3rd January 2012 John 1:29-34

Jesus the Lamb of God
[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! [30] 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.”

These words would have struck such a chord with those who heard: A lamb taking away the sin of the world.  

A lamb to us is a small, weak, needy animal; but it was a sacrificial symbol for the Jews.  Naming Jesus as a lamb was to talk of his sacrificial method of removing sin, of making pure, of bringing the world closer to God.

Jesus we worship you for all you are and all you have done and do for us.  We are sinners, we are sorry; thank you for forgiving us a d taking away our sin. Amen