The Lamb!

The Lamb!

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! [Exod. 12:3; Isa. 53:7.] John 1:29 AMPC

The Context and Focus:

It is very important to look at the context from which today's verse is taken. The book of John starts with an amazing tribute to the nature, identity and purpose of Jesus. There is a reference to his eternal power; one who has been God before the earth as we see it now even came to be. This is the God who made all things, and for whose pleasure all things were created. Jesus was sent to the earth in human form to pay the price for the sin of the whole world. If he came in all His glory, we could have distracted him from submitting to the purpose of the Father, but because he came humbly, even to the point of being born in a manger because there was no room for him anywhere else, we did not regard him as anyone important. In fact, the world at the time rejected him, arrested him and put him to death. Only a few people, including men he called disciples, believed in Him and followed him closely. Do not be moved by the outward; do not be fooled by that which men applaud. Labour for that which is eternal.

The Message:

John the Baptist was one of such men. He had the ministry of pointing men to the saving grace of Jesus. He stayed on course, even when the Pharisees would try and distract him. They wanted to know who he was, because he was quite popular. It was said of him that though he was in the desert, eating locusts and wild honey, and dressed in camel's hair, men came from all over the towns and cities, confessing their sins and being baptised. Of course, the leaders of the time would not let anyone take their place in the hearts of the people. Here was a new wave sweeping through the land, and was attracting a lot of attention. However, try as hard as they could, John the Baptist would not claim to be what he was not. Some called him the prophet Elijah, or one of the other prophets, but he was quick to point men back to the One on whose behalf he was at work. For me also, the is now come for me to focus on the assignment I have been given in these end times. This is not the season to seek the applause or approval of men, but like John, to point men to the One who can save from death and guarantee eternal life with God. 

The Conclusion:

Like John then, so would I need to speak up now. There is no popularity contest to win; all that matters is that Jesus is glorified in and through me. John was quite popular, and this was the reason why the leaders of his time just wanted him to declare he was the Christ. Others could have made such claims, as some have done in the past, and are still doing today. John knew and stayed in his calling, and it is not a wonder that he was privileged to be the one to announce to the world the coming of Christ. He took that job with joy, and as soon as Jesus appeared where he was, he made the declaration in today's verse, and in that single statement, he declared the name, identity, mission and impact of Jesus. He is called the Lamb of God, because he went to the cross willingly,  and paid the price for my sin. At this time, he was the Lamb, and till today, like the Lamb, the blood that was shed on the cross still remains valid. One day comes soon when the efficacy of the blood will no longer work the way it does, not because it has lost its power, but because it is too late. The Lamb has been introduced; I have a decision to make, and make I must, before it is too late. The price been fully paid; will I take hold of the prize? God's time of favour is here.