JOHN 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

TO PONDER

'The Lamb of God' it is another title or name given to Jesus. For it to make proper sense we have to understand the Old Testament sacrificial system which was the way in which the sins of the people were dealt with.

Once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest of Israel would enter the most holy part of the temple (or tabernacle before the temple was built). This was where the presence of God was said to dwell among his people. After going through a whole bunch of ritual cleansing ceremonies, the High priest would enter this sacred space, the 'holy of holies' and offer a sacrifice of a spotless lamb, a young sheep without defect or marking, a perfect specimen as a sacrifice for the sins of all the people of Israel. This was a repeated yearly sacrifice.

What's great about this story of John recognising Jesus is that John clearly has an understanding, at least on some level, of what Jesus is here to do. Jesus, the perfect and unblemished human specimen and also God himself, was going to offer his own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. not a repeated yearly sacrifice, but a once and for all sacrifice for all of humanity.

We might not be best served these days by shouting out to all who hear, "behold Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Most people today do not consider themselves to be 'sinners' and so in their minds they don't need a sin removing sheep. And yet to those of us who have come to know Jesus as the one who removes our guilt and shame, there is perhaps no greater comfort than knowing Jesus as the Lamb of God. Perhaps in sacrificing some of our life, our time, our resources for the sake of others, they might come to know something of Jesus' loving sacrifice for them?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you ask me to follow you as your disciple and that also means taking up my cross and living my life for the sake of others. Help me to be someone who can bear witness to your love and sacrifice on the cross, by taking up my cross daily to walk with and follow you wherever you call me to follow. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.