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JOHN 1:28 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 1:27John 1:29
“These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' — the Baptist's confession of Jesus marks the Gospel's first Christological affirmation from a human voice. "Lamb of God" (amnos tou Theou) resonates with Passover (Exodus 12), Isaiah's suffering servant (Isaiah 53), and scapegoat theology (Leviticus 16), conflating multiple atonement traditions. "Takes away the sin of the world" suggests both substitution and cosmic scope, positioning Jesus' death as redemptive act before the crucifixion narrative.

Church Fathers on John 1:28

The questions of the priests and Levites being answered, another mission comes from the Pharisees: And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. So far as it is allowable to form a conjecture from the discourse itself here, I should say that it was the third occasion of John’s giving his witness. Observe the mildness of the former question, so befitting the priestly and levitical character, Who are you? There is nothing arrogant or disrespectful, but only what becomes true…

Origen · 3rd century

Or, those very same priests and Levies were of the Pharisees, and, because they could not undermine him by blandishments, began accusing, after they had compelled him to say what he was not. And they asked him, saying, Why baptize you then, if you are not the Christ, neither Elias, neither that Prophet? As if it were an act of audacity in him to baptize, when he was neither the Christ, nor His precursor, nor His proclaimer, i.e. that Prophet.

Chrysostom · 4th century

A saint, even when perversely questioned, is never diverted from the pursuit of goodness. Thus John to the words of envy opposes the words of life: John answered them, saying, I indeed baptize with water.

Gregory the Great · 6th century
Read all 18 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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