"Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world". The lamb was associated with sacrifice. The OT required many sacrifices, but God would provide the one true sacrifice. Jesus takes away the sins of the world, He was a sacrifice not just for the Jews, but for all the world.
John knew that Jesus was greater than He, "because He was before me". This is generally taken to be a reference to the pre-existence of Jesus (indeed some translations make this explicit). Some commentators say that John did not know about Jesus' pre-existence at this point, but this in itself is an assumption. God revealed to John that Jesus was the Christ, so it is perfectly possible that God told him a little more about Jesus as well.
Jesus and John were cousins, but apparently had not had much to do with each other until this point. John's testimony about Jesus was based on revelation from God (note that Paul's testimony was also based on revelation from God, Galatians 1).
Note also that John saw beyond their blood relationship. God uses families, and we need to value our family members as parents, children, cousins, etc. But we also need to look beyond that to see the way in which God is working in and through their lives. John was also required to submit to Jesus, we too need to submit.
The confirmation for John was seeing the Holy Spirit descend as a dove upon Jesus. The visible evidence of the Holy Spirit was key at Pentecost, and on several occasions in Acts. When the Spirit comes there is positive evidence of His presence.
John's gospel is the one which most clearly portrays the trinity. Time and time again we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together, but in distinct ways. Some say that the doctrine of the Trinity is not contained in the Bible. This is nonsense. The term "trinity" may not be used in the Bible, but the doctrine of the Trinity encapsulates the clear teaching of the New Testament.
The evidence of someone being impacted by John's teaching and work was baptism in water, but the evidence of someone responding to Jesus is baptism in the Holy Spirit. When we respond to Jesus He does not leave us the same, but brings about fundamental changes in us.
John knew that Jesus was greater than He, "because He was before me". This is generally taken to be a reference to the pre-existence of Jesus (indeed some translations make this explicit). Some commentators say that John did not know about Jesus' pre-existence at this point, but this in itself is an assumption. God revealed to John that Jesus was the Christ, so it is perfectly possible that God told him a little more about Jesus as well.
Jesus and John were cousins, but apparently had not had much to do with each other until this point. John's testimony about Jesus was based on revelation from God (note that Paul's testimony was also based on revelation from God, Galatians 1).
Note also that John saw beyond their blood relationship. God uses families, and we need to value our family members as parents, children, cousins, etc. But we also need to look beyond that to see the way in which God is working in and through their lives. John was also required to submit to Jesus, we too need to submit.
The confirmation for John was seeing the Holy Spirit descend as a dove upon Jesus. The visible evidence of the Holy Spirit was key at Pentecost, and on several occasions in Acts. When the Spirit comes there is positive evidence of His presence.
John's gospel is the one which most clearly portrays the trinity. Time and time again we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together, but in distinct ways. Some say that the doctrine of the Trinity is not contained in the Bible. This is nonsense. The term "trinity" may not be used in the Bible, but the doctrine of the Trinity encapsulates the clear teaching of the New Testament.
The evidence of someone being impacted by John's teaching and work was baptism in water, but the evidence of someone responding to Jesus is baptism in the Holy Spirit. When we respond to Jesus He does not leave us the same, but brings about fundamental changes in us.
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