Pointing Folks to the Lamb

John 1:35-42

 

INTRO: For the second time in as many days, John the Baptist unlimbers his cannon like voice and proclaims: “Behold the lamb of God.”  The first time that John made this proclamation he did so to a large crowd (vs 29).  The second time that John cries out: “Behold the Lamb of God,” he does so to two of his disciples: Andrew and John.  In both cases, he is pointing folks to the Lamb of God.  There is one message that needs to be continually repeated: “Behold the Lamb of God.”

“Behold the Lamb of God” is a message that needs to be proclaimed year round.  We do not need to wait until a certain season to proclaim the message of Christ’s stoning sacrifice.  When we point folks to the “Lamb of God,” we are pointing to the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ God’s Son on the cross.

In the passage we are studying today, we see John the Baptist, a preacher, directing two of his disciples to the Messiah (vss 36-37), and we see Andrew, a layman, directing his brother Simon to Christ.

 

I.        VSS 35-39, JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTS ANDREW AND JOHN TO JESUS

A.       Vs 35, The next day is the third day in a series of days just before Passover.  The first day was the day that the delegation from Jerusalem questioned John as to who he was.  The second day was when John the Baptist pointed the large crowd gathered near the Jordan River to Jesus.  On the third day, John the Baptist points two of his disciples, Andrew and John, to the Messiah.

B.       Vs 36, Not far from the place where John the Baptist and two of his disciples are standing, Jesus the “Lamb of God” is walking.  John fixes his gaze upon Jesus.  “Looking upon” is the Greek word emblepo meaning “to give a penetrating look.”  John is moved by the sight of Jesus because John knows who He is.  He is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  John knows why He came to this world– He came to die for sinners (Rom 5:8).  Because John knows who Jesus is and why He came, he cries out, “Behold the Lamb of God.”  This is the message needed today.

1. “Behold the Lamb” sent by God to a sin cursed world to become sin for us (II Cor 5:21).

2. “Behold the Lamb” who “suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (I Pet 3:18).

3. “Behold the Lamb” who carried our sins upon t he cross (I Pet 2:24).

4. “Behold the Lamb” whose blood cleanses us from sin (I Jn 1:7; Eph 1:7)

5. “Behold the Lamb” who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).

6. “Behold the Lamb” who rose from the grave for our justification (Rom 4:25).

a. Behold the empty tomb.

b. Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes.  He arose the victor o’er the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign.  He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose.

7. Sinner friend, “Behold the Lamb of God.”  Look upon Jesus the Savior.  The only way to be saved is to look to Jesus.

C.      Vs 37, The two disciples who heard John the Baptist speak were Andrew and John.  By trade these men were fishermen.

1. These men had heard John tell them about the coming Messiah.  Now, before their eyes, was Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb who would offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin.  John would later testify that he had seen the Lamb with his own eyes (I Jn 1:11).

2. Andrew and John saw more than just a man; they saw the prophesied Lamb of God.

3. They had heard about the Lamb, and now they see Him and follow Him.

a. They heard; they believed; they followed.  Sinner friend, hear the Word of God, believe the message of hope, and follow Jesus (Rom 10:17).

b. Believing brings fellowship with God (Col 1:21).

c. Believing means to pass from death to life (Jn 5:24).

d. Do you believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?  Then confess Him as Lord.

D.      Vs 38, As Andrew and John are walking toward Jesus to follow Him, Jesus turns and says to them: “What seek ye?”

1. “What seek ye?”  These are the first words of Christ in this Gospel.

a. This is an important question because some would follow Jesus for what they could get: for the loaves and fishes.  Others would follow Jesus because it was the popular thing to do.

b. Why do you seek the Lord?

2. “Where dwellest thou.”  This answer proves the sincerity of their hearts.

a. “Dwellest” is the Greek word meno meaning “to abide, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually.”  These disciples wanted to have abiding communion with Jesus.  Since that night at the East Howard Baptist Church when I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, I have wanted to be with Him continually (Psa 42:1).

b. “Thou”.  Their hearts were set upon the “Lamb of God.”  They were not after a blessing; they wanted the blesser.  When we have the blesser, the blessing will come.

E.       Vs 39, Whenever and wherever men seek fellowship with the “Lamb of God,” His answer is always “Come.”

1. “Come” is a word of invitation, a word of welcome, a word of love.

a. Centuries before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the invitation of “come” was given. “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa 1:18).

b. The invitation to the heavy hearted is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

c. The invitation to those who are lost and thirst after salvation is come (Rev 22:17).

d. Jesus looked up into the sycamore tree and said to a sin burdened Zacchaeus: “Make hast, come down.”

e. In John 6:37, Jesus says to all, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

f. Jesus the bread of life says in John 6:35, “...He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

2. “They abode with Him.”