Behold the Lamb
Jesus Christ died on the cross. John, who became apostle, and the mother of Jesus were nearby. At this same moment the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in preparation for the Passover. There were two criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus and they were still alive. Two or three Roman soldiers arrived to break their legs. Why would they do that? On request from the Jewish leaders, they wanted to hasten the deaths, because an important holiday was imminent. The Jewish leaders did not want the spectacle of Jews on crosses during this holiday which was Passover on the same day as a Sabbath. John called it a “high” day. Note that when the lambs are being prepared, no bones are broken. The authors of Matthew Mark and Luke mistakenly put Passover a day earlier. These authors were not witnesses nor were they Jews. Nor were they aware that Jesus is our Passover lamb. Because of His sacrifice, our sins are passed over. Recall that John the baptizer announced Jesus with the words, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). The Roman soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead. They made certain by piercing His side with a spear. This action was foretold: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10) The Roman soldiers broke the legs of the other two with a mallet or club. This was no doubt gruesome to watch. With broken legs the two could no longer push up on the bottom nail to get a breath. The body of Jesus was taken away by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man who already owned a grave site that he intended for himself. The other two were taken by the grave workers and put into a common hole in the ground. See how this was foretold: “For he was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, as he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:8,9) The book of John is the sole true gospel account. John was there.
When John announced, “Behold the Lamb of God” what was he thinking? Let’s go back in time when John was five years old. John had a lamb as a pet. John saw this lamb the day it was born. John gave it solid food for the first time in its life. John slept with the lamb. John would run into the field and it would follow John. And follow John home again. John and his lamb were best friends. After many months John’s dad killed his lamb and butchered it. John ate it for dinner. John’s dad called the day “Passover”. The next day John’s mom told John’s dad that he should comfort his son, because John was bawling his eyes out. The lamb was not there to play with. John’s dad went to him and tried to explain that he was obeying God when he killed the lamb, it was a tradition called Passover. That didn’t help. Then John’s dad told John something that John remembered the rest of his life. His dad said,
“The lamb had to die, so that we could live”.
Here are the relevant passages:
Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice of one calling in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; The rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
John 1:6-9
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
John 1:15
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
John 1:19-34
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord," ' as the prophet Isaiah said." 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose." 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John 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 is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." 32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but 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.' 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
John 3:23-36
Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 5:33-36 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
John 10:40-41
And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.”
Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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The book of John begins with John the Baptist. He is a prophet. What is he saying? The Messiah walks the earth and John will announce Him. He knows he is fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah from 700 years earlier. He doesn't yet know who the Messiah is. But John knows he will announce the Messiah when the time comes. That John knows the identity of the Messiah by revelation from God is evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. No one knew who the Messiah was, until the announcement by John the Baptist. The Nativity fable in Matthew and Luke undermines the witness of John the Baptist. John is the true gospel. John was there.