Behold the Lamb of God! — Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1857) Full Public-Domain Sermon Text Text: John 1:29 — “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Introduction John the Baptist’s entire ministry can be summed up in one sentence: “Behold the Lamb of God.
” Not behold Moses , Not behold the law , Not behold your works , Not behold your tears , but: “Behold the Lamb.” Many look everywhere else before they look to Christ. But salvation is found in looking to the Lamb .
Let us consider: The Person — the Lamb of God The Work — taketh away sins The Call — behold Him I. The Person — “The Lamb of God” 1. The Lamb appointed by God. This Lamb is not man’s choice, not man's invention, not man’s offering — but God’s .
The Lamb is God’s own Son. Foretold in Genesis 22, prefigured in the Passover, promised by prophets. 2. The Lamb without blemish. Christ is: perfect, sinless, holy, harmless, undefiled. He alone can stand in the sinner’s place.
3. The Lamb slain. From Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s cross — His whole life pointed to the altar. He is the Lamb: typified in Abel’s sacrifice, bound like Isaac, slain like the Passover lamb, offered morning and evening, bearing the sins of many.
4. The Lamb exalted. He lives! He reigns! He intercedes! He saves to the uttermost! II. The Work — “Which taketh away the sin of the world” Notice three things: 1. He TAKES AWAY sin. Not covers it. Not hides it.
Not excuses it. He removes it — completely. 2. He takes away THE SIN. Not merely the punishment, not merely the consequences, but sin itself . 3. He takes away the sin OF THE WORLD. Not of the Jews only, not of a few only, but of the world.
This means: all ranks, all nations, all ages, all conditions. He is a worldwide Savior . And He takes away: great sins, small sins, repeated sins, lifelong sins, hidden sins, scarlet sins. All sin. III.
The Call — “Behold!” Behold means: look with all your heart, gaze intently, fix your soul upon Him. 1. Behold Him suffering. In Gethsemane. On Calvary. Bearing sin. Enduring wrath. Forsaken of God. 2.
Behold Him bleeding. Every drop for sinners. 3. Behold Him dying. “For me,” says faith. 4. Behold Him risings Victor over death and the grave. 5. Behold Him interceding. Pleading your cause. 6. Behold Him coming again.
To gather His redeemed. IV. Why Should We Behold the Lamb? 1. Because life depends on it. Look and live. Look and be saved. Look and be forgiven. 2. Because nowhere else is there salvation. Not in: law, works, tears, prayers, religion.
Only in the Lamb. 3. Because God commands it. “Look unto Me.” “This is My beloved Son — hear Him.” 4. Because the Lamb is all you need. Pardon in His blood. Peace in His wounds. Holiness in His life.
Power in His resurrection. Hope in His promise. The Lamb is everything. V. Exhortation 1. Behold Him NOW. Do not delay. Every moment without Christ is sin. 2. Behold Him ALONE. Not Christ and self. Not Christ and works.
Not Christ and church. Christ alone. 3. Behold Him FULLY. Look away from everything else. 4. Behold Him CONSTANTLY. Keep your eyes on the Lamb: in life, in death, in eternity. 5. Behold Him PERSONALLY.
Say with faith: “He is the Lamb of God for me.” Conclusion Behold the Lamb! Come to the Lamb! Trust the Lamb! Rest in the Lamb! Let your heart cry: “I look to Him, the Lamb of God who takes away my sin.
” Amen.