John 1:29-34

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 1:29-34

1. Let us notice the unique name which John the Baptist gives to Christ.
2. Let us notice the particular work which John the Baptist describes Christ as doing.
3. Let us notice the particular role which John the Baptist attributes to Christ.

"Let us serve him faithfully as our Master. Let us obey Him loyally as our King. Let us study His teaching as our Prophet. Let us walk diligently after Him as our Example. Let us look anxiously for Him as our coming Redeemer of body as well as soul. But above all, let us prize Him as our sacrifice and rest our whole weight on His death as an atonement for sin."

"Christ is a complete Saviour—He takes away sin. He did not merely make vague proclamations of pardon, mercy and forgiveness. He took our sins upon Himself and carried them away. He allowed them to be laid upon Himself and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.”

"Baptism with water is a most blessed and profitable ordinance and cannot be neglected without great sin. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is of far greater importance. The one who dies with their heart not baptized by Christ can never be saved?"

Questions:

1. John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God, and this is the key way we are to know Him. So, as Ryle points out, let us serve Him as our Master, obey Him as our King, study His teaching as our prophet, walk after Him as our example, and look anxiously to His return. But, can we say above all, that we prize Him as our sacrifice and rest our whole weight down on Him?

2. Ryle warns that sweet texts such as, Jesus taking away our sins, can become dangerously familiar to us. When is the last time we considered this with thanks and gratitude and praise? How can we keep it before us afresh day by day?

3. Ryle points out that baptism of water, though important and neglected as a great sin, is not as necessary as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And one of the ways we will know this is true, is when Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away sins is a precious truth to our souls. Can we say it is so?