Lamb of God
Overview
- Testament: New
- Book: John
- Chapters: John 1:29-34; John 1:35-37
- Summary: John the Baptist’s twofold declaration “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” as Jesus passed by — the definitive identification of Jesus as the atoning sacrifice.
Details
The day after his questioning by the Jewish authorities, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and declared: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.” John testified that he did not previously know Jesus was the one — but he had been told that the one on whom he saw the Spirit descend and remain was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John concluded: “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
The following day, John stood with two of his disciples and again said as Jesus passed: “Behold the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard him and followed Jesus. This second declaration resulted in Andrew and an unnamed disciple (likely John the Evangelist) becoming the first disciples of Jesus.
The title “Lamb of God” is one of the most theologically loaded designations for Jesus in the NT. It simultaneously evokes the Passover lamb (Exodus 12), the daily burnt offerings (Exodus 29:38-42), and most powerfully the suffering servant of Isaiah 53:7 — “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.” The phrase “taketh away the sin of the world” specifies the scope and method: substitutionary, universal bearing of sin.
Key People Involved
- John the Baptist — The one who made the declaration
- Jesus Christ — The Lamb identified
- Andrew — One who heard the declaration and followed
- John (Apostle) — Likely the unnamed second disciple
Key Places
- Bethany beyond the Jordan — The site of John’s baptizing ministry where this occurred (John 1:28)
Important Verses
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” — John 1:29
Cross-References
- Foreshadowed in: Passover — The Passover lamb
- Foreshadowed in: Binding of Isaac — Abraham’s word “God will provide himself a lamb”
- Related: Baptism of Jesus — Preceded this declaration
- Fulfilled in: Crucifixion
- Related books: John, Exodus, Isaiah, Revelation
Notes
John the Baptist’s role in John’s Gospel is almost entirely a function of testimony — he is the witness, not the subject. The Lamb of God title reappears in Revelation where the Lamb (used 29 times) is the dominant title for the risen Christ. The movement from “Lamb slain” to “Lamb on the throne” is the arc of redemptive history. John the Baptist’s declaration effectively ends his own ministry and transfers his disciples to Jesus — a self-diminishment that he articulates explicitly: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).