Devotional‍

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Our first grandchild was born two months ago. There was much anticipation, wondering, and praying for her arrival. To finally hold her, kiss her, and enjoy her presence is everything. Her name is Iris, and what a gift she is to behold! She was not someone that my wife and I ever thought of or dreamed of in our early years. The thought of being grandparents was the furthest thing from our minds. But she has blessed us and made our hearts full with her arrival. Oh, the anticipation of the years to come with her as she grows!

John the Baptist was anticipating the arrival of someone.

Unlike my ignorance that there might be a grandchild in my future, John the Baptist was anticipating the arrival of someone. He had spent much of his life devoted to that man’s arrival and had been preparing for this moment. He exclaims, “Behold!”

...John called to attention that the person he’d poured his life out for had arrived: the Lamb of God.

To behold is to see and observe something that is especially remarkable or impressive. That might happen when I’m showing off my granddaughter, or when John called to attention that the person he’d poured his life out for had arrived: the Lamb of God.

John’s audience knew that he wasn’t just talking about any sheep, but the lamb that is offered and sacrificed for their sin at Passover. This was done every year and was religiously celebrated in anticipation of the final lamb that would die to atone for their sin. 

Jesus came to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work of laying down his life.

John qualifies his statement that this lamb is the one. This person, Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). It’s not an animal, it’s a man; it is God in the flesh. Jesus came to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work of laying down his life. He came to do what no lamb could actually do. He died for the world. He takes the sin away. He gives the most glorious gift of all, freedom from sin and the death that we all deserve. 

We desire, as John’s audience did, to have something better. We know what sin is. All of us have this condition coursing through our veins. We sin and know of its effects. We want to know that there is a remedy for what ails us. John speaks the words that we want to hear.

John tells us to behold and embrace the Lamb of God. He does wonderful things. He removes our sin. He is here, and he comes to us because we could never go to him. 

Jesus invites us to behold and embrace him as our savior.

Jesus invites us to behold and embrace him as our savior. As his people, we get to live in light of what he has done for us. We get to cherish and celebrate him. We get to behold him because he first beheld us.

Liturgy

Father,

You sent us your son
the Lamb of God,
who takes away every sin.
An incomprehensible truth —
the vastness of your love
for an undeserving world.

Though we know of the sacrifice,
as your son, beaten and bloody
made his way through the streets
to certain death,
we remain defiant, sinful souls
unworthy of you.

Yet you gave us grace
long before we even were.
As you planned our existence
we were already so loved —
forgiveness and atonement
part of our story.

Father, help us understand
the weight of all which lays
at the foot of the cross.
Let our sorrow be genuine,
our worship loud, our faith bold.

Make our hearts yearn for you
so that with our last breath
we call out for you alone,
the one who calls us your beloved.

In your name we pray,

Amen