John 1:29 Lamb of God - For The Glory of Jesus

Print or Share

Lamb of God

The next day when John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching. He said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

John 1:29-42

29. The Lamb of God [NKJV] “A lamb was used as a sacrifice during Passover (Exodus 12:1-36); a lamb was led to the slaughter in the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:7); a lamb was offered in the daily sacrifices of Israel (Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:1-8; cf. Hebrews 10:5-7).” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1349)

“John the Baptist used this expression as a reference to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross to atone for the sins of the world, a theme which John the apostle carries throughout his writing (19:36; cf. Revelation 5:1-6; 7:17; 17:14) and that appears in other NT writings (e.g., 1 Peter 1:19).” (MacArthur, 1349)

“At Passover, each family had to have a lamb, and during the years, two lambs a day were sacrificed at the temple altar, plus all the other lambs were brought for personal sacrifices. Those Lambs were brought by men to men, but here is God’s Lamb, given by God to men! Those lambs could not take away sin, but the Lamb of God can take away sin. Those lambs were for Israel alone, but this Lamb would shed His blood for the whole world.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 287)

30. This refers to John 1:27

I did not know Him

31. I did not know Him. “Although John was Jesus’ cousin, he did not know Jesus as the ‘Coming One’ or Messiah’ (v. 30).” (MacArthur, 1349)

John the Baptist wanted Jesus to be known so he went and starting baptizing!

32. The Spirit descending [NKJV]. “God had previously communicated to John that this sign was to indicate the promised Messiah (v. 33); so when John witnessed this act, he was able to identify the Messiah as Jesus (cf. Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22).” (MacArthur, 1350)

“What does John’s baptism have to do with Jesus as the Lamb of God? It is generally agreed by scholars of all denominations that, in the New Testament, baptism was by immersion. It pictured death, burial, resurrection. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Jesus and John were picturing the ‘baptism’ Jesus would endure on the cross when He would die as the sacrificial Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:7; Luke 12:50). It would be through death, burial, and resurrection that the Lamb of God would fulfill all righteousness’ (Matthew 3:15).” (Wiersbe,287)

33. John did not know who Jesus was, but the Holy Spirit told him Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit [NKJV].

It was by the Spirit descending on Jesus that John the Baptist knew who Jesus is.

34. John saw the dove descend on Jesus and has seen and testified that this is the Son of God [NKJV].

John’s Disciples

35. The next day John was standing with two of his disciples.

36. John saw Jesus and said, Behold the Lamb of God!

37. When these two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

“They eventually dedicated their lives to Him as true disciples and apostles when Jesus called them to permanent service after these events (Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; Mark 1:16-20).” (MacArthur, 1350)

“The two disciples of John who followed Jesus were John, the writer of the gospel, and his friend Andrew. John the Baptist was happy when people left him to follow Jesus, because his ministry focused on Jesus (John 3:30).” (Wiersbe, 288)

38-39. “When Jesus asked them, ‘What are you seeking?’ He was forcing them to define their purposes and goals.” (Wiersbe, 288)

“‘Where are you dwelling?’ may have suggested, ‘if you are too busy now, we can visit later.’ But Jesus invited them to spend the day with Him (it was 10 a.m.), and no doubt He told them something of His mission revealed their own hearts to them, and answered their questions.” (Wiersbe, 288)

40. “One of these two who had been disciples of John the Baptist was Andrew, and they very first thing that he does is to go after his own brother, Simon.” (McGee, 376)

We have found the Messiah

41. Andrew told Simon, “We have found the Messiah” [NKJV].

42. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus.

“Simon’s interview with Jesus changed his life. It also gave him a new name—Peter in the Greek, Cephas in the Aramaic that Jesus spoke—both of which mean ‘a rock.” (Wiersbe, 288)

“The term ‘Cephas’ means ‘rock’ in Aramaic which is translated ‘Peter’ in Greek. Jesus’ assignment of the name ‘Cephas’ or ‘Peter’ to Simon occurred at the onset of his ministry (cf. Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:16). The statement not only is predictive of what Peter would be called but also declarative of how Jesus would transform his character and use him in relationship to the foundation of the church (cf. 21:18-19; Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:14-4:32).” (MacArthur, 1351)

“Jesus had to explain even to His own followers that the cross had to come before the crown, that He must suffer before He could enter into His glory (Luke 24:13-35).” (Wiersbe, 288)

Do you believe in Jesus?

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

John the Baptist Nathanael

Print or Share