John 1:29-34 Jesus made a way for us to be cleansed from our mistakes.
After hundreds of years without a prophet speaking for God, John the Baptist served the people by speaking prophetic words. He called them to turn away from selfishness and turn toward God. When questioned, he identified one of his functions to be preparing the way for the Lord. We read the eye witness account of John the Baptist recognizing Jesus as the Messiah he had been predicting. John the Baptist described what Jesus would do in the future. The people hearing this were to expect Jesus to “take away the sin of the world,” and to “baptize with the Holy Spirit.” They were seeing the fulfillment of God’s promised redemption, a love in action, Jesus Christ a Savior of the world.
John the Baptist was seeing what the prophet Isaiah spoke of. “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down…he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s path to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. …like a lamb to the slaughter…unjustly condemned…buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He bore the sins of many.” – Isaiah 53
The early church taught this: “Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7
“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd the Guardian of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:24-25
“Jesus’ blood – his sacrificial death – is God’s solution for humanity’s sin. He pays the penalty for your sin. He wants to wipe the slate clean – forgiveness. But Jesus didn’t just stay in the grave. He rose from the dead.” – Steve Murrell Purple Book
Jesus Himself spoke to what John the Baptist said about God the Holy Spirit: “John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 1:5
What do we learn?
1. God speaks through people.
2. Supernatural things happened confirming the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.
3. Jesus brings a cleansing from sin, removal of guilt, and restoration of relationship with God.
4. God the Holy Spirit is active among us.
What should we do?
1. We should receive Jesus as Savior, turning away from selfishness.
2. We should receive this new life and the cleansing from our mistakes.
3. We should lead lives of love and peace.
4. We should be aware of God the Holy Spirit active among us.
5. We should be inspired to talk about Jesus with the people we see this week.
Jesus made a way for us to be cleansed from our mistakes.