Early in the Gospel of John, we read of the very first time John the Baptist laid eyes on Jesus. As Jesus was approaching, John cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29,34) John encouraged his listeners to “Behold!” Behold or look up and pay attention, because beholding with your eyes is the gateway to beholding with your heart. We are to behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
Why does John refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God? A lamb was the sacrifice for sin. John’s Jewish audience was very aware that having your sins forgiven, involved a sacrifice and the shedding of blood. The lamb represented a sacrifice for sin. Some of you might recall, that blood of the lamb was applied to the lintel and doorposts to save the households of God’s people from the plague of death of all firstborn. But all the firstborn of the Egyptians households died, because the blood of the lamb was not present.
But now, Behold! Jesus, the Lamb of God, has come. The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Jesus removes sin, as far as the east is from the west. Anyone in the world who trusts in Jesus can be saved, but not everyone will be saved. As sin is worldwide, so Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for anyone anywhere at any time, anyone who trusts in Christ. No restrictions are imposed, whatever your ethnicity, sex, age, whether you are a citizen or illegal alien. Anyone can be saved.
No ordinary human being could have taken away the sin of the world. But the Lamb of God is far from ordinary! In Jesus, we find everything we need.
What would happen if we beheld the Lamb of God today? What would happen in our life if we fixed our eyes and attention on Jesus Christ? The Lamb of God sees you and everyone. He is very aware of all that is going on. And “Yes”, he has the power and might to do something about what he sees.
Much later in his life, the Apostle John would again write of this image of Jesus, the Lamb of God. When John was locked up on an island, God granted him a marvelous vision of heaven and a revelation of things to come. It is recorded for us in Revelation Chapter 5. “I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. And they sang a new song (to him). ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” Behold, the Lamb of God!
