“Behold, The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
It is a remarkable thing that John the Baptist did not know Jesus Christ as the Messiah until, as he put it: “…He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” (Jn. 1:33) John then declared, “I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (v.34) How is it that John did not recognize the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, even though as a babe he leaped in the womb of his mother upon the arrival and salutation of Mary, Jesus’ mother? It is because of one thing. God’s way is NOT man’s way. His way is such that in whatever He does, it is done in such manner in which HE, not man, will receive all the glory. It was by the word of God, and the corresponding work of the revelation by the Spirit, that John became convinced of who Christ was. God convinced him. It was not by the power of deduction, nor by the logic of one’s mind. It was by the revelation of Christ by the Spirit, confirmed by the fulfillment of the word of God, that John could soon after convincingly say to his disciples: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This statement, spoken in the presence of what appears to be a very few who were thirsting after God, is one of the most important declarations that John ever made. Indeed, it is one of the most important truths concerning all of mankind, the eternal need of sinful, lost men, to “behold” the only remedy, and answer for man’s sin against a holy God. The whole of the eternal destiny of mankind is wrapped up in this one statement, for there is but one Sacrifice for sin, and it is the pure and spotless Lamb which God sovereignly provided for mankind. Thus, John’s admonition to BEHOLD this Lamb of God is imperative to faith, and the consequent effect and power of the Spirit of God in Christ to save the lost sinner forever.
There is a second call to BEHOLD, but this time it is revealed through the words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. Paul began by quoting from the book of Isaiah, where God said: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” (49:8) It is then that Paul admonishes the believers in Corinth by calling them to BEHOLD a truth, a reality, an imperative call to faith in Christ: “BEHOLD, NOW is the accepted time; BEHOLD, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) The call of God to every believer is to face the eternal, yet present moment, concerning God’s perspective. NOW is the moment when the grace of God stretches forth to meet the desperate, entire need of the sinner. NOW is the time to believe God for the fulness of His salvation, all that is true of the believer in Christ, to be believed and lived by faithful obedience to Christ. The time is NOW to believe God for the full outworking of His will and purpose.
A third call to BEHOLD is found in the last chapter of the book of Revelation where Jesus declares: “And BEHOLD, I am coming quickly.”
Dear Father, Strengthen us to behold. In Jesus’ name, Amen.