◆“Behold! And I Saw!” (John 1:29–34) December 7, 2025

Today we read John 1:29–34. The passage begins with the words “The next day.” This refers to the day after John the Baptist had been questioned by those sent from the religious leaders in Jerusalem, and he had testified, “Among you stands one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.” From here, the narrative continues in chronological order, with “the next day” in verses 35 and 43, and “on the third day” in 2:1.

In today’s passage, John no longer speaks indirectly—saying “one who is among you” or “the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire”—but openly presents Jesus. His words are recorded in verse 29: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This is far more than a simple introduction. It is a proclamation to the whole world, a call that reaches beyond time itself.

When humanity sinned in Eden, God called out, “Where are you?” The command “Behold” corresponds to that ancient call. Human beings, unable to step forward honestly when God asks “Where are you?”, are now met by God’s gracious summons: “Behold.” Though the words come from John’s mouth, it is God’s own voice, God’s own call. John is acting as God’s messenger.

Let us look carefully at this call.

We have already touched on the meaning of “Behold.” It is spoken to all people, and therefore to you. “Behold!”—the word points to Jesus. It means “Look at Jesus.”

And who is this Jesus? He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” “The sin of the world” has two meanings.

First, it refers to our personal sins. The Greek word for sin, hamartia, means “missing the mark.” It describes a person out of alignment—distorted, deviating from what a human being was created to be. We all know we are not, in the strict sense, “complete” human beings. We know we are not what we ought to be. And Scripture teaches that this distortion comes from our broken relationship with God.

We have fallen from the image of God, ceased to live with God as God, and instead place ourselves at the center—thinking and acting out of self-centeredness. This is sin. This is missing the mark. And all suffering and sorrow arise from this brokenness. Life does not go as we wish. We do not obtain all we desire. Envy arises, resentment arises, and we sacrifice others to get what we want—often with what seem like reasonable justifications. God does not overlook this.

Second, human sin produces the sin of the world. Injustice, irrationality, discrimination, prejudice, arrogance—every societal evil flows from human sin. And God will not leave these unaddressed.

John proclaims God’s message: that the Son of God, the Savior Jesus, removes such sin, such human brokenness. Sin cannot be removed by human strength. We cannot defeat it. It must be removed, and we must have it removed by Another.

The word “takes away” does not mean simply brushing aside a stone. It means “to bear and remove.” Jesus is the one who bears our sin and removes it. He bears our pain and sorrow, the consequences of sin, and removes them.

Not everything is removed completely right now. But when we leave this world and stand before Jesus, our sin will be completely taken away. And when the Savior who came once returns as the victorious Lord, the sin of the world will be removed entirely. Here is our hope. Nowhere else is such hope found.

How, then, is sin taken away? The phrase “the Lamb of God” gives the answer. While it may not immediately resonate with us, the Jews listening to John would have remembered Exodus 12. When God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, He commanded each household to slaughter a lamb, put its blood on the doorframe, and eat its meat. Judgment passed over the houses marked with the lamb’s blood, but fell on those without it, and every firstborn died.

Those in the blood-marked houses were not morally superior. Many in the judged houses were likely more upright. What made the difference was whether they believed and received God’s word.

This parallels the death of Jesus. Jesus took our judgment upon Himself and died for us. Just as the Israelites ate the lamb and became, in a sense, one with it, we too “become one” with Jesus when we receive His death as for us—when we say, “His death was for me.” Then God’s judgment passes over us—not because it vanishes, but because Jesus has borne it. Our judgment has been executed in Jesus. We receive this as our own story.

Romans 6 expresses this by saying we have become those who “share in Christ’s death.”

Now, verses 31–34 tell us how John came to know this truth. He says he “did not know” Jesus. Of course, as cousins, he knew Him in the ordinary sense. But he did not know that the one he played with as a child was the Messiah sent by God, the Savior, the Son of God made flesh.

How did he come to know? By divine revelation. God taught him directly: “The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” John saw this fulfilled in Jesus.

Revelation is personal; others may not easily understand it even if it is explained. Yet, like John, we come to know God’s truth through God’s revelation. Thus anyone can know.

Many try to understand by study alone—reading many books on Scripture, learning various theories. Yet they still do not “see.” That is because it is not the way of seeing. A former prime minister once said, “Work and work.” But for us it is, “Pray and pray, pray and pray,” and then come to Scripture. As we pray earnestly, “Please reveal Your truth,” God reveals it.

“Behold!” God says. It is His will that you see. Therefore, let us respond, “Please let me see.” God will open the eyes of your spirit and let you behold.

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Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.