(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. John 1:29-30

Explain:

He had just been questioned by people sent to him by the pharisees.  The next day Jesus shows up.  He makes two statements in these verses. The first is a bold illusion to a Biblical truth.

Behold the Lamb of God…

Lamb imagery is an important them throughout the Bible.  One of the first references to a lamb in the Old Testament happens in Genesis 22.  A father, Abraham, takes his only son to offer him up for a sacrifice.  

[7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? [8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:7-8)

When Abraham is about to sacrifice his son, God the Father stops him and provides a substitute lamb.

[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:12-13)

This idea of a substitute lamb is continued in the story of the Exodus.  The children of Israel, at the passover, were to kill a lamb without spot or blemish, and paint its blood on the doorposts of their house.  When the death angel would pass by their homes, they would look to the blood of lamb and pass over.  The oldest son would not die.  In a very real sense, the lamb was sacrificed in place of the son.

A lamb was killed daily for the sins of Israel as part of the daily sacrifices required by God.

Isaiah says that the suffering servant would be like a lamb lead to the slaughter.  This is offering and atonement language foretelling the substitutionary atonement that Jesus would ultimately fulfill.

John was pointing to an important truth about Jesus from the start.  Jesus was going to be that lamb of God.  Why?

which taketh away the sin of the world. 

As the lamb sacrificed would be a sufficient substitute for the sin of the nation of Israel, Jesus sacrifice would be a sufficient substitute for the sin of the whole world.

John makes a second statement in the presence of Jesus.  He alludes to what he had said recorded in the verses just beforehand.

(30) This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

What does “before me” mean?

It speaks to Jesus’ priority.  Jesus is greater than John.  Jesus is the Christ, and John prepares His way.  John knew that he was to prepare the way of the messiah.  It was the point of His whole life and ministry.

It speaks to Jesus’ pre-existence.  Jesus, being God, is eternal.  He didn’t begin at His conception.  He became incarnate as His conception.  Again, this is something that John now knew.  In this moment, he gets to declare it in the presence of Jesus Christ Himself. 

Apply:

A few points of application.

1. I need a substitute. I cannot pay for my sin myself. Thanks be to God for giving us His Son. He did not spare him, but gave him up freely for us all. 
2. I need to acknowledge Christ’s priority. He’s in charge. He’s the focus. He’s number 1. If I point to Him I have simply done my duty. This ought to be the focus of my life.

Response:

1. Do you know Christ as Savior? He can be your substitute. Trust in Him today!
2. Do you know Christ as Lord? Once you know Him as Savior, you will know Him as Lord. He’s in charge. Are you submitting to Him today?