John 1:29-34
John’s Identification of Jesus as the Son of God
Introduction: These verses
agree with the purpose of John’s Gospel for in them we see emphasized the Deity
of Jesus. John the Baptist explains to
his disciples how he knew who the Christ would be. John, most likely knew Jesus as they were
growing up. Jesus was a distant cousin
of John. Jesus was brought by Joseph and
Mary to the feasts in
“These things are
written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that
believing ye might have life through His name.”
I. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming
unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.
The day after the
priests and Levites had interrogated John he sees Jesus coming unto him. It is fair to say that John always had a
crowd around him. Though he preformed no
miracles the people believed him to be a prophet of God and the message he
proclaimed was one of hope and good news.
It was only good news to those who would believe the message and repent
of their sins. The verse says “and
saith, Behold…”.
This was a term used to get the attention of every one standing by. It is like someone shouting “look!” John used this to get everyone there to focus
on Jesus as He approached. It is most
important that John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Had he used the term Christ the minds of the
people would have seen a king. Jesus is
the Christ the promised messiah. Jesus
is the king of the Jews. Jesus is the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But
what men need to see in Jesus first and foremost is the Lamb of God. John had been preaching repentance. The people need to see that Jesus had come to
take care of mans sin problem. He would
be the sacrifice for our sins. Abraham
told Isaac that God would provide himself a sacrifice. All those lambs that were slain over hundreds
of years pictured the Lamb of God that truly does take away the sin of the
world.
God provided the plan for mans salvation in eternity
past. It was arranged before man was
made. God’s plan was to pay mans sin
debt by giving His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
According to Colossians
II. John
This is the third time
John has used the phrase “after me…before me….he was before me”. He wants everyone to know that Jesus is
greater than all, himself included. The
phrase “he was before me” refers to the eternal nature of Jesus. Jesus is
eternal God. John has thus emphasized
the Deity of Jesus to all who have come to him.
He is not ashamed of the truth and has gone on record that he believes
Jesus is God almighty in human flesh. John
emphasizes again that Jesus is greater than he.
It is Jesus that is preferred over any human being. He is the only one who can save. He is the only one who can solve the problems
which plaque the lives of men.
III. John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should
be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
John lets those gathered
about him know that he did not know Jesus was the Christ. He said “I knew Him not”. John knew who Jesus was. He was a distant cousin to Jesus. Their mothers were related and they no doubt
kept in touch throughout the early years of the lives of their sons.
IV. John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw
the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
John 1:33
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water,
the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and
remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John had been told to
look for the sign of the Holy Spirit.
After baptizing Jesus, John saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a
dove and it abode on Jesus. Matthew
tells us that there also came a voice from heaven which said “this is my
beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” You can not see a spirit. John saw the spirit and it was in the bodily form
like a dove. As far as I can tell, only
John saw the vision and only John heard the voice. It was after this vision that John knew that
Jesus was the Christ the Son of God.
There is a thing
that puzzles me here. The sign John was
looking for occurred after he baptized Jesus.
When Jesus came to John for baptism John forbid Him saying “(Mat
John, here in verse
33 states that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. What does this mean exactly? John baptized with water. This meant he used water to in the ceremony
of baptism. Jesus would baptize with the
Holy Spirit. This was done on the day of
Pentecost after Jesus ascended back into heaven. Act 1:4 And, being
assembled together with [them],
commanded them that they should not depart from
John prophesied
concerning the Holy Spirit coming upon the church and the cloven tongues like
as of fire abiding on those gathered there on the day of Pentecost. Jesus even though he had returned to heaven, was responsible for the events on the day of
Pentecost. Jesus baptized them with the
Holy Ghost. He empowered them that day
and gave them boldness to preach the Gospel.
Jesus was with the
church on the day of Pentecost. Jesus said
where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in their midst. Listen to the words of God as recorded by the
writer of the book of Hebrews. Heb 13:5 [Let your]
conversation [be] without
covetousness; [and be] content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.
V. John
John tells those
standing there that he saw this vision and he goes on official record that
Jesus is the Son of God. Thus far, The major theme of the Gospel of John has been the Deity of
Jesus. Jesus is God, eternal God. He stood as a lamb slain before the foundation
of the world. If you will believe that
Jesus is the Christ, that is to say that He and He alone is the savior of men,
and that He is the Son of God you can have everlasting life. You must turn from your sin and turn to God
and ask Him to have mercy on your soul, forgive you of your sin and save you
from the fires of Hell. If you will do
this He will save you. Romans