“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 NIV)
John had a unique calling. He was sent to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets had spoken about Him for centuries, and now the moment had finally arrived.
John called people to turn away from their sinful ways and seek God’s forgiveness. Those who responded to his message were baptized as an outward sign of their repentance. For this reason, he became known as John the Baptist.
One day, while John was preaching, he saw Jesus approaching. Filled with excitement, he cried out, “Look, the Lamb of God!” In other words: There He is—the One I have been telling you about! Although the people did not yet know who Jesus was, John identified Him as the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior whom God had sent to take away the sin of the world.
We cannot see the Lord Jesus with our physical eyes today because He is no longer on earth in bodily form. Yet John’s message remains just as relevant. We are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is to be the center of our lives. As Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) says: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
What helps you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?