Behold The Lamb

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world...

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.' " - John 1:6-9, 29-31 ESV

It is said that this John could have been the High Priest in Israel at that time. He had the right genetics but the politics of the day had someone else in that office. John was a priest 'outside the camp'. He was calling people to turn and ready themselves for the Messiah that was coming.

One of the jobs of the priesthood was to inspect the sacrifices that came in and approve them. The lambs could not have a spot or a blemish. They couldn't be lame or sickly.

In this passage we see John approving of Jesus' perfect status. If Jesus was to be the 'lamb of God' he needed priestly approval but He wasn't going to get that approval is the priestly system.

You and I are outside the camp but inside God's camp and He wants us to inspect the lamb. If this lamb is the perfect lamb we can also approve of the sacrifice He made. If the cross is applied to our life then we don't have to die there. Jesus already did for us.

Has a sacrifice been found?

John could have been bitter and the system that rejected him and held to degrees of hypocrisy. Perhaps he was but one day he saw the perfect lamb and his whole life came into focus. He thought he knew the reason why he did what he did, baptizing people with water, but it all came into focus when Jesus came into view.

Have you seen Jesus?

Have you inspected His life and His words? He is the perfect lamb. Seeing Him is the key to understanding our own motives. Seeing Him give us insight into God's mind and heart. Seeing Him bring light into our mind. Trusting in the quality of who He Is and what He has done on the cross brings a washing that makes us white as snow.

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