February 25

The Lamb of God

When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” — John 1:36 BSB

This was the first gospel sermon, and it serves as a model for all preachers and teachers. John pointed his followers away from himself and toward Christ. His selflessness is evident throughout his ministry. He was just a voice announcing the coming of a King. John was not the Light but a witness to the Light. Even with crowds flocking to him, as soon as Jesus appeared, John directed them away from himself and toward Jesus. His entire ministry was focused on pointing people to Christ.

This is the role of all Christian workers—to preach and teach Christ, not themselves. They should not seek attention or praise for themselves but aim to direct others to see and love Christ. Like John, they should be willing to decrease so that Christ may increase. They should be content to fade away like the morning star as the sun of Christ’s glory rises.

John’s description of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” is also important. It points to Jesus as more than just a teacher; He came to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world, taking the place of sinners. Jesus was called a lamb, partly for His gentleness and meekness, but primarily because He came to bear our sins and die in our place. John declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Not only did Jesus take our sin upon Himself, but He also bore it away, into eternal forgetfulness, never to be remembered again. Those who come to Him are safe from condemnation forever. Their sins were laid on the Lamb, and they will never have to bear them again. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”