John the Baptist had one message for the crowds: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" In this sermon on John 1:19-34, Pastor Ben Smith examines John's testimony of who Jesus is. John pointed to Jesus and declared two essential truths: Jesus is the Lamb of God, and Jesus takes away your sin. The wait is over. The promise has been fulfilled. Behold the Lamb of God.

"The Word became flesh to reveal the glory of God, the grace and truth of God, and to provide for sinners to be saved from the wrath of God. See the birth of Jesus for what it is: the eternal God, coming in the flesh to be in the presence of man to reveal His glory."

Salvation is not determined by man's worthiness but by God's authority. It is impossible for sinful man, blind in sin, to receive and believe on Jesus for salvation. But God, rich in mercy, grants with His power and authority, by grace alone, for sinners to receive and believe in faith on Jesus and to become children of God. From beginning to end, salvation is entirely the work of God—a truth that brings both humility and unshakable hope to all who trust in Christ.

The confidence you have in a promise is dependent on the one who guarantees the promise. The assurance of the gospel is singularly founded on the personhood of Jesus. Being the incarnate eternal God through whom all things were created and in whom the eternal redemptive plan of God is fulfilled. Jesus is not limited by the fragility of man—He has always been, He is, and He will always be. The hope of the gospel rests on God alone. And this is the hopeful word of verse 5: even though the world opposes the light, it will not overcome the light. Like the sunrise that dispels the grip that darkness has on the world and demands that it surrender in defeat, so is the glory of the light of the gospel. Darkness is presently warring against the light, but it will not overcome it.

In this message from Psalm 106, learn how confession, reflection on God’s faithfulness, and a God-centered perspective shape genuine, lasting thanksgiving.