John 1:29

Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

Israel's use of a lamb for sacrifice began in Exodus Chapter 12 when the Passover was instituted, a practice which Israel was to continue throughout their generations.

That lamb was a type (a picture or shadow) of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The lamb in Exodus had to be "without blemish" (Exodus 12:5). This is a type of Jesus' perfect, sinless life, which was lived in our place so that He could later impute His righteousness to us:  2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

In our text today Jesus is said by John the Baptist that He is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world -- John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus is a Lamb due to his tenderness, mercy, grace, meekness, and humility. It is this mercy that Titus 3:5 says "saved us." Therefore, Jesus is the Lamb of God, not just a lamb that is an animal, for He is a man, made as the express image of His Father, God. This Lamb takes away the sin of the world, not the entire world as individuals inclusively, for many of these will die in their sins; and, if the Lamb did actually take away all the sins of the world, then there would be no sins for those who are lost to die in.  But He took away the sin of His people, those whom He came to save; therefore, His dying was effective and effectual to "us-ward" (Eph. 1:19). This Lamb we shall see in His character and His work as we go through this grand book of John.