Recognition of the Incarnate Word. John 1:29-34 Just the day after John the Baptist told the Jewish leaders he was not the Messiah but was the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, he saw Jesus coming toward him. There was excitement in his voice as he called on everyone present to look earnestly at the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether John knew the Lord Jesus before His baptism is not recorded, but we know that on this day, Jesus came to John to be publicly identified as the true sacrificial Lamb of God, who fulfilled all the sacrifices made before. John did not say, "Behold your King," nor did he say, "Behold the Mighty Conqueror." Instead, he pointed out the Lord Jesus as the Lamb, chosen by God, approved by God, and now in the flesh. "The Word" was here to be seen and approved by men. Still, even though many saw and heard Him, many did not accept Him.
“The Lamb of God” are specific sacrificial words that the Jews understood clearly. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood was applied to the top and sides of the doors of the Israelites in Egypt, John said the Lamb of God, the divine Lamb, would do this for all humanity. Payment for sin involves the sacrifice of an innocent, perfect Person who gave His blood as an atonement for our souls. That was the purpose, the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ when He came to earth.
He accomplished that mission, and the Holy God accepted His sacrifice, which redeemed the world from sin. This makes it possible for anyone who responds to Him in repentance toward God and puts their faith in Christ to experience forgiveness of sins and salvation from the consequences of sin. As our sacrifice for sin, He puts away sin, cleanses us from all sin by His blood, and bears away the sin of the world so that all can be saved.
“Behold the Lamb of God” is not just a casual glance at the One who approached John at the Jordan River. He appeared much like any other man. The second time, John said that he observed each step He took, and the deliberate steps after His baptism seemed to speak loudly to him. When a person aligns themselves with either a man or a cause, the steps they take, the words they speak, and the destinations they pursue reveal a goal beyond simply pleasing people. To look carefully at such a person reveals the significance of their testimony. Any sacrifice I might make needs to be taken seriously when the object of our life is Christ and it is visible to others. These are more than casual strolls or fleeting words meant to be noticed if those watching see a change from what has been seen before. When those men with John saw Jesus, they changed their course and followed Him to see where He lived.
I wonder if some people who watch me will ask whether others believe I was sent to make a real difference and if my words will reveal the truth. I have had some people, at times, ask why I don’t do certain things that others around me do, and they seem to think nothing of it. Maybe if, in some way, they can see Jesus and the joy He brings to me, they will follow Him. That would make the work of my life worthwhile.
John had seen the Spirit of God come and settle on the Lord like a dove after he baptized Jesus. John clarified his role by saying he baptized people with water because of their repentance, but the Lord Jesus Christ would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. This happened on Pentecost, fifty days after the Lord rose from the dead. The Lamb of God was here to take away the sin of the world. He opened the way for all people everywhere to repent and be saved. He was also here to baptize those who believed in Him with the Holy Spirit and to add them to the Body of Christ, which is the Church. John was a humble man who knew who he was and recognized that the Lord Jesus Christ was "before" him in both rank and eternal existence. He now knew for sure that Jesus was the Son of God. There was now no doubt about who his earthly cousin was.
When we share the Gospel with the world, we must clearly show the listeners that, as sinners by nature, we need a substitute to come to God. For generations, symbols and shadows have pointed to the need for a sinless substitute. Lambs, bullocks, goats, pigeons, and doves were all sinless alternatives. Now, the true meaning of these symbols is that Jesus is among us as one of our own, yet sinless because of who He is and how God sent Him.
Born of a virgin, free from Adam's sin-nature and in His sinless purity as the Lamb God provided for us, He could eliminate sin forever by bearing it and its consequences on Himself. Through His death, He conquered sin and death. Now, everyone who accepts Him personally benefits from His sacrifice. The price of sin has been paid in full, and each person who approaches Him in faith can receive forgiveness.
The sign of the Holy Spirit was a testimony of God's approval of the Lamb He provided. God had given John evidence that Jesus was from Him, even though John probably knew or had heard about Him. When Jesus was baptized, John was confident that He was the true Messiah because God had told him about the Spirit remaining on Him, and he saw this happen when, like a dove resting on Jesus, the Spirit came. Now, he was sure that Jesus was the Son of God.
Our testimony to people is only effective when the Holy Spirit's work is unhindered. We have been baptized in the Spirit, and when a genuine sense of humility and faith is evident in us, the Spirit of God can work through us and bring blessings to others. John's ministry was short but effective. The length of life on earth isn't a crucial part of our work here. The quality of it is more important than the quantity.