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)

Almost two thousand years have elapsed since John the Baptist stood near the Jordan River where he was baptizing people and pointed out the Lord Jesus Christ to the crowd with the words “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” These were words of hope and promise for the crowd listening to John. They had come to John the Baptist to hear him preach about the need to repent of their sins. However, with the coming of Lord Jesus Christ, John could look forward to God’s message being expanded to include the forgiveness of sins through a perfect Lamb.

About 1850 years before John spoke these words, Abraham had told Isaac that God would provide himself a lamb. While Abraham was trusting God for a satisfactory end to a sacrifice he was making (Genesis 22) his words indicate that he had a hope that in the future a special lamb would be provided which would fully satisfy God. Clearly the lambs that were offered in the morning and evening sacrifices were not sufficient since they had to be repeated. Neither were the many scape goats that were sent into the desert year after year to bear away the sins of the congregation. However, many centuries later after millions of animals had been killed in sacrifice, John the Baptist was introducing a man who had come as the Lamb to take away sin.

Who was this man? The Lord Jesus Christ was not an ordinary man because He had been born of a virgin and could rightfully claim authority and power as the Son of God. He came as a perfect man, who through his own choice kept himself from sin so he could be a spotless sacrifice. He came in humility and set aside any preferences He may have had to follow in perfect submission His Father’s will. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself willingly to cruel men who would take him as a common criminal and after torturing him have him unjustly sentenced to death by crucifiction. Through his personal, vicarious sacrifice on the cross at Calvary He satisfied the judicial requirements of God for a spotless and perfect sacrifice, which could bear the judgments deserved by the world of sinners from every generation. In that sacrifice he bore the judgment that you and I deserved. Truly the words of Scripture have been fulfilled in Him; He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

This raises two questions. First, if he has born away the sin of the world does this entitle everyone in the entire world to enter into heaven as cleansed sinners? Although He bore the sin of the world, the Bible teaches that the sacrifice only avails for those who place their faith in His finished work. Individuals must come in simple faith as undeserving and contrite sinners claiming His merit applies to them. For this reason Peter and Paul and other early evangelists did not preach universal salvation. Instead they told the Jewish and Gentile communities one single message, namely they must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.

Second, if he has borne away the sin of the world why are the effects of sin so much in evidence today?  It is clear from the Book of Revelation that the Lamb of God has not finished His work.  In Revelation, the Lamb is designated as the one worthy to open the scroll that contains the judgments of God against an unrepentant world.  As the seals are opened the Lamb begins the process of preparing the earth for His righteous administration when He shall sit upon the throne of the Lamb (Rev. 22:1).  We read about the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9) where He will publicly associate himself with the redeemed from this Day of Grace who make up the Bride of Christ known as the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9). The Lamb also possesses the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27).  Those who have accepted the Lamb of God as their Savior have their names written therein and will be in heaven eternally while those who have not accepted Him will be sent from His presence to the LakeFire.  Little wonder the hymn writer poses the question with regard to this book, “Is you name written there?”  Furthermore, John also speaks about the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:15) that comes upon an unbelieving world and causes men to seek shelter in the caves and to plead for the rocks to fall upon them.  Clearly in a future day the Lamb will no longer be passive but will vigorously purge sin from the earth by judging sinners and removing them from the earth.  When the Lamb puts away sin eternally will you be under His judgment or will you be part of that glorious company whose sins have been put away. Will you be among the international crowd drawn from every age that will proclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Rev. 5: 9).