Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world... John the Baptist said it.
Wouldn't John have used the term "Lamb of God" just as Jesus used it? Whenever Jesus used the term, it was with reference to protection (as the Good Shepherd), not sacrifice. John didn't get along with those who did those sacrifices. Why would he be using the term like they did?
Jesus was speaking in terms of "Mercy, not sacrifice." God forgives our sins when we forgive others. I think Jesus and John would be thinking along the same lines.. How about you?
Puzzle came from http://gospelenigma.com Chapter 6
2007-09-04 12:58:47 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
well, i believe at this time they still used animals such as lambs as sacrifices. i'm not totally sure though.
2007-09-04 13:11:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
John was, in effect, pointing out to all people the way to life and happiness, Jesus, the one who “takes away the sin of the world.” As descendants of Adam and Eve, all humans are born under the tyranny of sin and death. Romans 5:19 explains: “Just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] many were constituted sinners, likewise also through the obedience of the one person [Jesus] many will be constituted righteous.” Jesus, like a sacrificial lamb, was to ‘take sin away’ and bring about a reversal of the sad state of human affairs. “The wages sin pays is death,” the Bible explains, “but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The apostle Paul, in urging Christians to live clean lives, attributes pictorial significance to the Passover. He says: “For, indeed, Christ our passover has been sacrificed.” (1Co 5:7) Here he likens Christ Jesus to the Passover lamb. John the Baptizer pointed to Jesus, saying: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (Joh 1:29) John may have had in mind the Passover lamb, or he could have been thinking of the male sheep that Abraham offered up instead of his own son Isaac or of the male lamb that was offered up upon God’s altar at Jerusalem each morning and evening.
2007-09-04 22:24:00 · answer #2 · answered by BJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Study up a little on Judaism in the Old Testament, and you will find the rites of the sacrificial lamb. It's blood covered the sins of the people. There was a whole process involved, but that is the basics.
The blood of Jesus Christ covers ours sins just as the sacrificial lamb covered the sins of the Jews. That is the Lamb of God that John is referring to. Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus.
2007-09-04 20:09:03 · answer #3 · answered by Perplexed 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Consider that John never personally spoke to Jesus when he was baptizing. The term "Lamb of God" can be used in differing terms. Simply because John spoke of it one way and Christ another does not take away the impact of the statement.
Besides, John was speaking to a people who only understood blood sacrifices.
2007-09-04 20:08:19 · answer #4 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Whenever Jesus used the term...."
When did Jesus ever use the term "lamb of God"?
"it was with reference to protection (as the Good Shepherd), not sacrifice."
Throughout the OT, it is a lamb that is sacrificed (hence the term "sacrificial lamb"). Also see I Peter 1:19: "but with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot...."
2007-09-04 20:40:58 · answer #5 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It refers to the lamb sacrificed for the sins of Israel and the fact that Jesus was the Lamb provided by God for the forgiveness of sins for ALL MANKIND.
2007-09-04 20:05:56 · answer #6 · answered by drg5609 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋