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The title "The Lamb" (Amnos) used by John in 1: 29 is not found in the other
three Gospels. A similar word Arnion ("little lamb") is used in the Revelation, where it
occurs as a title of Christ no less than 28 times (4*7). It is never used in the epistles of
Paul.
John now reverts to the purpose of his baptizing, and explains that it was appointed,
among other things, as a means of identifying the Messiah. Comparing the recorded in
Matt. 3: with that of John 1: we gather that John had a personal knowledge of the Lord
and knew about His birth and His exemplary life. What he did not know, however,
until the sign was given was that "Jesus is the Christ". That sign he saw, and so
John the Baptist becomes the first of a long line of witnesses, leading up to the closing
testimony of chapter 20:: "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20: 31).
The significance of the words, "The Spirit descending and remaining on Him", is
explained more fully in John 3: 34. As Alford says:
"We receive Him only as we can, only as far as our receptivity extends by measure;
but He, into the very fullness and infinite capacity of His Divine Being."
We must now pass on to the second testimony preserved by John, this time a
collective witness, given by Andrew, Simon, Philip and Nathaniel. This testimony,
however, must be considered as a whole in our next article.
#15. The Witnesses.
The Witness of John, Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel (1: 35-51).
pp. 169 - 175
"We have found Him--Messiah, Song of God, King of Israel."
We have, in John 1: 19-51 a testimony given on four consecutive days.
1st day.--The testimony of John to those sent to him from the Sanhedrin.--The
Lord, the Coming One, Who was preferred before him (John 1: 19-28).
2nd day.--The testimony of John to all who attended.--His baptizing at
Bethabara. The Lamb of God. The Son of God. He who baptizeth with
holy spirit (John 1: 29-34).
3rd day.--The testimony of John and Andrew.--The Lamb of God. The
Messiah (John 1: 35-42).
4th day.--The testimony of Philip and Nathaniel.--Him of Whom Moses wrote.
The Son of God, the Son of man. The King of Israel (John 1: 43-51).
We have considered the testimony of John the Baptist on the first and second days:
we have now to hear the testimony given by others on the two following days. First let
us discover the structure, so that the salient features may be made manifest.