See Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
Jesus’ Gospel is for Repenting and Believing Sinners
John Duncan (1796–1870) was a Scottish missionary to the Jews in Hungary and a Professor of Hebrew. He loved the Jewish people and the Old Testament (“OT”) Scriptures that all point to Christ, so he was nicknamed “Rabbi.” One Communion Sunday, John was in church, feeling too unworthy for fellowship with Jesus and His people. So he decided he wouldn’t take the Lord’s Supper. Duncan was feeling miserable because of the remaining sin in his life, and he noticed a young woman across the meeting room who didn’t go up front either. She was weeping, and the old man guessed that she was feeling the burden of her own sins, too. So Duncan whispered loudly, so loudly that you could hear it across the whole church. He said: “Take it, lassie, take it. It’s meant for sinners like us.” And then she gets up and goes forward. And then Duncan gets up and takes Communion also, and they are both refreshed by remembering that God redeems unworthy followers of Christ.
When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said: This is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins… This cup is the new covenant in My blood, poured out for you.1 Scripture also says: We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus and access by faith… Christ made peace through His blood, shed on the cross… For the Son of Man came to seek and save lost people like us who repent and believe on Jesus.2
Let’s listen afresh to what the Spirit teaches here in John 1:29 and related Scriptures. I am indebted to the wise insights of Pastor Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892).
John the Baptizer Points Away from Himself to Christ
John has charisma and pizzazz. People are attracted to him, and large crowds come to learn. John is an engaging messenger, even though he brings a very challenging message. He would have been great on TV and the internet. Even wicked King Herod enjoyed John’s preaching, but Herod never trusted Christ for salvation.3
John is sort of the last of the OT prophets. He comes 400 years after Malachi, the last book of the Hebrew Bible. In John 1:23, John says, “I am not the Messiah. I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”4
•John was a voice from God, but he points to Jesus as the Word of God made flesh.
•John was the best man, who focused on Christ the Bridegroom.
•John was like a lamp, shining on Jesus, the Light of the world.
Even after John’s death, he pointed people to Christ. I love it! Scripture says: Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There Christ stayed, and many people came to Him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about Christ was true.” And in that place, many believed in Jesus.5
The OT prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel announced the new covenant, and John announced a new, better, final sacrifice, Jesus the Lamb of God.6
John Reminds Us to Beware Attachment to Preachers Above Attachment to Christ
People get confused. A woman in Florida was dying, so she called Steve Brown, a radio pastor and my former teacher. When Steve arrives at the hospital, the woman is relieved and says, “I’ve heard you preach many times.” Brown answers, “I’m glad, but do you know Jesus Christ? Is He your Lord and Savior? She says, “I listen all the time.” He says tenderly, “Dear woman, you are going to die and face God’s judgment.7 So call on Jesus now and ask Him for mercy.” She doesn’t get it, and the woman dies without coming to faith in Christ. How sad! Many people don’t get it in our country and all over the world.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame… Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)
John the Baptist was happy for people to follow Christ instead of him. That was his whole mission–to point others to Christ.
Let’s not neglect to call on Jesus, beloved. Friends, loved ones, and strangers are dying all around us. Over 8,000 people die every day in the USA. Over 150,000 people die worldwide every day. So Moses taught us to pray, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”8
Are we ready to die in Christ? And to live for Christ? Today, and this week, and for the rest of our lives?
John says, Behold, look at, see, and follow Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God, and put your trust in Him. Christ is our only hope for this world and the world to come.9 John says: Don’t look at me. I’m just Jesus’ messenger. Christ must increase, but I must decrease. Jesus is the Mediator and Savior we need. John is only Christ’s servant, friend, and introducer. John says: Don’t miss Jesus!
John Warns Us to Beware Looking at Our Selves Instead of at Christ
John the Baptist is a very special man in the Bible. He has a miracle birth and wonderful parents. They are Jewish believers who love, trust, and follow God. They are not sinless, but they are people saved and changed by the Lord. They are righteous because they trust in the Messiah that God promised to send.
Old Testament believers are saved by the Christ of Prophecy, and New Testament believers are saved by the Christ of History, right up to the present.
Remember, the Holy Spirit came upon John before he was born to make him Christ’s anointed messenger. John is super-privileged—he’s Jesus’ cousin! But John is not counting on his family or his religious background to gain him points with God. He’s not counting on his unique and exciting Christian experience.
John says: Look at Jesus. He’s the Redeemer I’m depending on, also. Put your hope and trust in Him. Only Christ takes away sin! John says: I just baptize with water, and that can’t cleanse our hearts and souls. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. That’s what we need more than anything else, beloved. Only Christ can give us new birth and make us whiter than snow. And change us from the inside out for the rest of our lives.10
Spurgeon says: It’s hard to get people’s eyes off of themselves and their accomplishments. Off their religious ceremonies and creeds. It’s hard to get people to depend on the resurrected and living Christ, to call on Him for salvation, and to follow Him. John says: “See the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins!”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You that You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. Help us to believe on Him in our heads, our hearts, and the way we live our lives forever. Amen.11
To be continued.
Notes (various Bible translations used): 1 Matt 26:28; Luke 22:20. 2 Rom 5:1; Col 1:20; Luke 19:10. 3 Mark 6:20. 4 Quoting Isaiah 40:3. 5 John 10:41-42. 6 Ezek 36:26-31; Jer 31:31-34: Heb 10:12. 7 Heb 9:27. 8 Psalm 90:12. 9 See Heidelberg Catechism #1. 10 Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16-17; John 5:5-8; 2 Cor 5:17. 11 Prayer based on John 3:16.