A Study of John's Gospel: Pt. 6 Christ is Son of God and Lamb of God!

Good morning

John 1:30  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me. 

John the Baptist points to Christ the Lamb of God.

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 




This is a most remarkable statement. John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him to be baptized by him and he used the word "Behold." This word is always meant to capture our attention so that we notice what comes next. In this case, the Baptist tells us when he sees Jesus that He is the Lamb of God. 

Why is this so important? Because it points out the central mission of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His primary mission was to live a life of perfect obedience to God's law and then to pay for the sins of all humanity by His death, burial and resurrection.  

From Genesis 3 to the end of the Old Testament there is a trail of blood from countless numbers of animals sacrificed to cover people's sins. If the people around John the Baptist stopped to "Behold" Christ as he said, they might have understood that a better sacrifice was going to be made. 

Jesus was going to fulfill the plan of redemption that the Godhead set in place before the foundation of the world. Jesus would be that Lamb who would die to pay for all sins. 

1 Peter 1:18-21  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

Peter highlights Christ as the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. Jesus lived a perfect life and like an animal approved for sacrifice, He had not spot or blemish. His death was set in motion before the world was made and before sin entered the world.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

Christ would be made known to the Baptist.

John 1:30-31  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

The witness of John the Baptist goes on to tell us that he did not know who Christ was until the moment that Jesus came to him. The Baptist was told by God that the Christ would be made manifest to him while he was offering the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

The word "manifest" means to make known, visible, or exposed to view. It means to thoroughly understand and be plainly recognized. God told John the Baptist that He would make the Messiah known to him in tangible ways. 

John tells us that Jesus is the Son of God!

John 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

John the Baptist had to depend upon God to work all the details out. The text tells us that the Baptist saw the Spirit of God descend from heaven in the form of a dove that abides on Jesus Christ. 

The Baptist was specifically told that the man on whom the Spirit of God descended and remained was the very man who would baptize with the Holy Ghost. 

Then, the Baptist tells his listeners that Jesus is the Son of God. This is another key point of emphasis for the gospel of John. This is also important because many heresies emerged in the first few centuries of the church that denied the deity of Jesus Christ. The Baptist let everyone know that this man Jesus was the Son of God!

John 1:35-36  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 

The very next day John the Baptist stood ready to baptize with two of his disciples. He saw Jesus coming as said to the two disciples, "Behold the Lamb of God." Thus, we see that John the Baptist provided a strong testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Timothy 3:15-16  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

This text from the Apostle Paul reminds us just how vital the doctrine of Christ the Lamb of God and the son of God is. Paul reminds young Timothy that the church of Jesus Christ is to be an immovable pillar that is the supporting foundation for truth. 

Paul reminded Timothy and those living today that Jesus Christ being the Son of God and Son of Man is controversial. Many heresies have sprung up since the church began 2000 years ago and they almost always center on whether Christ is God or not. 

Reading this text is just like reading what John the Baptist said. There can be no doubt what these men meant.  Paul said "God was manifested in the flesh" and John the Baptist said " The Son of God" and  "The Lamb of God."


Thoughts to Ponder...

John's gospel gives us many important details about the preaching of John the Baptist. The Baptist pointed out truth about Christ that John the apostle used as major themes in His gospel.

First, Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. This means that all of the animal sacrifices were pictures that pointed to this perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. He was going to do something that had never been done. Jesus was going to live a perfect life of obedience according to the law of God. 

Jesus Christ would become the perfect sacrifice to die in our place on the cross. The blood of Jesus would be sufficient to pay for all of humanities sins for all time (See Hebrews 9:11-28; Hebrews 10:10-12). 

Second, Jesus is the Son of God. His sacrifice means nothing if He was not truly the Son of God. 

John's gospel was written that we might believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. His record of what John the Baptist said shows us two compelling reasons to believe on Jesus. He is the Son of God and He is the Lamb of God. He will save you if you call upon Him in repentant faith. Are you believing on Jesus Christ?

Bob