“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

— John 1:29

John the Baptist was the ­prophet whom God called to prepare the way for the Messiah. He explained that he was not the Messiah and was not even worthy to untie the straps of the Messiah’s sandals. The Messiah was greater than he, said John, because the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (see Luke 4:16).

But of all John’s statements, this was the most direct: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” All the Old Testament rituals pointed to the Messiah, the great deliverer who was to come—and now John identified Jesus as this promised Anointed One. Jesus was the spotless Lamb who would take away all our sin.

God gave his own Son to die so that we can live, for there was no way for us to save ourselves. Jesus is the Lamb of God, provided by God, to be slain to fulfill the law of God himself for our sake.

God laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was wounded and pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5-6). He bore the burden of our sins on the cross. He died for our sins. He paid the entire debt that we owed. And he reconciled us to God, giving us forgiveness and eternal life.

Lord, thank you for helping us see and believe that we can be saved from sin and death—and that this is possible through Christ alone. We praise your name and give thanks in him. Amen.