John 1:29-34 The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Peter 1:19 

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world could be saved in His birth, death and resurrection. No greater love exists than Jesus who would give up His life for a sinner like me. For God loved the world that He created and out His unconditional love He gave us a way where there was none to be reconciled to Him in the sacrifice of the holy Lamb of God. Jesus the Christ, all God all man. (John 3:16-17)  Carla

John 1:29-34

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” NKJV)

The Lamb of God… in the Old Testament, the Israelites sacrificed lambs at the Passover feast (Exodus 12:21) and as offerings (Leviticus 14:10–25). Jesus Christ is the Lamb that God would give as a sacrifice for the sins not only of Israel, but of the whole world (Isaiah 52:13–53:12).

John and Jesus were cousins, so they probably knew each other. But John apparently did not know that Jesus was the Messiah. All John knew was that he was to baptize with water and that the Messiah would be made known to Israel through him. God had given John a sign by which he would know the Messiah, namely, the descending of the Holy Spirit as a dove. The NKJV Study Bible

The purpose of John’s ministry was preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. The Gospel of John tends to use “Israel” as a positive label for God’s chosen people, identified ultimately by their beliefs, not ancestry.

The Spirit descending like a dove from heaven was the sign given to John the Baptist. Here, John  simply testifies as a witness to the event. The event itself is spoken of in the past tense. John did not know Jesus was the Messiah until God revealed it to him. John the Baptist is functioning as a formal legal witness to Jesus’ identity. Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

Mark 1:8

I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John 1:15

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

…this quote from Haruki Murakami comes to mind. “I had a choice: I could either let the darkness of the world swallow me, or I could do what I could to help make the world a little bit brighter.”
And a part of me says, “Really? But right now, that darkness in our world is really, really good at swallowing. How do I avoid it?”
We begin here: “You are the light of the world,” Jesus reminded us. “A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Yesterday, I joined the rally here with people in the Port Ludlow area. It was a wonderful reminder about collective efforts allow us to embrace the gifts of hope, and diversity, and empathy, and compassion, in order to say no to cruelty and hatred.
This I’ve always known: Words do matter. Rhetoric does matter. And a cruel worldview diminishes us. It diminishes me. And yes, it covers the light, and all that spills from that light. And I will tell you that I don’t want to lose the joy, passion, resilience, faith, compassion, kindness, courage or generosity.
My confession is that there has always been a part of me—which I sadly often used in my role as clergy—which was to “say nothing, and hope or pray for the best.” I cannot do that anymore. I’m so grateful to embrace any invitation to step up, and play my part in any movement for healing, and steadfastness, and reconciliation, and transformation. 

This is from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, "So; chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." 

Let us take heart in Robert Alden’s affirmation, “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.”

So. Sign me up. This little light of mine. Sabbath Moments