John 1:29-36

Read John 1:29-36 

Helpful Background Information: 

• The book of John was written by John the apostle, son of Zebedee. John makes the case in his gospel for the divinity of Jesus. In this passage, John records how Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist affirms Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who he had been preparing the way for.

• John the Baptist was baptizing to prepare the way for Jesus. By baptising, John was calling the people toward repentance. The people he was baptizing were repenting of their sins and were meant to prepare themselves for Jesus to come. This is described in Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:4, and Acts 19:4.

• In this passage, John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God twice. This is in reference to Isaiah 53:7, which prophesied about Jesus’ suffering as a lamb led to the slaughter. This is also in reference to the passover lamb from Exodus 12:1-13. As this lamb, Jesus is the one who embodies God’s redemptive plan through Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

Reflection Questions: 

• In this passage, John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the one who would later atone for the sins of the world. How can you recognize the work of Jesus, not as a distant truth, but as a complete work that reshapes your heart in daily devotion?

• As Jesus is the one who takes away the sins of the world, as referenced in 1 John 3:5 as well, how can you live without shame because of this?

• John the Baptist prophesied and pointed forward to the long awaited Jesus. We as Christians are called to share this same Jesus with a broken and unrepentant world. How can you, like John the Baptist, align yourself with God’s heart for the broken? How can you share the truth of Jesus with those around you?