BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
Wednesday – October 3, 2018, Tishrei 24, 5779
Greetings dear brothers and sisters in the Lord and welcome back to this wonderful study of the Book of John and the appearance of the Messiah to take away the sins of the world. Now, recall that Joseph the supposed father of Jesus is of the tribe of Judah and thus Jesus is of the tribe of Judah in the natural or flesh. Judah is the kingly tribe, Jesus is returning as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of kings. Scripture tells us that the virgin Mary and Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist are cousins making them most likely of the tribe of Levi. Thus, we see the connection for Jesus being High Priest and King of kings. John was born six months before Jesus. Jesus is thirty years of age when He enters His public ministry. I have heard it said that Rabbi’s or Jewish teachers were not allowed to have an independent following until age thirty and they must be financially successful. Jewishness comes from the mother and the tribe from the father. Now, let’s read our primary text and hear John the Baptists eyewitness account of the baptism of Jesus that day in the River Jordan.
John 1:29-34 (KJV)
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 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.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John knows Jesus, they are family, as He approaches the River Jordan to be baptized to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15) and for the Father to launch Jesus public ministry leading to the Cross and Resurrection. Before I proceed you may recall that John the Baptist is recorded to have protested baptizing Jesus but here is how Jesus responded.
Matthew 3:15 (MSG)
15 But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it.
Oh, what a day that was for us all! John the Baptist knew Jesus as family but not as the Lamb of God, the One who would take away the sins of the world, until that moment. He declared that wonderful news in the presence of the audience present that day at the river. He makes it abundantly clear that Jesus far outranks him and that Jesus existed long before his own appearance in the earth. John is of course referring to the Divine origin of Jesus and that to which He will return, only not as in eternity past as Spirit only but as fully man and fully Spirit (God) in eternity future. Although many of these things were told to Joseph and Mary it seems they did not share them but treasured them in their hearts until the day of the initiation of the public ministry. Therefore, what John says that day in the river was told him of the Father just as when Peter exclaimed that Jesus was the Christ.
Matthew 16:16-17 (KJV)
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus is THE LAMB OF GOD not a lamb, not a forerunner but the final and eternal offering for the sins of the world. Let us go for a moment back to the time of Abraham as we finish for today.
Genesis 22:4-8 (KJV)
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
There is so much to unpack in this passage however let me remind us all that when Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off we are not talking about distance but time. God, the Father, showed Abraham the coming sacrifice of the Messiah in this very same land of Moriah some two thousand years in the future. From the time of the command of God to go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice Isaac to arrival was three days. In the faith chapter, Hebrews 11:17-19, we are told that Abraham considered his son Isaac dead from the first day but that God would raise him from the dead. Due to the obedience of Abraham and Isaac God by Blood Covenant was obligated to send His Son and when He died He raised Him on the third day victorious over death and hell and the debt of sin fully paid for all men for all time.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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