It is now some six weeks after Jesus’ baptism. John is yet to be imprisoned.
• The righteousness that was “suffered” to be so in Christ’s baptism was a righteousness tested by temptation in the wilderness
• As Jesus leaves the wilderness the ‘tempter’ moved on to John the Baptist (John 1:19-28)
• On the next day (v. 29) probably a Friday (counting backwards from the marriage at Cana) John identifies publically Jesus the Christ
In his public identifying, the Baptist speaks seven things about the Lord (John 1:29-34):
• He is the Lamb of God
• He was before John
• He was preferred before John
• He would be made visible to Israel
• He is the anointed One
• He is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit
• He is the Son of God
Each of these seven things could, obviously, be a post in themselves. However, in those seven is the two-point essence of the gospel mission: Jesus the Lamb of God; Jesus the baptizer of the Holy Spirit.
• As the Lamb of God, He takes away our sin—cleanses us;
• As the baptizer of the Spirit He empowers—enables us—to live free from that sin in being witnesses of His saving grace.
The two-fold essence is akin to the Lord’s answer to the greatest commandment when He said, “the second is like unto it….”
• The question in the Old Testament was, “Where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7)
• The answer in the New Testament is, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
As the Lamb of God Jesus has solved problem of the sin of the world. This agrees with the words “as through one man sin entered into the world” of Romans 5.12. Just as sin had entered into the world through one man, so it is taken away by another man. The Lord has already solved the problem of the sin of the world (Nee, Gospel Dialogue, page 32).
The need for the Holy Spirit and His essence to the Gospel is being revived in these Last Days. And well it should be. But the question is, “How are we doing with that revival?” When is the last time we spoke about the sealing power against sin that the Holy Spirit provides? Or even suggested that someone be filled with His Spirit?
