John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:42 ESV) John foretold that Jesus Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and give His life for the forgiveness of our sins.

Why sacrifice Himself as the ‘Lamb of God’?  Are we that bad?  Most of us think we are above average, not murders after all…But, the world then and now is wicked.  Then, people turned away from God and worshiped idols.  Psalm 106:38 says that they even “poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.”

Now, we do the same thing.  Since 1973, in the name of sexual freedom and materialism, Americans have killed over 40 million babies through abortion.  Abortion is the underlying issue in most major elections.

Two presidential candidates disputed just last week over who was the most pro-abortion.

The Lamb of God came to give us life: new life, abundant life, eternal life.  He took all of our sins to the cross and died the death we deserved.  He calls us to repent and to trust in Him for life.

The Twila Paris song says, “I was so lost, I should have died, but You have brought me to Your side, to be led by Your staff and rod, and to be called a lamb of God.  O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God!  O wash me in His precious blood, My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.”

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, TX www.rlcbaytown.org