John 1 Verses 29-34

John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”   

John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  We are not told how much John and Jesus saw of one another while they were younger, or even if they had seen one another.  However, John had baptized Jesus and had seen the Spirit descending as a dove and lighting upon Him.  John called Jesus, the Lamb of God, which is of course a reference to the one who was to come and be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the Lord’s covenant people.  Moreover, John declared that this “Lamb of God” would take away the sin of the world, i.e., the elect world for which He came into the world to save.   

“This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”  John had prophesied by revelation from God that Christ was coming after John.  John here testified that Jesus was the man who not only came after him, but also was before him.  John is talking about the fact that Christ is the eternal Son of God.  Moreover, John recognized the superiority of Christ.   

 “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”  God sent John before Christ to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  By baptizing with water, those baptized were by their action declaring their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, even though he had not yet come.  John, by baptizing according to the commandment of God, was making manifest to Israel that Christ was coming and that he would take away the sin of His elect world. 

“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”  John testified that God had given him a sign, that the one to come would be manifest to him as he would see the Spirit descending and remaining on him.  Moreover, it had been revealed unto John that this one would baptize with the Holy Ghost.  Moreover, this one who would be manifest to John was the Son of God.

John 1 Verses 35 -39 

John 1:35 “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.” 

“Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”  Notice, that the two who heard John were at that time disciples of John.  A disciple is a follower of the teachings of another.  John declared to the two disciples as they looked upon Jesus as he walked, “behold the Lamb of God.”  Truly, the essence of the gospel message is contained in that short phrase.  Gospel ministers should call upon the Lord’s people to behold the Lamb of God.  Of course, the term “Lamb of God” is in reference to Jesus being the one who would sacrifice himself for the sins of his elect people and deliver them from the condemnation of sin.   

“And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”  This is the end result that a gospel minister should hope for when he delivers the gospel message to the Lord’s people.  The end result being that they become followers of Jesus.  In other words, become disciples of Jesus.  These two had gone from being disciples of John to being disciples of Jesus.