John 1:29 – Behold the Lamb of God
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). With these words, John the Baptist identified Jesus as the fulfillment of every Old Testament sacrifice. The lambs of Passover, the daily offerings, the Day of Atonement sacrifices—all were shadows pointing to this one reality. Jesus is the Lamb of God, and His blood provides eternal redemption for all who look to Him in faith.
The Voice in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was the forerunner prophesied by Isaiah—a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord. He preached repentance, baptized confessing sinners, and announced the imminent arrival of One greater than himself.
When Jesus came to be baptized, John hesitated: “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Matthew 3:14). He recognized that Jesus was the sinless one, the Coming One for whom he had been preparing Israel. The baptizer knew the Lamb.
The day after Jesus’ baptism, John saw Him approaching and proclaimed His identity to his disciples: “Behold the Lamb of God.” This was not a new revelation to John—God had shown him previously that the one on whom the Spirit descended and remained was the Son of God. Now he announced what he knew.
The Lamb of God
Why “Lamb”? The lamb was the most common sacrificial animal in Israel. Every morning and evening, a lamb was offered at the temple. At Passover, thousands of lambs died to commemorate the deliverance from Egypt. On the Day of Atonement, animals died to cover the nation’s sins. The lamb represented innocent life given for guilty sinners.
“Of God” indicates both source and ownership. This Lamb was provided by God, not selected by humans. God Himself supplied the sacrifice, just as He had provided the ram for Abraham on Mount Moriah. The Lamb is God’s Lamb—divine provision for human sin.
But more than provision, the Lamb is God Himself. John’s Gospel has already declared that “the Word was God” and “the Word was made flesh.” The Lamb is not merely from God but is God—deity incarnate, the divine Son taking human form to become the sacrifice humanity needed but could never provide for itself.
Taking Away Sin
“Which taketh away the sin of the world.” Not merely covers sin, as the Old Testament sacrifices did, but takes away—removes, carries off, eliminates. The Greek word suggests lifting up and carrying away, like the scapegoat bearing Israel’s sins into the wilderness.
“The sin of the world”—singular, comprehensive, universal. Not just sins (plural) but sin itself—the root problem, the fundamental rebellion, the inherited corruption that infects all humanity. And not just of Israel but of the world. The Lamb’s sacrifice has universal scope.
The Old Testament sacrifices could not take away sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). They pointed forward to one who could. They were the shadow; Christ is the substance. They made annual provision; He made eternal atonement.
Behold!
John’s cry is “Behold!”—Look! See! Pay attention! This is the most important announcement ever made. All of history has been moving toward this moment. All of Scripture has been pointing to this person. Behold the Lamb!
The word invites examination. Look closely at this Jesus. Consider His life—perfectly righteous, fulfilling all the law’s requirements. Consider His death—bearing sin He did not commit, suffering judgment He did not deserve. Consider His resurrection—validated by God as the sufficient sacrifice. Behold and believe!
John turned his own disciples toward Jesus with this declaration. Andrew and another disciple heard John speak and followed Jesus. They found the Messiah and brought others. The pointing function of John’s ministry was complete—he had identified the Lamb and directed people to Him.
The Passover Connection
Jesus was crucified at Passover—not by coincidence but by divine design. At the very hour when Passover lambs were being slaughtered throughout Jerusalem, the true Lamb died on the cross. “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Passover lamb’s blood protected Israel from the death angel. Christ’s blood protects believers from eternal judgment. The Passover lamb was eaten by the protected household. Christ is received by faith into the life of the believer. Every detail of that ancient feast finds its fulfillment in Christ.
John’s Gospel notes that at the crucifixion, “a bone of him shall not be broken” (John 19:36)—fulfilling both the Passover requirement (Exodus 12:46) and Psalm 34:20. The Lamb was slain according to Scripture, every detail ordained, every prophecy fulfilled.
The Lamb in Glory
The Lamb who died now lives in glory. Revelation repeatedly presents Jesus as “the Lamb”—27 times in that book alone. He is the Lamb on the throne, the Lamb who opens the seals, the Lamb worshiped by millions of angels and all creation.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). The sacrifice has become the sovereign. The one who was slain now reigns. The Lamb is the Lord.
Those He has saved will be with Him forever. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). The blood that takes away sin also clothes the redeemed in righteousness. The Lamb and His bride will reign together eternally.
The Invitation to Behold
John’s cry echoes across the centuries: Behold the Lamb of God! Look to Jesus. See Him as the fulfillment of every sacrifice, the answer to every sin, the hope of every sinner. Behold Him and believe.
What do you see when you behold Jesus? Religious teacher? Moral example? Historical figure? Or do you see the Lamb of God—God’s provision for your sin, the sacrifice who died in your place, the risen Savior who offers you eternal life?
He takes away the sin of the world. That includes your sin, whatever it may be. No sin is too great for this Lamb to bear. No sinner is too far for this Savior to reach. He came into the world to save sinners—even the worst, even the most rebellious, even you.
The Response Required
Beholding is not enough. The lambs of the Old Testament had to be appropriated—their blood applied, their flesh eaten. So Christ must be received by faith. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Have you received Him? Have you trusted in the Lamb of God for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you looked to Jesus as your only hope before a holy God? The Lamb has been slain. The sacrifice is complete. The invitation stands.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Behold Him—and be saved.