Behold the LAMB of GOD

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John 1:29-34

Behold the Lamb of GOD.  What an amazing statement for a Jewish prophet to make about a man seeing that he would have clearly understood the ramifications.  John surely would have offered the sacrifice of a lamb for his sin many times by now seeing he is over 30 years old.  He would have taken the knife, transferred his sin, slit the animals throat as the blood was caught by a priest, and watched the life drain from the silent lamb.  His statement, "behold the Lamb of GOD," was a hint to the purpose of the life of Christ.  Jesus would be the Lamb on whom all human sin was transferred.  His own blood would be the only means and method for the forgiveness of sin.  The fact that this was the Father's Lamb would also speak of the need for Christ's blood since He is the only Lamb ever sent to wash sin away.  

Another striking statement was the admission that Jesus was preferred before John.  At face value, its sounds like the camel's hair clad voice in the wilderness was simply stating that Jesus was highly preferred by God and that Jesus was loved and chosen for ministry before himself.  Yet this Greek word speaks so much more.  Ginomai can mean that Jesus was in existence before John; however, Jesus was born as a man some six months after John the Baptist.  Scripture is clear about two things pertaining to John's statement.  First, Jesus was in existence as the eternal Son of God.  Micah 5:2 states that Christ's going forth was from old, from eternity.  When Jesus answered the people about knowing Abraham, He said, "Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58)." Second,  the clear and overwhelming testimony of scripture is that Christ is the eternal Creator.  Jesus is God our Savior.  As GOD, he decides what is appropriate to wash away transgression.  Therefore, His deity assures us that there is no other way to Heaven than His blood.  

Man and GOD in one. This is the very reason that there is no other acceptable means to reach heaven and have sins forgiven than trusting by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.  He alone saves!  He alone is the Passover Lamb.  The custom for the Passover Lamb was that it was to be shared if it were too big for the house.  Christ is more than enough for every man, woman, and child.  Won't you accept His blood as your offering for sin since there is no other way?  Trust Him today.  As a living Savior who was resurrected three days later, He is coming again.  Trust Him today as He is Soon2Come!