"Behold the Lamb of God!"

Scripture: John 1:29-34

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Meditation: Who is Jesus for you – Lord, Master, Healer, Teacher? John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites in Egypt from slavery and death. The blood of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) who sacrificed his life on the cross, washes away our sin and delivers us from everlasting death and destruction. It is significant that John was the son of a priest named Zachariah, who participated in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). In Jesus he saw the true and only sacrifice which can wash away our sins and free us from condemnation. John, a true prophet, saw firsthand what the ancient prophets fortold:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:6-7)
But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. (Jeremiah 11:19)

The Book of Revelations also depicts the Lord Jesus as the victorious lamb slain for our sins and now risen in glory at the Father's right hand in heaven: And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain (Revelations 5:6)
When John says he did not know Jesus he was referring to the hidden reality of Jesus' divinity – the only begotten Son of the Father in heaven. The Holy Spirit in that hour revealed to John Jesus' true nature, such that John bore witness that this is the Son of God (John 1:34). We can only know who Jesus truly is through the Holy Spirit who reveals him to us. Do you thirst to know the Lord Jesus more fully and to grow in the knowledge of his saving love and truth?

"Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart that I may love you more fervently and strive to do your will in all things."