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Friday, May 14, 2021

John Bible Study ~ John 1:29-34 ~ John the Baptist Introduces the Lamb of God

Our next look at John’s record of the good news leads us to the place where Jesus is introduced to the world. What is said in that introduction tells us about who Jesus is and what he came to do. The announcement is just as fresh in God’s Book as it was for the people who first heard it. The opportunity to respond in obedient faith is also just as much ours as it was theirs. 

John Bible Study ~ John 1:29-34 ~ John the Baptist Introduces the Lamb of God[1] 

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1 ~ ESV) 

We have seen that John the Baptist came as a forerunner of the Christ, preparing people’s hearts for Jesus to arrive on the scene. The gospel message now shows John the Baptist in direct relationship to Jesus, telling us who Jesus is and what he is about. In this study we will consider how these things apply to us today. 

Part 1: “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Our reaction to someone’s visit may be dependent on who the person is who is telling us about that person’s visit, or who the person is who is visiting. If the person visiting isn’t important enough to us, we won’t care even if our most reliable friend keeps nagging us that it is taking place. On the other hand, if we consider the person to have celebrity status, or have attached to them as someone of great importance to us in music, sports, religion or cinema, it may not matter in the least who first tells us they think the person is in town, we will want to check it out. In this Scripture we have two persons of great significance to God’s kingdom, John the Baptist and Jesus, telling us of the most important visit that has ever happened on earth. The invitation is to respond accordingly. 

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1) 

1.     What is the connection between what John the Baptist “saw”, and his exclamation of, “Behold…!”? 

 

2.    How much do you know about why John would announce Jesus as “the Lamb of God”? 

 

3.    What does John state as Jesus’ purpose in coming? 

 

4.    How would you describe your experience of Jesus’ work? 

 

Part 2: A Life That Reveals Jesus 

Not only do we need to consider who Jesus is in himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, we must also understand his identity in relation to everyone else. In part 2 of this study, we consider what John the Baptist had to say about Jesus’ status in relation to himself. The same would be true of us, and a necessary ingredient in building our faith in Jesus Christ. 

30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1) 

1.     What does John’s reminder of something he previously said tell us about the person he is now pointing out to everyone? 

 

2.    What does John admit was his starting place with Jesus that put him in the same position as all the rest of us? 

 

3.    What is the connection between what John said he came to do and what he was presently doing by pointing everyone to Jesus? 

 

4.    How does your experience of knowing Jesus Christ compare with the way John describes him? 

 

Part 3: The Divine Testimony 

One of the principles from God’s Book is that everything must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. When John the Baptist claimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, he was not the only witness in the picture. Our third look at this section reveals that God himself establishes his activity with the required number of witnesses. The rest of this gospel account will give us many more, with each one calling us to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts. 

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1)

 

1.     What did John see happen that identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? 

 

2.    How did John know how to interpret what he witnessed? 

 

3.    What effect did it have on John that he both heard the testimony of God and saw what happened to Jesus? 

 

4.    What does this do to affirm the validity of John’s witness to you? 

 

Conclusion: Hearing, Seeing, Joining 

After listening to John appealing to you that Jesus is indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world: 

1.     What do you hear God speaking to you about? 

 

2.    What do you see God doing in you through this part of his word? 

 

3.    How are you going to join God in his work? 

 

 

© 2021 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8

Email: in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)

 


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