B—Behold the Lamb

Journey through the Gospel of John from A to Z with rookie bloggers who are seeking to honor their good friend, Tina.

The engineer in me loves John's symmetrical use of numbers.  In this gospel he records seven "I am..." declarations of Jesus (the bread of life, the vine, etc.),  and seven signs that point to Him as the Messiah. He also includes seven witnesses that declare Jesus to be the Son of God.  First and foremost among these witnesses is John the Baptist:

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. (1:7)

The Baptist is also here recorded as saying:  "I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." (1:34)

 But perhaps most significant is his statement:  "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (1:29)

As the son of temple priest Zechariah, John had a clear picture in mind of a lamb that was being offered as a sacrifice. The blood of a lamb saved those who lived under it at the first Passover.  Jesus had come as the perfect sacrifice that God Himself offered.

This week we will remember that sacrifice.  We, too, can look to the Lamb and be saved, our sin covered by His blood.