Behold the Lamb

“And he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’”  John 1:36

As he spoke to two of his followers, John the Baptist was in effect, telling them that they should henceforth leave him to follow Jesus. “The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:37). On the previous day, when John had first seen Jesus coming, he had said, apparently to all his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

This is the first use of the word “lamb” in the New Testament, and it is significant that it refers here to the Lord Jesus as the one great sacrifice for our sins. He is called “the Lamb” 30 more times in the New Testament, the final time no longer viewing Him on the altar but on His eternal throne (Rev. 22:3). Yet, even on His throne as our King, He is still the Lamb, and we can never ever forget that He once died for us that we might live with Him.

Long before this, Isaac once asked his father, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb” (Gen. 22:7-8). God did just that 2,000 years later, when Christ, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8), “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).

Then when God was ready to set His people free in ancient Egypt, He told them to place shed blood of a spotless lamb on the doorpost of each home and said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:13). In fulfillment of God came, and “Christ our passover is sacrificed [even] for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).

Now, like John’s disciples, it surely compels us, in the very depths of our souls, to “behold the Lamb of God” and follow Him.