The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'   I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

John identifies Jesus as the “Lamb of God”. That was significant to his hearers. The Jews know all about the significance of lambs. They were used not only for food and clothing, but for sacrifices. They were sacrificed to atone for sin.

The practice of Passover was to remind them of the night when a lamb was killed, the blood was placed on the doorpost of the house, and the death angel passed over the houses protected by the blood of the lamb. They ate to prepare for their journey out of slavery to the promised land.

When John made his statement, it was not that Jesus took away the sins of the world but sin (singular). The curse of disobedience and the punishment for sin causes the suffering we all experience. As a sacrificial lamb Jesus is a substitute for us. He is sacrificed for our sinful position placing us apart from a Holy God. Pointing the cross Jesus endures God’s wrath.  That punishment is received for our freedom.  

John becomes a good example of a witness. He began telling his story and moves into telling Jesus’ story. He moves to focus from himself to the importance of the encounter with Jesus. He is anticipating there is one sent from God who takes away sin.        

Who needs sin removed? Lambs of the Old Testament just covered sin. Jesus the perfect one from God removes it.        

Application:   People needed to hear that then. They need to hear that today. Who do you need to tell that to today.  

Prayer:   Lord, show me today who I need to tell this to.   Help me to share this in clarity and prepare the heart of the people who need to hear it with no focus on myself.   

Dale