John 1:29

The next day John seeth Jesus, &c.— It seems Jesus returned from the wilderness about the time that the priests and Levitesarrived at Bethabara; for the day after they proposed their questions, he happened to pass by while the Baptist was standing with the multitude on the banks of the Jordan. The great business of the Messiah's forerunner being to lead the people to that Messiah, John embraced this new opportunity of pointing him out to them; "Behold," said he, "with the strictest attention and regard that innocent and holy Person, who may properly be called the Lamb of God, as he is the great atoning sacrifice, of which the lambs, daily offered by divine command in the temple, were intended to be types; which expiates and takes away the sin of the whole world; and is set forth to be a propitiation, not only for the Jews, for whom alone the sacrifices of the law were offered, but for the Gentiles too; that throughhis name whosoever believeth in him, may receive remission of sins." It is well observed by the author of the treatise called "Christ the Mediator," that this is the only sense in which a lamb can be said to take away sin. Comp. Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 9:28. Ephesians 1:7. Colossians 1:14.