The Lamb of God
J. Beith, D. D. John 1:29 The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. I. THE OBJECT OF SAVING FAITH. The Lamb of God was the original and universal sacrifice. The early worshippers were instructed to offer a lamb. A lamb was the morning and evening sacrifice. Isaiah lift. has reference to it. John pointed to the substance, of which these were shadows: Jesus in all His humiliation, down to the moment of His expiring cry. To this believers of previous dispensations looked forward. John would hays the faith of his hearers to coincide with that of Abel, Abraham, and the Old Testament saints. The way of life has never varied. Never has a soul been saved, never will a soul be saved, but by the Lamb of God. II. THE DUTY TO WHICH JOHN SUMMONED HIS HEARERS. 1. To receive the tidings he conveyed to them. No event had ever occurred like this. Man's attention in every age is imperatively called to this. It is the great central truth on which all history hangs. If rightly received, the message must tell on the entire character. 2. To banish from them whatever might oppose the reception of the message. The Jews had much to do in this way. The natural operation of the heart is to establish a righteousness of its own. Men depend on good character, station in the Church, the use of means. But we must be made to lose confidence in any such hope. 3. To rest positively on Christ. III. THE PARTIES CALLED TO THIS DUTY. 1. Generally all men, in every condition, of every character. 2. Those who thirst, and are conscious that they need a resting place, an object on which to bestow their affections, to satisfy their hearts. 3. Those who are pierced by God's arrows of conviction. (J. Beith, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. WEB: The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!