The Gospel of John: John 1.29-34

Read and meditate on John 1.29.
John recognizes Jesus as the Lamb and Son of God, the One he’d been told about, the One Who is to be preferred above John, because of His eternal provenance and divine mission. There is much to learn in this short passage, as we continue to observe John’s witness to Jesus, and reflect on the implications of his witness for our own.

²⁹The next day, Jesus came to John, and he
declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God, Who takes
away our sins – the world’s sin – and Who makes
us whole!”

- John 1.29

Reflect
1.  Jesus arrived at Bethany near the Jordan on the day after John’s interlocutors had accosted him. Why did Jesus wait until then to come? If the purpose of His coming was to be revealed to Israel (v. 31), wouldn’t it have made more sense for Him to arrive while the priests and Levites were there, questioning John? Does this timing suggest anything about Jesus’ purpose in carrying out His mission? Complete this prayer: You are Lord of time, Lord Jesus, and Lord of timing as well. Help me, in the time of my life, to…

2.  I’m struck by John’s immediate recognition of Jesus and His mission. We recall that, while they were cousins, John had been isolated in the wilderness, perhaps for many years, prior to beginning his ministry (cf. Lk. 1.80). It’s likely he’d had little, if any, contact with Jesus until this moment. How did John recognize Jesus as the One Who was “coming after” Him to baptize with the Spirit? Is there any encouragement for us in John’s recognition of Jesus for how we may expect to encounter Jesus in His Word (Jn. 5.39; 6.63)? Lord, as I read and meditate on Your Word each day…

3.  John declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God. What place did lambs have in the economy of Israel in John’s day? How would the people who heard John have responded to his proclaiming Jesus the Lamb of God? What images, feelings, or thoughts would have run through their minds? Jesus, Lamb of God, Lamb slain for me…

4.  One obvious use of lambs in Israel was as a sacrifice for sin (cf. Ex. 12.1-13). But they weren’t the only animals sacrificed. One important annual sacrifice involved the scapegoat (cf. Lev. 15.5-10). What did the scapegoat accomplish for the people of Israel? What leads us to think John may have been combining this idea with that of the sacrificial lamb? Why might he have wanted to do that? Lord, You have taken away my sins; let me not…

5.  The Lamb of God was to be revealed to Israel, but He would take away the sin of the world. John says sin rather than sins. Why? What does he mean by speaking of sin in this singular, categorical manner? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into a single prayer.

Summary
“[Jesus] gave his blood as the price for our salvation, and by undergoing death for a time he condemned the sovereignty of death forever. The Lamb that was innocent was killed. But by a wonderful and longed-for display [of his power] he efficaciously weakened the strength of the lion that had killed him. The Lamb that took away the sins of the world brought to naught the lion that had brought sins into the world. It was the Lamb that restored us by the offering of his flesh and blood, so that we would not perish.” The Venerable Bede (ca. 672-735 AD)

The sacrifices of ancient Israel covered the sins of the people. But they needed to be repeated over and over, because animal sacrifices could never reach to the sin of the people, much less to the sin that has infected and pervaded the whole world. The Lamb of God was necessary for that. How should you respond to the One Who has taken away both your sin and your sins?

Closing Prayer
O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my brothers,
And an alien to my mother's children;
Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

Psalm 69.5-9

Psalm 69.5-7, 13-15 (Greensleeves: What Child Is This?)
O God, our folly all You know, our wrongs from You are not hidden;
Let those who in Your mercy go not by our shame be smitten.
“Let none dishonored be because, O Lord, because of Me!
You make Me dishonor see; on Me reproach is written.”

O Lord, we make our prayer to You; receive our words, O Savior!
Let lovingkindness see us through, and answer us with favor!
Lord, lift us above the mire; deliv’rance is our one desire!
Let not the floods conspire to swallow us forever!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.