The testimonies of Jesus
In John 1, we find four amazing testimonies of Jesus by John.
- Jesus is Lord
John 1:23(AMP) He said, “I am THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Isaiah 40:3-5(AMP) A voice of one is calling out, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness [remove the obstacles]; Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God. “Every valley shall be raised, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged places a broad valley. “And the glory and majesty and splendor of the LORD will be revealed, And all humanity shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
- Jesus is Superior
John 1:26-27(AMP) John answered them, “I baptize [only] in water, but among you there stands One whom you do not recognize and of whom you know nothing. It is He [the preeminent One] who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie [even as His slave].”
- Jesus is Before
John 1:30(AMP) This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’ - Jesus is the Lamb
John 1:29(AMP) The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:36(AMP) and he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”
The sacrifice of lambs played a very important role in the Jewish religious life and sacrificial system. With the time of the Passover feast being very near, the first thought might be the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. The Passover feast was one of the main Jewish holidays and a celebration in remembrance of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. In fact, the slaying of the Passover lamb and the applying of the blood to doorposts of the houses is a beautiful picture of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Those for whom He died are covered by His blood, protecting us form (spiritual) death.
So, what did it mean when John said: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world?
First, it meant that the Godman would die. And not just die but die like a lamb dies—be slaughtered.
Revelation 5:9(ESV) And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
Second, it meant that the whole world would benefit from this. This Godman was the Jewish Messiah. But His death would take away the world’s sin.
John 1:41(ESV) He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Therefore, believe in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.
1 John 1:7(ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.