Q1. Prophetic Insight

[Delivered]

The second question resonates with me, about the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world". This is a foreshadowing of the great mystery that Paul talks about in Ephesian which is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs part of God's people. Up to this time, the Jews have a unique place in the world religions, because they are monotheistic, because they worship the CREATOR! THE God. And anyone who wanted to worship God with them, must covenant with them and follow their law. they were forbidden to fraternize with the peoples surrounding them, and the gentiles were not allowed in to see any part of the temple rites. They are told not even to take on the habits of the surrounding nations (such as tattooing or cutting themselves). Now, John the Baptist is telling them that there is a Jewish Man...the Messiah whom they have been wanting and expecting...who will bring the whole world into His redemption. Yeah, this was pretty amazing stuff. IS pretty amazing stuff!

The lamb being a sacrifice. Surely the Jewish people hearing J the B knew what "lamb" meant and "take away" and "sin" ...but here before them is a MAN! And John is calling Him a Lamb from God. A Man who is a Lamb? this must have been pretty difficult to wrap their brains around. Hm. food for thought, to be sure! Amen! Thank You Jesus, Lamb of God! The Lamb who was slain and now lives! Amen!

I say Amen to your answer.

[Stan]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

He was a Jew speaking to Jews who were use to sacrificing lamb for their sins. He was endowed with the Holy Spirit from birth so I believe that he knew that Jesus had come to save people from their sin through the sacrifice of His own body. The idea of saving all people through one sacrifice had to be strange for the Jews to believe since they had been sacrificing a lamb for each person and that only push off their sin for a year.

[bokchoon]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

Because lambs were commonly used by the Jews for sacrifices to obtain forgiveness for sin.therefore Lamb of God refer to the sacrifices sent by God for the atonment of our sin.

The whole world is being sinful due to Adam and Eve start to betray God and all the people of the world not doing the God's way and there if no way of get away of sins only through Jesus Christ who sacrifice on the cross to takeway all our sins so that we can be united again with God.

[Tascha]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29).

For John to call Jesus God's Lamb who would take away the sins of the world he had to know from God that in his (John's) mission as forerunner he was to proclaim the messiah's purpose - that of savior! but how much he understood is always a real point of question to me. Remember John sending his own disciples to Jesus and asking if He really was the one they looked for? I really think John like the writers of scripture was speaking God's words! The wonder to me is that in a real sense John is an old testament prophet who died without the cross happening! he may very well be included in the reference in 1Peter 1:11-12 as one who searched to know God's great gracious plan!

How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

This is still something only God really understands!! but as others have said to the Jews this would be hard to hear with understanding! All the individual parts - a lamb's blood for sacrifice, God requiring a sacrifice for sin, all the people of the world being sinners, the personal need for atonement... all these things because of the Old Covenant the Jews would understand better than we do but it is only now that as Paul says that God's secret is explained, a people of God from both Jews and Gentiles!! Thanks be to God!!

[Pearl]

How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice?

Because in that day lambs were commonly usded by the Jews for sacrifices to obtain forgiveness for sin.

How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

This was such a radical concept because it had never been done before, not someone who could take away the sins of the world. This was not a benefit for everyone, but for the Jews alone at that time.

[dgc1957]

I think the people of that day, that knew the scriptures, would think of Abraham and Issac on the mountain when God provided the lamb for sacrifice. On that day that Abraham was willing to give his son as a sacrifice, but God provided the lamb.

It was radical because it was unheard of. Never had anyone taken responsibility for the sins of the world.

[RichardB]

I think the people of that day, that knew the scriptures, would think of Abraham and Issac on the mountain when God provided the lamb for sacrifice. On that day that Abraham was willing to give his son as a sacrifice, but God provided the lamb.

I agree. And He provided the Lamb of God, Jesus. I think the lamb provided for Abraham pointed to this.

It was radical because it was unheard of. Never had anyone taken responsibility for the sins of the world.

The Letter to the Hebrews, 7:27 shows how radical this was, in contrasting the regular sacrifices in the temple with Jesus' sacrifice, "once for all".

[esther414]

I think John the Baptist used "Lamb" because that was the easiest term to teach other people that Jesus would one day choose to sacrifice himself, according to the will of God in order to save humanity from total separation from God. John knew who Jesus was from the womb, he leaped inside Elizabeth's womb when Mary came to her and was pregnant.

[Magda]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

[Magda]

This is because in the old times before Christ, when the people of Isreal offend God, they were known to make sacrifices, which were meant to appease God. Another case is that of Abraham, who God asked to sacrifice his son but was later given a Lamb by God to make the sacrifice. Johns statement about the lamb of God refered to sacrifice because he had been preaching repentance and blotting of sins, since he refered to Jesus as the Lamb of God it means he would be a sacrifice to blott away mans sins.

It was contorvesial because it is difficult to understand how and why one person could sacrifice his life to save others for their sins

[janel]

Q1 In the Old Testament, with any offerings to God, the Jews would slaughter a lamb for

the atonement of their sins. In Luke 1:41 "And it came about that when Elizabeth

heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth

was filled with the Holy Spirit." John, is the forerunner of Jesus, is urging the

people to repent of their sins through baptism. He is in fact preparing the way for

the people when the Lamb of God comes. John, the cousin of Jesus, knew that Jesus

being the son of God is the sacrificial lamb for His people.

Romans 3:23 - 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'

In Romans 5:19 - 'For through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners,

even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.' Through

Adam's sin, death entered into the world but by the grace of God, one Man, Jesus

Christ was the sacrificial Lamb who died on the cross once and for all for the

atonement of the "sin of the world" Therefore, we are privileged people to have

Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

[Leah]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

The statement that John made was connected to a sacrifice because he states that He will take away the sins of the world and the blood sacrifice is the only thing that God can accept for our forgiveness. John's statement was radical because he wasn't saying just the Jews or just those people living in that time, but he was saying that Jesus was here for ALL people for ALL time

[Suzzn]

John the Baptist uses the phrase

[Craig]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

Beginning with a Jewish understanding of sacrifice and the atonement of sin(s), John's reference to Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" could not have meant anything but a physical sacrifice on Jesus' part.

God's sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the "sins of the world" was radical in that it went well beyond the Jews alone and included all humanity.

[ReconJos]

John's statement about Jesus being the "Lamb of God" referred to sacrifice in that any Jew who heard him would immediately recognize one of the Old Testament's primary sacrificial requirements - a spotless lamb - for absolution of sin from the individual or the Jewish nation as a whole.

I think the idea of Jesus being the Lamb who would remove sin from the world was a radical concept because the Jews of the day thought each individual had to bring a sacrifice to absolve just his sin and that of his family. There was no one lamb that would cover every single person on earth. Now here comes Jesus, being preached as a Lamb who would take away ALL sin - this was entirely new and foreign to the Jews and likely a primary cause for their persistent unbelief in the sufficiency of His sacrifice and atonement.

[JanMary]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29).

Perfect lambs, without any defects were sacrificed in the temple, their shed blood the atonement for the sins of the people. It doesn't matter which lamb mentioned (Exodus or isaiah), but it is significant that Jesus was sacrificed at 3:00 in the afternoon at the same time the lamb was being slain in the temple....I wonder if He could hear the bleating from the cross? God's timing is so amazing. He wanted them (and us) to "get it"...to understand fully Who He is and what He was and is doing in the world.

How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

In the Exodus God told Moses to tell the people that each family was to sacrifice a lamb for their sins. In that context, sins of the world would require lambs too numerous to count. That John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world, must have seemed too mysterious to imagine....a MAN to be sacrificed? For sin? Even His disciples didn't understand that He came to earth to die for their sin...and mine and for the entire world.."Whosoever believes in Him....."

[Lion of Grace]

John the Baptists statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice when he states "who takes away the sins of the world." The lamb was symbolic of Jewish sacrifice for the atonement of sins. The prophets spoke of the coming Messiah (Anointed one)as the Suffering Servant/sacrificial lamb. Jesus took these symbols on Himself as the Passover lamb.

Why was it so hard to comprehend Jesus as the Passover Lamb? An atonement for the sins of the world? I think it is the same today! The concept that one man, God's son would be a perfect sacrifice, taking on all the sins of the world and would make blood atonement for all of us once and for all, keeping us safe and secure from death, is amazing and hard to comprehend! Back then, even more so with beliefs of the Jews being the "chosen" race and Gentiles included in the sacrifice offering of Jesus. Also, up to that time, the Priests were only allowed to come into the presence of God to make the atonement offering and Jesus made the way for each person to reconcile with God individually through His righteousness and that was a big shake-up. Also, that a mere "person" would claim to be God and forgive sin was considered blasphemy. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus WAS proclaimed the Son of God and not mere man. Up to that time, the Pharisees taught that the Spirit of God had left the Earth with the last of the Prophets and would not return until the Messiah came. That the Holy Spirit came as a dove and proclaimed Jesus, "My Son in whom I am well pleased." only fulfilled what they taught.....yet most chose to not believe!

[Leila]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

The first mention of a lamb sacrifice is in Ex 12: The Passover (actually Genesis is the first in the case of Abraham.Isaac)

the blood of which was to be placed on the doorposts. On that night

the angel of death passed over every household that applied the blood

and they were protected. Those that did not - lost their firstborn.

Then in Leviticus: We have the various sacrifices for sin and

approaching God laid out.

Q.1b: How can one person take sin away for the whole world?

[livingwater]

How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice?. How was the comprehensiveness of "sin of the world" so radical a concept?

We know that John was referring to sacrifice by the fact that he said the Lamb of God "takes away the sin of the world". Prior to Jesus animals were used as sacrifices.

The phrase "sin of the world" is speaking universally, about everyone collectively. That's what makes it such a radical concept.

[debbi]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

In the old testiment people would sacrifice the best of their lambs for the forgiveness of sin so when John refers to the Lamb of God you know he is refering to Jesus because Jesus is of God and the purest of all that could be sacrificed for our sins. Sins of the world is sins of everyone and all world sins.

[Kerneydr]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29).

God had been revealing Himself to the Israelites for centuries. God had given them a symbolic way of dealing with sin through the temple sacrifices. All of that led up to "the Lamb of God".

How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept? The "sins of the world" is so comprehensive because it covers all sins of all people during all time. No sin big or small of any person regardless of race or nationality in the past, present or future is outside the scope.

[Jubilee]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

John the Baptist was born, raised,and schooled in his Jewish culture. He knows the tradition requires that a lamb must be killed and sacrificed for the

remission of sin of the people in other words to appease or atone for the sin of the individual or the whole community.

In the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and they realized that they were naked God killed a lamb and used the skin of the lamb to cover their

nakedness.

Before the Exodus God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites how to eat the passover lamb in Exodus 12 and what to do with the blood of the lamb. This is a

The lamb is a type or shadow of Jesus. Isaiah 53 is directly referring Jesus and everything Isaiah prophesied about the Suffering Servant or the Messiah has been fulfilled.

In other to cover up the concept of sin in this generation we use different kinds of euphorisms because the concept of sin sounds judgmental and harsh in

people's ears. The reason why Jesus came on earth is to be the sacrificial lamb that was slain from the beginning of the world. As the book of Hebrews says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

[haar]

John's reference about the lamb of God pointed to the sacrifice that Jesus will submit himself to do for mankind. The Jews used lambs for sacrifice for the forgivenes of sin in John's days.

The statement "sin of the world" was so radical becacause it implied that every body's sin would be forgiven automatically. The truth is that only those who respond to the call for repentace and acceptance of the Lamb of God as their saviour will be saved.

[IvoryEagle]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). We can only gauge our response on how the Lamb has been used thus far; sacrifices, blood on door post, etc. At this point it is to the average mind, conjecture, the magnitude of how He would take away the sins of the world.

How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept? It is still a radical concept. That is why the first installment of Faith is "belief." We must suspend what we think we know is real and possible. It is the ultimate in the "one size fits all" declaration.

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)

[jr4624]

Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?

John was raised a Jew . The Jewish religion revolved around sacrifices of many kinds to admit their guilt of sin, repent of their behavior and make reparations. The only way to atone for sin was by shedding the blood of their sacrifices. John had to be talking about a sacrifice because he was talking about taking away sin.

Before that, atonement for sin was mostly on a case-by-case basis, and available only to Jews. To say that there was to be a once-for-all sacrifice for all people was far removed from the idea that forgiveness was only available to God's chosen people, the Israelites.