Behold the Lamb of God!

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" John 1:29.

What is this sin of the world that needs to be taken away? "Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he would point to all this evil as the result of God's work in creating man." Steps to Christ, p. 17.

God has provided a way of escape for every son and daughter of Adam and Eve who desire to know why we are here, where we came from and what our Creator has in store for those who yield themselves to the Spirit of the living God.

Jesus shared the message simply and directly with a woman of Samaria when He said to her, "The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" John 4:23, 24. Read the full story in John 4:1-43.

How does this relate to the Lamb of God? All through the Old Testament, Bible writers spoke of the coming Messiah using many figures of speech. In Genesis He is the Seed of the woman, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head. And you shall bruise His heal, Genesis 3:15.

In Exodus He is represented by the sacrificial lamb that was slain as the Passover lamb whose blood was put on the lintel and two doorposts to protect the Children of Israel from the destroyer. It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households, Exodus 12:27. (Read Ex. 12:21-28.)

In Deuteronomy He is a prophet like Moses, I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, Deuteronomy 18:18.

In Isaiah He is the Prince of Peace, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, Isaiah 9:6, 7.

Again in Isaiah He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, Isaiah 53:7.

In Corinthians God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross that we might receive His righteousness and become children of God. John 1:12.

In Revelation He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13:8.

And in John He is The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29.

May your "hearts be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2, 3.