Great I AMਨਮੂਨਾ

Behold The Lamb Of God

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, his immediate response was to exclaim, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29 ESV). The very next day, as Jesus walked past, the response from John was the same, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36 ESV). This expression, used by John, is unique to this gospel (it appears nowhere else in scripture), and it provokes some questions: what was meant by it, and why was it applied to Jesus?

For some, perhaps familiar with the pages of the Old Testament, this expression and image may bring to mind the Lamb provided by God to Abraham in Genesis 22, the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12, and, perhaps most notably of all, the Lamb of Isaiah 53 who is led to slaughter for the sins of God’s people. In each and all of these, we note some important aspects.

Firstly, the source of the Lamb is God himself. He provides the Lamb (Gen 22:8 and 13). It is indeed the Lamb of God because it is the Lamb from God.

Secondly, the Lamb is our substitute who bears the burden of human sin. He “poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors” (Is 53:12 ESV)–a scripture quoted directly by Jesus himself as he affirmed explicitly that it “must be fulfilled in me” (Luke 22:37 ESV).

Thirdly, the Lamb is a sacrifice. He was in every way “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter” (Is 53:7 ESV) for he was, “pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Is 53:5a ESV).

All of this points, fourthly and finally, to the significance of the Lamb. As the substitutionary sacrifice for us, he, “the righteous one,” will “make many to be accounted righteous” (Is 53:11 ESV). In other words, “upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Is 53:5b ESV). And this salvation is so broad and generous in scope that John the Baptist completes his first exclamation as he looked at Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” with these purpose-filled words, “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 ESV). The forgiveness and restoration found in Jesus are available for everyone everywhere.

It is therefore no surprise to find the New Testament apostles erupting in praise and worship that the “… Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor 5:7 ESV), with the result that we have been ransomed “with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:9 ESV). All of this points to the hope we have in Jesus. For this “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb 9:28 ESV).

That is why John the Baptist, as he gazed upon Jesus the Christ, spoke with such prophetic clarity: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 ESV).

Written by Dr. Haydn D Nelson

Senior Lecturer & Teaching Pastor, Hillsong Church

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