John Points to the Lamb of God
(John 1:19-34)
John the Baptist was baptizing people at a place called Bethany, across the Jordan River. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him a question. Priests and Levites were the men who served in God's temple. They asked, "Who are you?"
John told them plainly, "I am not the Christ." Christ means God's promised King, the Savior He promised to send. "What then? Are you Elijah?" they asked. "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No." Say the questions quickly and the answers slowly.
Finally they said, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John answered with words from the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" John was like a messenger running ahead of a king to tell everyone to get ready.
Some of the men who had been sent were Pharisees, religious leaders who studied God's law. They asked, "Why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." John was saying that he was not even good enough to be Jesus' servant.
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him. Point, just like John did. John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Behold means "Look!" John went on, "This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'" That means Jesus is greater than John. "I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."
Then John told what he had seen. "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." A witness is someone who tells what he has seen. John saw it with his own eyes, and he told everyone that Jesus is the Son of God.
A Curious Question
Why do you think John called Jesus the Lamb of God instead of calling Him a king on a throne?
Old Testament Connection
John said he was the voice from Isaiah 40:3, where God promised to send a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord. Then John pointed to Jesus and called Him the Lamb of God. God's people knew about lambs. On the night of the first Passover in Exodus 12, the blood of a lamb on the doorposts kept God's people safe. And Isaiah 53 described a servant who would carry the sins of many people. John stood between those old promises and Jesus and said, "He is here."
Discussion Questions
- The leaders kept asking John who he was. Why do you think John kept saying who he was not?
- John called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. What do you think that means?
- The Spirit came down like a dove and stayed on Jesus. Why do you think God gave John that sign?
So What? What Can I Do?
- When someone says "good job" this week, answer, "Thank you, God helped me." That is how you point people to Jesus, the way John did.
- Pick one person to tell about Jesus this week. You can say, "Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away sin."
- Each night this week, tell Jesus one thing you did wrong and thank Him that He takes sin away.
- Say John 1:29 with the hand motions for someone at home, then tell them what it means.
Memorize God's Word
John 1:29: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
- Behold cup your hands around your eyes like you are looking at something far away.
- the Lamb of God make soft lamb ears beside your head with your fingers.
- who takes away sweep both hands to the side like you are carrying something off.
- the sin of the world stretch both arms out wide in a big circle.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world. Help us listen to Your Spirit and point others to Jesus with our words and our actions. Thank You that Jesus is Your Son. In His name we pray, Amen.
Craft or Activity
Lamb of God Paper Plate
Kids make a soft cotton lamb on a paper plate and add the words "Lamb of God" so they can remember what John said about Jesus.
Materials Checklist:
- Start the lamb: Give each child a paper plate and a glue stick.
- Draw the face: Draw a simple lamb face on the plate with a black marker, then add googly eyes.
- Add the wool: Put glue on the plate around the face and press cotton balls onto the glue to make the lamb's wool.
- Make the handle: Write "Lamb of God" on a craft stick with a black marker, then tape the stick to the back of the plate as a handle.
- Say the verse: Let the craft dry, then let kids hold it up while the class says John 1:29 together.
Effective Teaching Techniques
- For Younger Children: Let them touch a soft cotton ball as you tell how John saw the Spirit come down like a dove and remain on Jesus.
- Prep Shortcut: Set out the craft sticks and put cotton balls in small bowls before class so kids can move straight to gluing.
- Classroom Management: Give each child a turn to hold the paper plate lamb and say one short sentence about John pointing to Jesus. Keep each turn brief.
- For Older Kids: Ask them to find Isaiah 40:3 in a Bible and compare it with John 1:23, then talk about what it means to prepare the way for the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did John say he was not the Christ?
- Because he was not. John told the leaders he was only a voice in the wilderness, sent to help people get ready for the Lord. His job was to point to Jesus.
- What does Lamb of God mean?
- John said Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God's people knew about the Passover lamb in Exodus, and Jesus is the One God sent to take away our sin.
- Why did the Spirit come down like a dove?
- It was a sign for John. God had told him to watch for the Spirit coming down and staying on someone. When John saw it happen to Jesus, he said Jesus is the Son of God.