John 1:29 Commentary and Bible Study

Christ now returns triumphant after the temptation to where John is baptizing in order for John to make this pronouncement and to choose the first of his disciples. He had been baptized by John before the temptation, but now returns having overcome the devil. John seeing him cries out with a loud voice for all to hear, Behold, look the Saviour of the world, but these are the words he used – ‘the Lamb of God.’What did he mean by the Lamb of God? Did he mean the paschal lamb, the lamb which was slain and eaten by the children of Israel on their departure from Egypt? The lamb, the blood of which was painted on the doorposts, and if you were under the blood then you were delivered from the judgement of God on the Egyptian family. Yes, of course he did. The Lamb of God: if you trust in him and his salvation, then God will forgive you, and not judge you, and you have everlasting life.Did he mean the daily offering, a lamb offered up in the temple every morning, and every evening of every day? A lamb, an atonement for sin, but also a savour of a sweet smell. A lamb which represented a Saviour who would make an offering of his own righteousness, so perfect and glorious that it would earn heaven for all who trust in him. Yes, he meant that Lamb too. And did he mean the Isaiah Lamb? Isaiah 53 speaking of Christ who is led as a lamb to the slaughter? Certainly he did. Wherever the lamb represents the Messiah in the Old Testament, they are all the illustrations here.