The Lamb of God

JOHN 1:1-51

Theme: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He executed His office as the Lamb of God.

Introduction:

Heb. 9:22b says, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Why is it so? God is not only merciful, but He is also just. How can God forgive us without our dying for sin? (See Romans 3:23.) Jesus paid the penalty.

Hebrews 9:22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Martin Luther wrote concerning this gospel, "This is the unique, tender, genuine chief gospel. . . should a tyrant succeed in destroying the Holy Scriptures and only a single copy of the epistle to the Romans and the gospel of John escape him, Christianity would be saved." The gospel of John clearly sets forth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and that those who accept this Christ as their Savior will have eternal life.

1)           Fact: Jesus Christ Is Both the Son of God and the Lamb of God. In the Bible, Jesus is referred to by many different names. Each name signifies a particular office or responsibility that He has, and illustrates the functions of that office.

2)           As the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Was Offered as a Sacrifice by God Just as an Israelite Would Offer a Lamb in the Old Testament.

3)           John the Baptist Was Sent by God to Declare That Jesus Was the Christ That Israel Had Been Waiting For, and that He was also the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SON OF GOD AS THE LAMB

   A.  THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Jn. 1:1-27)

       1.  I Am Not the Christ (Jn. 1:20)

The Jews heard of John baptizing people and sent a delegation of priests and Levites to inquire of his identity. They were familiar with the Old Testament passages that prophesied of a coming Messiah, and because of John's large following asked him if he were the Christ. John replied that he was not.

Since John has come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Lk. 1:17), and they knew that Elijah would someday return (Mal. 4:5), they asked him if he were Elijah. John again replied, “No.”

The priests asked him if he was that prophet (Jn. 1:21), referring to a prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-18. Again John replied, “No.”

Luke 1:17, And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Malachi 4:5, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

John 1:21, And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Deut. 18:15-18, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; [16] According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. [17] And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. [18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

  

    John then began to point them to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 40:3) to show them he was only the forerunner of Christ and the one who would identify the Son of God (Jn. 1:23).

Isaiah 40:3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

John 1:23, He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

  

We learn from these passages (Jn. 1:1-23) that:

               a. John was a lamp, but not the light.

               b. John was a voice, but not the Word.

               c. John was a prophet, but not That Prophet.

               d. John was blessed (Lk. 1:5-25), but he was not the Christ.

         2.   Jesus is the Christ, the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29-36)

After explaining that he was not the one that the Jews were looking for, John continued to point them to the coming Messiah. God told John that the person on whom he saw the Spirit descend like a dove would be the Son of God (Jn. 1:33-34).

John had already baptized Jesus (Mt. 3:13-17) and knew that he was the Christ. The next day when he saw Jesus coming, he turned and pointed to Jesus and basically said, "There He is! He is the Lamb of God!" (Jn. 1:29, 35)

   B.  THE TESTIMONY OF GOD THE FATHER (Jn. 1:29-36)

God, the Father, also bore witness that Jesus was the Son of God.  He did this in two different ways.

         1.  He Revealed it by a Sign.

God told John the Baptist that the person on whom he saw the Spirit descend like a dove was the Son of God. All four gospels record the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove (Mt. 3:16; Mk. 1:10; Lk. 3:22; and Jn. 1:33).

Matthew 3:16, And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mark 1:10, And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Luke 3:22, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

John 1:33, 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.

         2.  He Revealed it by Statement.

God also revealed Christ's identity by telling John orally at the baptism of Jesus that this was His beloved Son (Mt. 3:17; Mk. 1:11; and Lk. 3:22).

Matthew 3:17, And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:11, And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luke 3:22, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

              a. The Testimony of Scripture is More Reliable Then the Voice of God From Heaven.

2 Peter 1:15-21, Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. [16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

               b. The Origin of Scripture is Inspired of God Not Mere Men; The Apostles and First Century NT Prophets Regarded the NT Writings as Scripture!

2 Tim. 3:16-17, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 3:15, And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2 Peter 3:16, As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.   

1 Cor. 2:13, Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

   C.  THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS

There were also others that testified to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God throughout the book of John.

            1. Nathanael: “Thou art the Son of God” (Jn. 1:49).

            2. Peter: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jn.6:69).

            3. Martha: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 11:27).

            4. Thomas: “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

            5. John: “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 20:31).            

            6. Jesus: “I am the Son of God” (Jn. 10:36).

Conclusion:

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He fulfilled His office as the Lamb of God. He died for our sins exactly as the Scriptures foretold He would and in full concert with his own predictions. John the Baptist introduced the Lord Jesus as the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” We can believe the testimony of God, John the Baptist, and many others!

Two thousand years ago Jesus paid for my sins fully, and in August of 1990, I actually humbled myself before God acknowledging my sinfulness and need for Jesus Christ. God forgave me because of my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lamb who took responsibility for my sins. So, the Lord Jesus is not only God’s provided Lamb, but he is also the Lamb for me. What about you?