06/04/2026
Blog Post Thursday! Invest in your spiritual growth with Pastor Schoon's newest post: Deliver us from guilt.
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Guilt can be an endless loop, yes?
John 1:29-34 says: The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “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.”
We live in a world that can feel defined by guilt. We never measure up to the people we idolize, we live in fear that we’re replaceable at our jobs, and we feel marked by the sins we commit.
We need deliverance.
Lord, deliver us from the endless loop of guilt.
When John the Baptist sees Jesus, does he see a man who might act as infinite judge? Does he see a Messiah who is there to gather a precious few of His choosing for salvation? No, he makes the defining statement: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin OF THE WORLD.
What can the Lamb of God do for you? Can He deliver you from guilt if He takes away the sins of the world? Does He take away just the painful ones or all of them?
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Here are definitive attributes of the Lamb of God as related through the words of John the Baptist in this text:
(1) Jesus was important before John the Baptist was baptizing.
John gives us the idea that he knew the Messiah was coming and was building His message before anyone else would/could notice. God gave John the Baptist insight into Jesus and how important He was and would be.
The coming deliverance of Jesus was announced at His birth. He is and would be the Savior of the world. The Deliverer delivers.
As you read through the life and ministry of Jesus, notice how often Jesus is compassionate and loving, especially to those who must have felt the burden of the religious system upon them. Jesus delivered hope long before the deliverance of the cross.
(2) Jesus’ prophetic power was noticeable and significant.
The Spirit remained on Jesus; I don’t think that’s insignificant in the details that John provides.
The anointing of the Spirit was one of the defining factors in the Old Testament of prophetic and powerful ministry. If God’s Spirit was upon you, you were set apart.
The Spirit was sent to rest on people often for a specific purpose, season, or crisis, and it empowered them to do something they could not do otherwise. Because it remained on Jesus, the Spirit was with Him fully and permanently in ways those of the Old Testament could only hope to have.
Othniel delivers Israel from oppression by the power of the Spirit in Judges 3:10. Gideon delivered the people from fear by the same Spirit. Jephthah delivered through Spirit-empowered leadership. Samson delivered through supernatural strength. Moses delivered through patient prayer and direction. Joshua was a man “in whom is the Spirit.” King David had the Spirit “rush” upon him. The prophets, filled with the Spirit (Micah 3:8) delivered with the truth.
This is the legacy of Spirit-born power Jesus fulfilled and that we receive.
(3) Jesus takes as much as He gives.
Behold, the Lamb of God, who TAKES away the sin of the world.
Yes, Jesus takes as much as He gives. He takes away all that sin, all that guilt, and all that pain. He gives instead, the grace of God.
People accuse God of taking away all the fun, joy, and good stuff, but, in reality, God takes the worst of humanity and gives the best of God. May He continue to take, and take, and take, and take.
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If Jesus is the Son of God who also happens to be the Lamb of God, then deliverance has always been His plan. The Israelites experienced it in Egypt and the realization of it has been given to the world for countless generations and continued countless generations to come. Once John the Baptist saw certain things, he knew Jesus was the Messiah. May the world continue to hear and believe the same. Amen.
