John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
In yesterday’s New Testament One Year Bible reading the Apostle John announced Jesus as the Word. In today’s reading John the Baptist announces Him as the Lamb of God. The next day John the Baptist sees Jesus again and announces a second time, “Behold the Lamb of God” (v.36).
Those who understood Jewish law knew what the lamb was for. The blood of the lamb atoned for sin. Jesus had not yet been revealed to the public yet and John is announcing His death. This was the mission, the purpose for the Son of God to come into the world—to take away its sin. The Son becomes the Lamb.
The phrase “takes away” is very important in our verse today. It means to lift off or carry away. You and I are not meant to carry the weight of sin. It is too demanding, too heavy and too wearisome. Are you tired because sin has taken a toll on your life? You need carry it no longer. The old song says, “at the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away…” Your burden of sin can roll away. Don’t let it bend you over any longer. Ask Jesus to forgive you and wash you and come into your life today. You will indeed feel a load lifted. There is but one remedy for our sin problem…”Behold! The Lamb of God…”