John 1:29-34
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
John reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. As the Lamb without spot or blemish, the Lord laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all, so that by His innocent, bitter sufferings and death He made satisfaction for our sins, “and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2), and the satisfaction He made for sin is forever effective for taking away the sin of the world because it is an eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). This is chiefly what John means when He preaches that Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Christ applies the benefits of His suffering and death when we believe the gospel. When we trust God’s promises in Christ, He forgives our sins. They are detached from us and removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). This is why we sing these words of John in the Divine Service immediately before Holy Communion. There Christ has mercy on us and takes away our sins as we eat and drink in faith, firmly believing His words that His body and blood were “given and shed for you for the remission of sins.” As we confess our sins and believe the gospel each day, Jesus is taking away the sin of the world—applying to us the perfect forgiveness He acquired for us on the cross.
When, living by faith in Christ’s promise, we fight sin in our mind and body by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we do not let sin reign over us to fulfill its desires. He works in us by His Holy Spirit so that we flee sinful lusts and pursue the opposite virtues instead. We do so in the joy that Christ takes away our sin and gives us His perfect righteousness by faith. As we do this each day, Jesus is taking away the sin of the world in us. 1 John 3:8 reminds us, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” He does this by taking away the sin of the world continually in us.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for taking away the sin of the world upon the cross by making perfect satisfaction. Take away our sins by repentance and faith in your gospel, and increase in us Your Holy Spirit to live holy lives. Amen.
