LESSON 10 Behold the Lamb! John 1:29-42

OVERVIEW Garden Coverings Suffering Servant Abraham & Isaac Lamb of God The Passover Bread of Life OT Sacrificial Offerings Perfect Sacrifice Water from the Rock Washed Robes Bronze Serpent Sign of Jonah

LESSON SUMMARY In this session, we will explore the significance of John the Baptist’s identification of Jesus as the Lamb of God. As the Lamb, Jesus takes away the sin of the world, baptizes His people with the Holy Spirit, and calls followers to a life of discipleship. Those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ have had their sins removed and have been indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live according to our new identity—followers of Jesus Christ who actively call others to follow Him too.

INTRODUCTION Throughout the biblical story line, we’ve seen how the lamb served as a picture of innocence and sacrifice. The blood that flowed from a spotless lamb reminded observers that forgiveness of sins could not come without sacrifice. “Believing, then, is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to ‘behold the Lamb of God,’ and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.” ~ A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John’s use of the “Lamb of God” title and the imagery of sin being taken away remind us of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). There were two goats involved in the sacrifice, and the goats displayed different aspects of what must take place for sins to be forgiven. The Sacrifice — Propitiation: a turning away of God’s wrath from the guilty to the substitute. The Scapegoat — Expiation: the removal of sins from the guilty to a substitute sin-bearer.

Jesus is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). So one goat showed that sin must be punished, and the other showed that sin must be taken away. Jesus eternally satisfied God’s righteous wrath by fulfilling the dual roles of the forsaken animal who takes away sin and the sacrificial animal who receives the death penalty our sin deserves.

Jesus is the Lamb who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:30-34). Jesus is divine. When we see ourselves in light of who Jesus is, we should respond with a humble attitude that leads to worship. The Spirit’s descent upon Jesus confirmed that He was the Anointed One of God, the Messiah who had been promised those many years ago in the Garden of Eden.

Jesus is the Lamb who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:30-34). Jesus is divine. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. When we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus, we receive the promise of God’s Spirit indwelling us. God now dwells in the hearts of His people, and His presence goes with us as we live out His command to make disciples.

Jesus is the Lamb who calls people to a life of discipleship (John 1:35-42). Disciples of Jesus must be committed to the mission of their Savior and Lord. When we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus, we are committing to become like Jesus. His way of life becomes our way of life. His love becomes our love. His mission becomes our mission. For those of us who trust in the Lamb of God to take away our sin, our identity becomes wrapped up in all that Jesus is. “Our job is not to transform people into Christians nor to convict them of their sin. It is not our responsibility to make people do what they ought to do. Our task is to bring them to Jesus, and He will perform His divine work in their lives.” ~ Henry Blackaby

CONCLUSION One of the most beautiful truths of salvation is that God has done everything necessary to remove the sin barrier to a relationship with Him. The presence of the Holy Spirit in God’s people empowers us to fulfill the mission of God, thus giving us a purpose beyond our own salvation.

LOOKING AHEAD LESSON 11 The Bread of Life John 6:25-58