Look, the Lamb of God!
John 1:19-34
Key Verse 29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Previously, we studied Apostle John’s testimony concerning Jesus. Jesus became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Jesus is full of glory, the glory of the One and Only, full of grace and truth. Today, we will study John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus:
Jesus is eternal (15, 30)
Jesus is worthy of all (27)
Jesus is the Lamb of God (29)
Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit (33)
Jesus is the Son of God (34)
We need to listen what John the Baptist has to say about Jesus because his testimony is from God (33).
I pray that God may help us to see Jesus who is the Lamb of God. Amen.
1. Read verses 19-22.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:19-22 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
Who was John the Baptist? (Mat 3:1-10)
ANSWER:
Mat 3:1-10 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
He was the last OT prophet.
His message: John the Baptist delivered the message of repentance (Mat 3:2).
Baptism: People around Judea came to him to be baptized in the Jordan River. (Mat 3:5-6)
Disciple making ministry: Young people followed him and became his disciples in order to learn from him.
Because of his powerful message and influence, some people started thinking that he might be the Messiah (Luk 3:15). At that time, the people of Israel were waiting for a political Messiah (2Sa 7:12-13) and believed that, before the Messiah, Elijah would come and do some kind of ceremonial washing to prepare them (Mal 4:5-6). Due to John’s popularity, the Jews sent priests and Levites to find out who he was.
Why did the priests and Levites want to know who John was? (19, 22)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
Jn 1:22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
They had a wonderful chance to know who John the Baptist was and had a great opportunity to know who the Messiah was. But they did not have any desire to know the truth. They were just following the direction of the Jews of Jerusalem who were jealous of John’s successful ministry. They could not see the great work God was doing among people of Israel because of their lack of desire for God and for the truth.
Do you have any desire to know the truth? Do you have any desire to know who Jesus is? I pray that God may grant you to have strong spiritual desire to know the truth and to obey the truth. I pray that God may open your eyes to see the great work of God among us and among all the nations all over the world.
What was John’s testimony about himself? (19-21)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:19-21 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
John the Baptist knew who he was. He was not the Christ (20). He was not the light (8). He was to prepare the way for the Messiah (23) and to reveal the Messiah to Israel (31). He knew that Jesus was the Christ. He wanted to reveal Jesus and Jesus only. In order to reveal Jesus, he completely denied himself. He declared:
I am not the Christ (20). John the Baptist strongly denied that he was the Christ.
I am not Elijah (21): John also denied that he was the prophet Elijah.
No, I am not ‘The Prophet’ (21): John denied that he was ‘The prophet’.
Why did they mention the Christ, Elijah and the Prophet? (20-21)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:20-21 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) both mean the Anointed One (Dan 9:25). The Jews were waiting for the promised Messiah with all their hearts throughout the generations because God promised that He wouls send the Anointed One in the Scriptures. Due to John’s powerful influence, they thought he might be the Christ.
Elijah: Based on Malachi 4:5-6, the Jews assumed that he might be the forerunner of the messiah. According to Jesus, John was Elijah, in his office and spirit. (Mat 11:14, 17:12; Mk 9:11-13).
The Prophet: Moses predicted that one like himself (“The Prophet”) would come after him (Deut 18:15, 18; Jn 1:25,6:14, 7:40; Act 3:22-23, 7:37). Based on these passages, the Jews expected another Prophet to come.
2. What was John’s true identity? (23)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, `Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John the Baptist had a clear identity: He was a humble servant before God.
John knew who he was very clearly. He was not the light. (8) He was not the Christ (20). He was just a servant of God. He described himself a little further by saying, “I am the voice.” ‘I am not even a person,’ was his meaning. ‘I am nothing but the voice’. This shows his clear identity as a servant of God. It also shows his humble attitude before God.
What was his mission? (23, Isa 40:3)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, `Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
Isa 40:3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
John the Baptist had a clear mission: Make straight the way for the Lord.
John knew what his mission was. His mission was to make straight the way for the Lord. More specifically, he was to prepare the heart of the people so that they could accept the Messiah. In the book of Isaiah, he described the hearts of people poetically. But the realities of the hearts of people are serious:
Hearts like a valley:
Their hearts are deeply wounded like valley. (Inferiority complex). Nothing can fill their wounded, rough and empty hearts.
Hearts like a mountain:
Their hearts are so proud and arrogant like tall mountains. (Superiority complex) Nothing can make them humble. Their hearts are so puffed up and rugged.
John’s mission was to prepare people with wounded, rough and empty hearts to be even so that they could accept the Messiah. John’s mission was to prepare those having arrogant, puffed up hearts to be humble before God so that they could accept the Messiah. John preached the message of repentance so that people who are so proud and arrogant like mountains and people who are wounded may repent their sins and become humble enough to accept the Christ. And he baptized them with water. John’s baptism was a preparatory cleansing for the Messiah: ‘Repent and get ready for the coming Messiah’
What can we learn from him?
ANSWER:
We need to know who we are before God. (Clear identity)
If someone asks you who you are, what would you say? My name is Charles and my job is so and so. You can talk about who your parents or your wife or children or friends are. But these are outward, temporary aspects about you. People want to be regarded as someone great even if that is not exactly true. People want to be puffed up before others. But that’s not who we are. Our real identity comes from God, not from other people. To know who we are, we need to stand before God alone. Knowing who we are before God is extremely important, as important as knowing who Jesus is. When we know who Jesus is we are able to know who we really are before God. Let me ask you a question: Who are you before God? You can say:
I am a child of the Living God.
I am a servant of the Almighty God.
I am a forgiven sinner only by the grace of God.
We need to know what our missions are. (Clear Life Mission)
Human being is the man of missions. Without mission, men are not men but beast. When we have no mission from God, we will waste our time and energies doing worthless things in this world. We need to know our life mission from God. We need to know what to do for God. We need to take every opportunity to do will of God because the time is evil. Do you know your life mission from God?
Live for God (Jesus); for the glory of God.
Know Him, Love Him, Obey Him, Worship Him, and Reveal Him to others.
We need to find our life missions in the Bible. (Bible based life, Bible based missions)
John the Baptist quoted the Bible when he spoke about his mission. He found his mission in the Bible.
People find their life missions in many different ways.
Some people find their life missions in their family traditions.
They want to please their family.
Some people find their life missions in money.
They want to make money as much as possible.
Some people find their life mission in their own desires.
They want to do whatever their hearts want to do.
And all believe that they will be happy when they do whatever their hearts want to do.
What does the Bible say about our life?
We need to know the reality about our life.
We are created to live for the glory of God (1Co 10:31).
Our life missions should be for God.
We are created for eternity ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3:11&version=NIV" Ecc 3:11).
Our missions should be for eternity.
Why should we find our missions in the Bible?
We are dust and our glory here on earth is temporary (1Pe 1:24).
We all are from the dust and will go back to the dust.
All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall.
Only the Word of the Lord stands forever (1Pe 1:24-25).
Only the Word of God stands forever. Nothing will last forever.
Only the Word of God has eternal value. Nothing else will have eternal value.
Therefore, we need to find our life missions in the Bible, and then we can live the most valuable life.
Examples:
Abraham: He found his mission in Gen 12:1-2.
His faith and obedience had eternal impact for all the believers.
Apostle Paul: He found his missions in Isa 49:6 and he lived as a light for the Gentiles.
Through his life, countless gentiles came back to God and worshipped Him.
Saint Augustine: He found his mission in Ro13:13-14.
Through his dedication to the word, God used him to protect the biblical truth in his generation.
Martin Luther: He also found his mission in the Bible, Ro 1:17.
Due to his devotion to the truth, many have found salvation by faith rather than by works.
The list goes on and on. We need to find our missions in the word of God because we are created for the glory of Him and we are made for eternity. Only the word of God stands forever. I pray that you also find your mission in the word of God so that you can live the most meaningful, valuable and wonderful life in God.
3. Read verses 24-28.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:24-28 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
What did some Pharisees ask John? (24-25)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:24-25 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
They are asking for John’s qualification to baptize people. They were not happy with him for introducing this new ordinance. Without their authorization, he was saying that Jewish ancestry and following their traditions was not good enough but that all Jews needed to repent and be baptized to be saved.
Why did John baptize people with water? (23, 31, 33)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, `Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
Jn 1:31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
Jn 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Because that is what God told him to do (33). He was simply obeying God’s commands. His baptism was from God.
The purpose of John’s baptism was twofold:
(1) to prepare the people to accept the Messiah (23)
(2) to reveal the Messiah to Israel (31)
At that time, usually Gentiles who wanted to become Jews received baptism. It was unusual for Jews themselves to be baptized. But at the same time, based on the Prophets (Isa. 52:15; Ezek. 36:25; Zech. 13:1), people expected ceremonial washing before the Messiah comes. To submit to John’s baptism, Jews identified with the Gentiles sinners. This was a genuine sign of repentance.
How did John turn their attention to Jesus? (26-27)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:26-27 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
John the Baptist did not argue with some Pharisees but his focus was to testify about Jesus. He turned their attention away from their argument to Jesus by testifying about His worthiness.
We need to focus on Jesus rather than meaningless argument.
How much is Jesus worthy according to John? (27)
ANSWER:
Worthiness of Jesus.
Untying the strap of a sandal (before foot washing) was considered the lowliest, most menial task that a slave could perform. But John the Baptist said, he was not even worthy to do this job. It is because he knew the true value and true worthiness of Jesus.
Jesus is worthy of all (Rev 5:12,13) Jesus deserves all our worship and praise because Jesus is God, because Jesus is the Christ, because Jesus is the Judge, because Jesus is the King and because Jesus is the Lord.
How can we know the worthiness of Jesus?
To know his worthiness, we need to see His glory. When you see his glory, then you will know the worthiness of Jesus and be able to make a confession like John the Baptist. Have you ever seen His glory? (14) After seeing His Glory, we can really know his worthiness. After knowing his worthiness, we can give proper praise, honor, glory, and power to Jesus because He deserves more than everything we can possibly give.
How much is Jesus worthy to you? Do you know his worthiness? I pray that we may see His Glory so that we can truly know how much Jesus is worthy and worship Him with all our hearts. Amen.
4. What was John’s testimony about Jesus? (29)
ANSWER:
Jesus is the Lamb of God.
Jesus is the One who can take away the sin of the world.
Look: we need to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the Lamb of God.
When we lose our focus, we will wander around.
When we lose our focus, we will suffer.
Jesus is the only one who can solve all our sin problems. Jesus is the way.
What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God? (Exo 12:3, 7, 13)
ANSWER:
Exo 12:3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
Exo 12:7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
Exo 12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Passover Lamb
In Exodus 12, God commanded Moses to sacrifice lamb in order to save the people of Israel from Egypt.
The only way to save the Israel from the Pharaoh was through the blood of the Passover Lamb.
The Passover Lamb has to be sacrificed, shedding blood and being eaten.
The Passover Lamb was for the forgiveness of sin of the Israel.
The Passover Lamb was a shadow of Jesus who died on the cross to take away the sin of the world.
Jesus, the Lamb of God. And all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
Because God is holy (without sin), it is impossible for Him to accept any kind of sin. Whoever sins has to die because the wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23)
Because of sin, all men were under the curse and wrath of God. (Rom 1:18)
Because of sin, Man is destined to die and will face eternal judgment. (Heb 9:27)
Because of sin, man should die shedding his blood. (Heb 9:22)
But because of God’s love for sinners, God sent Jesus into the world as the Lamb of God to save the world from sin (Mat 1:21; Jn 3:17). God punished Jesus on the cross instead of men, so that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).
The Lamb of God clearly shows that men’s problem is sin.
The Lamb of God clearly shows how much God hates sin.
The Lamb of God clearly shows how much God wants righteousness.
Everyone who sees Jesus on the cross needs to see the curse of God and the wrath of God upon Jesus.
Everyone who sees Jesus on the cross needs to see the amazing grace of God and mercy of God for sinners. Praise God who sent Jesus who is the Lamb of God to forgive all our sin.
How can Jesus take away the sin of the world? (Heb 9:13-14, 28, 10:10)
ANSWER:
In the OT, God commanded Moses to offer animal sacrifice to forgive sins. Animal sacrifices temporarily take away sin (Heb 9:13) but cannot take away the sin permanently (Heb 10:1,4). Animal sacrifice was not the reality but only a shadow of Jesus, the Lamb of God. (Heb 10:1)
In the NT (in these last days), God send his only Son as the Lamb of God. Jesus came and died on the cross shedding his blood as Lamb of God. Only Jesus can take away the sin of the World.
Because Jesus who is sinless, shed his own blood (died on the cross) (Heb 9:14, 22)
Because the blood of Jesus has power to forgive our sins once for all (Heb 9:28, 10:10)
5. Read verses 30-34.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:30-34 This is the one I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
How did John the Baptist come to know Jesus? (32-33)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:32-33 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Because the Holy Spirit came down and remained on Jesus.
God told John the Baptist to look for a sign by which he could recognize who the Messiah was. He would be the one on whom the Holy Spirit would descend from heaven. John is a reliable witness regarding who Jesus is because he has had confirming evidence from God.
What will Jesus do according to John? (33)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, `The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus makes us to be born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Regeneration)
Jesus gives us the right to become children of God. (Adoption)
Jesus makes us grow holy, mature and strong through the Holy Spirit. (Sanctification)
Jesus makes us bold to witness about Jesus through the Holy Spirit. (Evangelism)
We will study about the Holy Spirit in more detail later (chapters 14 and 16).
What is John’s additional testimony about Jesus? (30, 34)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:30 This is the one I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'
Jn 1:34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Jesus is before John; Jesus is eternal. Jesus is God (30).
Chronologically, John was born about 6 months before Jesus was born. He started his ministry before Jesus did. But John testifies that Jesus was before him (Jesus pre-existed). Jesus was before John because he was in the beginning (Jn 1:1). Jesus was before John because Jesus is eternal. John the Baptist is basically saying that Jesus is God. The eternity of Jesus is mentioned in many verses (Jn 1:1; 8:56-59; 16:28; 17:5).
Jesus is the Son of God (34).
John the Baptist gives his solemn testimony. Jesus is eternal. Jesus is worthy of all. Jesus is the Lamb of God. Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Considering all these, finally, John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus has the same nature of God. Jesus is God.
In Conclusion, Jesus is the Lamb of God. Jesus can take away our sin and the sin of the world. When we believe in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins as Lamb of God, all our sin will be taken away. When we trust in Jesus, who shed his blood to forgive our sins, we will be saved. I pray that we all may look at Jesus who is on the Cross and believe that Jesus is the Son of God so that we may have eternal life. Amen.
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