210. JOH 1:29. THE LAMB OF GOD
Joh_1:29. The Lamb of God
"Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."’97Joh_1:29.
It had long been predicted that a harbinger should be sent to prepare the way of the Lord. That harbinger was John; hence, when the people were anxious to treat him as the Messiah, he said that he was not the Christ, "But as the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord," &c. The very next day after this, John, seeing Jesus, said unto them, "Behold the Lamb of God," &c.
Let us consider, The Title,’97the Work,’97and the Attention which Christ demands.
I. The Title given to Jesus. ’97"The Lamb of God."
1. Jesus was distinguished for those things which the Lamb is supposed to exhibit.
The Lamb is the emblem,
(1) Of innocency. Now Jesus was free from all guilt and all guile. His nature was spotless; his life perfect; his conduct unblameable. He had not one sinful weakness or infirmity. The Lamb is also the emblem,
(2) Of meekness and patience. How these were displayed through his whole life. They railed at him, despised him mocked him, insulted him, and heaped all cruel indignities upon him; yet he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself. This had been predicted: "He is led as a lamb to the slaughter," &c. Before the priests, before Pilate, in Herod’s court, on the cross, how he exemplified the meekness and patience of the lamb He may be likened to the Lamb.
(3) For usefulness. No creature more useful than the lamb. Its flesh is meat, and its wool raiment to us. So Jesus says, His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. He also provides for us the best robe, the wedding raiment, the garment of salvation.
2. As a Lamb, Jesus had been typified both by the paschal Lamb, and the daily sacrifices.
The paschal Lamb especially had respect to him. In its being without spot and blemish; in its being a year old; in its being taken out of the fold; in its being set apart four days; in its being slain in the midst of the assembly; in not a bone being broken; in being roasted with fire; in its blood delivering from the destroying angel. Jesus was holy’97in the perfection of life. Was selected by God for the purpose. Was set apart in the promise four thousand years before his death, and entered Jerusalem four days before he was crucified’97was slain in the midst of the assembly of Israel. Not a bone of him was broken. He endured the scorching rays of the Divine dispensation;’97and in his blood we have redemption from the wrath to come.
3. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
His, in a peculiar sense; his only-begotten Son; his essential coequal; his in a higher sense than angels are his creatures; his selecting; his sending; for whom he prepared a body, whom he delivered up, and whose sacrifice he accepted’97his to the exclusion of every other.
Notice,
II. The Work of Jesus. "Taketh away the sins of the world."
1. By his obedience and death he took away the curse of sin from the world.
Whole world guilty, wretched, helpless, and condemned. Threatening of death gone forth. Jesus magnified the law in his life, and endured the curse, by being made a curse for us. By his voluntary sacrifice he bore our sins in his own body on the tree. Hence, for this he was born, and lived, and died, that he might suffer, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God, Hence it is written that "Christ gave himself for us," Tit., Joh_2:4. That he "redeemed us to God by his blood," Rev_5:9. "In whom we have redemption," &c. Eph_1:7. "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself," Heb_9:26. "He was manifested to take away our sins," 1Jn_3:5. And he did this for the world. See 1Jn_2:2, and iv. 14; also 1Ti_2:3-6.
2. He takes away the guilt of sin by his justifying grace.
Hence the Gospel which announces redemption through his blood, offers to us justification and forgiveness of sin, on condition of receiving the record given of Christ, by faith. By believing in him we are justified freely from all things, and all; our sins are blotted out. Rom_3:24; Isaiah 53.
3. He takes away the pollution of sin, by his Spirit and blood.
His Spirit, by the application of his blood to our conscience, cleanseth us from all sin. Hence we are sanctified by his blood, and thus wash our robes and obtain a meetness for celestial and eternal glory: "That he might sanctify the people with his own blood," Heb_12:24.
III. The Attention Christ demands’97"Behold," &c.
We cannot behold him as John desired the Jews to do. He is now removed into the holiest place, &c. To sense invisible, but we may yet obey the spirit of this direction, we should Behold Jesus, the Lamb of God,
1. In the mystery of his incarnation.
How low he stooped; how he humbled himself, &c.; and how wonderful the constitution of his person. The child bora son given, Immanuel, God with us.
2. Behold him in the wonders of his life.
A holy life’97a life of sorrow and self-denial, of suffering and reproach, yet of miracles, of mercy, and grace.
3. Behold him in the overwhelming agonies of Gethsemane.
Giving his soul an offering for sin Drinking the inexplicably bitter cup. Sorrowful unto death, &c.
4. Behold him in the sufferings and ignominy of the cross.
Dragged to Calvary’s summit, and there crucified between two thieves. Dying amid the darkness of the heavens, shaking of the earth, rending of rocks, &c.
5. Behold him in his resurrection from the tomb.
Once dead but alive again, and for ever more. The plague of death, the spoiler of the grave, and the resurrection and the life.
6. Behold him on his mediatorial throne.
The toil exchanged for rest; the sufferings, for glory; the cross, for his Father’s right hand. John beheld him, and said, "And I beheld, and lo, in the midst," &c. Rev_5:6.
And how should we behold him?
1. With reverence and humility.
"Great is the mystery," &c. Isaiah cried, "Wo is me, for I have seen the king," &c. Angels desire to look into these things, &c. The hosts of heaven bow profoundly before him.
2. Behold him with shame and contrition.
Our sins brought him from heaven; tried him; put him to death, &c. "They shall look on him whom they have pierced," &c. Zec_12:1. The Jews who heard Peter were goaded, &c.
3. Behold him with the eye of faith.
He says, "Look unto me," &c. "As Moses lifted up," &c. "If I be lifted up," &c.
4. Behold with devout thankfulness.
"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift."
5 Behold him with supreme affection and delight.
"Were the whole realms of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my heart, my life, my all."
Application
1. Urge all classes of sinners to behold the Lamb of God.
2. The whole world will behold him at he last day.
3. The saints shall behold him in glory forever.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS