Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 1:29

"On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" — John 1:29 (ASV)

The chronological scheme of this section is indicated by the reference to successive days: the first day, when the delegation from Jerusalem questioned John (1:19–28); the “next” (second) day, when John saw Jesus approaching (1:29–34); the “next” (third) day, when John pointed out Jesus to his disciples and when they visited him (1:35–42); and the “next” (fourth) day, when Jesus “decided to leave for Galilee” (1:43–50).

The witness of John the Baptist was positive as well as negative and focused on Jesus rather than on himself. Verses 29–34 contain his presentation of the person of Jesus. Two aspects stand out in the titles by which he introduced Jesus. “The Lamb [GK 303] of God” reflects the sacrificial character of Christ’s mission, probably alluding to Isa 53:7 (cf. v.36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19). The sacrifice of a lamb as a substitute or as an atonement for sin appears frequently in the OT, beginning with Abraham in Ge 22:2–8. In Lev 14:10-25, a lamb was prescribed as a guilt offering. The book of Revelation also refers to “the Lamb” (GK 768; Revelation 5:6–13; 6:1–3, 5, 7; et al.), though it employs this title as a triumphal title, memorializing the completion of Christ’s sacrificial work. The title “Lamb of God” here in Jn 1:29 therefore refers to the atoning work of Christ, who by one final sacrifice of himself removed the guilt of our sins and opened the way to God. John the Baptist limited his own function to introducing Jesus and declared that only the latter could take away sin.