Reading for June 8: John 1:24-31

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John 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 is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." John 1:24-31 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• If Jesus is "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" does that mean that the whole world is saved automatically? If not, how do you resolve this statement?
  

(there were no questions in the book to match this passage so I made one up)

Comments:

Isn't it great how John was able to humble himself even though he had become so well known that the Pharisees were asking questions about him? He repeatedly made intentional statements to take the focus off of what he was doing and put the focus on the reason for what he was doing, the Messiah. One way he does this is by setting the delegation straight on the baptism he was performing and the baptism that the Messiah will be performing. The difference, he says, is that he (John the Baptist) baptizes with [only] water but the Messiah's baptism will be greater. In Matthew 3:11, we see more of what John says: ""I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

The day after John's interrogation, he gets to introduce the crowds to Jesus. He introduces Him as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." So immediately Jesus' mission is associated with redemption of sin. The concept of a sacrificial Lamb was well known to the Jewish people; they knew that sin and separation from God could only be removed with the blood of a sacrifice. However, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to be a king and a conqueror (in the worldly sense). God, though, in His great mercy wanted to provide salvation to mankind before sending judgment, so Jesus came first as a Lamb. His next coming then will be to judge and to conqueror.