greater than he is, for He existed long before him (v. 30). He says, “I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel” (v. 31).
Perhaps John was not sure that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, but the Father made it clear to him who Jesus was by sending the Spirit like a dove to light on Him (vv. 32-33). This was certainly a beautiful picture of the trinity. John saw this happen to Jesus, so he testified that He was the chosen one of God (v. 34).
We have in these verses an account of John’s testimony concerning Jesus Christ, which he witnessed to his own disciples that followed him. As soon as Christ was baptized, he was immediately hurried into the wilderness, to be tempted; and there he was forty days. During his absence John had continued to bear testimony to him, and to tell the people of him; but now at last he sees Jesus coming to him, returning from the wilderness of temptation. As soon as that conflict was over Christ immediately returned to John who was preaching and baptizing.
Application
John gave a clear testimony that Jesus was truly the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world. I need to be giving a clear testimony of who Jesus is, what He has done for me, and what He wants to do for all who will put their trust in Him. It is good to begin with the simple gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Cor.15:1-4). Then proceed to the sin problem and how God deals with that (Rom. 3:23, Rom 6:23, Rom. 5:8 and Rom. 10:9-10). It needs to be made clear that we must repent of our sin (Luke 13:3,6) and invite Jesus into our heart and life (John 1:12).
John 1:29– 34 (NET)
29 On 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 about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”