²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
³⁰This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.'
³¹I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."
³²And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.
³³I 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.'
³⁴And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

• The title "Lamb of God" are mentioned only in John's gospel as John the Baptist proclaims when he sees Jesus appoaching (Jn 1:29 and Jn 1:36). This title may refer to:
  * the pascal lamb whose blood saved the people of Israel in the Passover (Ex 12),
  * the victorious apocalyptic lamb who would destroy evils in the world (Rv 5-7),
  * Jesus is crucified on the afternoon before Passover, this is the time when the pascal lamb are slain, or
  * the suffering servant of the Lord who is led to slaughter like a lamb and bears our sins (Is 53).
  Jesus is presented as a lamb, not only to bear our sins but also to take away our sins.
• The Spirit descends and "remains" upon Jesus. The Spirit staying with Jesus emphasizes the permanent relationship between the Father and the Son, and between the Son and the Christian. Jesus is the permanent bearer of the Spirit.

LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD

John the Baptist presumably did not know Jesus, but he is the first to bear witness and to proclaim that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who has the power to take away the sins of the world. John testifies as he himself sees and describes the Spirit's descending and remaining upon Jesus.

1. The people who went to John the Baptist on the bank of the Jordan River might have different attitudes: a great number came to be baptized, some by curiosity or just to be with friends, others to question and to criticize.

   By my activities in the church or in my community group, who am I in the crowd on the bank of the Jordan River?

2. Pausing the baptism, humbling himself, directing the attention of people to the person being in sight, John the Baptist courageously steps over his "ego" and acts under the light of the Holy Spirit; he turns himself as an instrument for the Holy Spirit.

   What are the motives in my actions?

3. John the Baptist chooses the most shallow spot in the Jordan River, where people from nations can travel or do business, for his mission. Therefore, the crowd includes not only Israelites, but also people from other countries, other cultures and economics.

   Is my mission limited only within my own, my family's, or my group's salvation?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community