July 2, an Informed Passion
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD."
John 1:29
How does this glorious statement apply to my life at this very moment?
First, consider the call to behold. The phrase, “John saw Jesus coming” (John 1:29), translates from a verb with historical reference.[1] Therefore, the verse can translate, "John, seeing Him all these times," indicating that he fully understood the identity of Jesus. He could therefore say with confidence, "Behold the Lamb of God." The tense of behold indicates completed action. In Greek terminology, John the Baptist said, “as I have seen Him in all these previous accounts and as I am seeing Him now, I tell you, Behold the Lamb of God” - see Him for Who He is! To better understand this idea, consider a pattern and a principle for beholding Him.
A PATTERN
A pattern of communication comes in part from the author of this Gospel – John. Having written epistles to the early church, John said of his time with Jesus, “what we have heard, seen with our eyes, looked at, and touched with our hands, the Word of Life” (I John 1:1). John accurately expressed Jesus to the first century church because he had a personal encounter with the Christ, just as John the Baptist had experienced. John the Baptist said “behold Him” because he knew who He was. He had truly seen Him. John the Gospel writer expressed the same, for he had been with Jesus. This demonstrates the pattern. You and I can say we have “beheld Jesus” because God has opened our eyes to who Jesus is, and we have placed our faith in Him. John the Baptist, and John the gospel writer serves as a pattern for our own reason to say “behold!” We can proclaim to the world with authenticity, “behold Jesus,” for we ourselves have seen Him for who He is as our Lord and Redeemer.
THE PRINCIPLE
From within the above pattern, we are reminded of the principle at work.
2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us that the God who said “Let light shine out of darkness, is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Although not in a corporeal sense, you and I have encountered Him, as He is in our hearts. Our spirit has been illumined by the Holy Spirit to understand Him. So, having seen Him in this sense, we behold “The Lamb of God.”
The principle at work is that of an informed passion. John’s announcement to “behold Him,” represented one who was passionately convinced of who Jesus is, and this always leads to Jesus being clearly proclaimed. Do you have an informed passion?
One may be informed about Jesus, but with no passion. This translates only a cerebral knowledge (a head knowledge with no relationship). Or, one may have a lot of passion, but no true knowledge of Jesus, which can translate to a life of shallow and superficial zeal.
If you personally know Jesus – as exemplified by John the Baptist and John the Gospel writer, then you have an informed passion, making it possible for you to live your life genuinely as an announcement to others: “behold Him.”
“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD." May our lives always proclaim this amazing reality!
Blessings.
READ
Read I John 1:1-3 and be encouraged by the words of one who has indeed been with Jesus.
[1] A. T. Robertson, Words Pictures of the New Testament.
