"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:29
In this passage from the Gospel of John, we see John the Baptist baptizing people with water, but denying that he was Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. John the Baptist had been told that the person on whom the Spirit came down from Heaven as a dove and remained would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. So when he saw the dove land and remain on Jesus, he knew that Jesus was the one: "I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Interestingly, John the Baptist calls Jesus "the Lamb of God." Sheep were the most important domestic animals in those days, providing meat, milk, fat, hides, wool, and horns. They were precious to their owners and their families, who would do their best to keep them safe and seek them out when they were lost and return them to the fold; yet sometimes these sheep were sacrificed as offerings.
This passage reminds me of the words of the song, "There is a Redeemer":
There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own son, Precious lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Jesus my Redeemer, Name above all names, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Oh, for sinners slain.
Thank you, oh my Father, For giving us your son, And leaving your Spirit, 'til the work on earth is done.
We humans are all sinners. Jesus, God's precious lamb, was without sin. Yet, he gave his life for our sins so we could have eternal life. To me, this knowledge is overwhelming!
Marjie Mack
