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John's prior life was Divinely ordered for this evangelical apprehension of Jesus. Born of the lineage of Levi, he renounced all priestly heritage and claim, and even attendance at the Temple; and thus was lifted above the class interests and sordid motives which might have swayed him toward the worldly and temporal expectations of the Messiah, and disentangled himself from the meshes of rabbinical tradition. By his seclusion, the direct reading of the Old Testament, and his communion with God, his perception would be farther cleared to discern the spiritual nature of the kingdom of Christ and the innermost case and necessity of that kingdom — redemption by sacrifice. Notice —

I. The TENDERNESS of the message.

1. A Lamb — symbol of sweetness, innocence, harmlessness, patience; an idea peculiarly grateful to hearts pierced with sin and worn weak by the anguish of self-accusation.

2. An idea the opposite of the "wolf" element in man — oppres-sion, injustice, self-seeking, revenge.

3. The first death was a murder. Lamb-like virtues have never been admired.

II. The PREPARATION of the message. The all but universal hope of the Jews was of a warring, conquering King. How fitting that the disappointment should be broken by the proclamation of a Lamb! By His very peacefulness and harmlessness many would be prepared to surrender their misconceptions.

III. The SIGNIFICANCE Of the message.

1. The Divine appointment of the Lamb.

2. His atoning character, as foreshadowed by the prophets.

3. The redemption through His blood.

IV. The DEFINITENESS of the message. The "sin" of the world taken away from every one who will accept Him for a Saviour.

V. The PECULIARITY of the message. What an antithesis to other kings, whose path has been reddened with blood, and who have come and gone without the slightest benefit to the race. Christ comes to deliver and bless.

VI. The BREADTH of the message. "The world." not Jews merely.

(A. B. Groshart, D. D.)

I. THE PECULIAR NAME WHICH THE BAPTIST GIVES TO CHRIST. The Lamb of God. Let us serve Him faithfully as our Master. Let us obey Him loyally as our King. Let us study His teaching as our Prophet. Let us walk diligently after Him as our Example. Let us look anxiously for Him as our coming Redeemer of body as well as soul. But above all, let us prize Him as our Sacrifice, and rest our whole weight on His death as an atonement for sin. Let His blood be more precious in our eyes every year we live.

II. THE PECULIAR WORK WHICH THE BAPTIST DESCRIBES JESUS AS DOING.

1. Christ is a Saviour; not a conqueror, a philosopher, a moralist.

2. A complete Saviour; not merely makes vague proclamations of pardon and mercy, but takes away sin.

3. An almighty and universal Saviour. He died not for Jews only, or a few persons, but all mankind.

(1)  His work on the cross was more than enough to make satisfaction for the sins of all.

(2)  His blood was precious enough to wash away all guilt.

(3)  But the efficiency of Christ's atonement is for those only who believe.

4. A perpetual and unwearied Saviour "taketh." He is daily doing this.

III. THE PECULIAR OFFICE WHICH THE BAPTIST ATTRIBUTES TO CHRIST.

1. This baptism is not the baptism of water.

(1)  It does not consist either of dipping or sprinkling.

(2)  It does not belong exclusively to infants or adults.

(3)  It cannot be given to any minister or layman of whatever church.

(4)  It is a baptism which the Head of the Church keeps wholly in His own hands.It consists of the implanting of grace into the inward man. It is the same thing with the new birth. It is a baptism, not of the body, but of the heart. It is a baptism which the penitent thief received, though neither dipped nor sprinkled by the hand of man. It is a baptism which Ananias and Sapphira did not receive, though admitted into church-communion by apostolic men.

(Bishop Ryle.)

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KJV: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

WEB: The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!