Behold the Lamb of God...

John 1:29 says
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Here John is calling Jesus as the Lamb of God. In one sense, the message of the Bible can be summed up in this verse. The question in the Old Testament is “Where is the Lamb?”(Gen 22:7). In the four gospels the emphasis is “Behold the Lamb of God. Here He is!” The lamb here, beyond all doubt, points to the death of Jesus Christ, and the sacrificial character of that death.


A "lamb," among the Jews, was killed and eaten at the Passover to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt. A lamb was offered in the tabernacle, and afterward in the temple, every morning and evening, as a part of the daily worship. The Messiah was predicted as a lamb led to the slaughter, to show his patience in his sufferings, and readiness to die for man. A lamb, among the Jews, was also an emblem of patience, meekness, gentleness. On "all" these accounts, Jesus was called "the Lamb."


This lamb differed in three ways from those by which it was represented.


1. It was the lamp of God.
          In Old Testament times, lambs were brought by men, but here is God's Lamb, given by God to men.


2. It was made an atonement of sin.
          It carried away sin in reality where as other lambs did not atone for sin, they only covered the sin.That is those lambs could not take away sin, but the Lamb of God can take away sin.


3. It carried away the sin of the world.
          Sacrifice of the lamb was a Jewish custom. It was only confined to the Jews whereas this lamb was slaughtered not only to the Jews but also to the gentiles.


Under the Jewish law, those who had offended brought sacrifices, and offered them to the Lord. As God is just, it is inevitable that sin should be punished. If he could pardon us, how can this be righteously accomplished? 

Jesus Christ, His Son, came to earth and stood in the room, and place, instead of all those who believe on him; and God accepted him as the substitutionary sacrifice for all those who put their trust in him. Under the Jewish law, the lamb was put to death that the man might not be put to death; and, in like manner, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior suffered the pangs of death by crucifixion and the greater agony of the wrath of God that we might not suffer the pangs of hell due to sin. 


So Christ was sacrificed and then the main question that remains is 


What should we do? How can we be a part of this great sacrifice which Christ offered on Calvary?


John the Baptist is shouting the answer to this question which is "Behold" that is, look to "the Lamb of God."


"There is life in a look at the Crucified One."


"Behold the Lamb of God" means believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trust in him as your Savior, accept God's revelation concerning him, and rely upon him to save you. This is the way of salvation. There is no other way of salvation under heaven but this.


So let us all lead a life looking at the crucified one. God Bless You!!