John the Baptist, recognising Jesus, pointed to Him and said:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
While still alive, Jesus spoke to His disciples about Himself:
“The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles (non-Jews, i.e. the Romans) to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:18 – 19).
Then he said:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
And that was the way it happened. Let me use a historical event, which can serve as a parable.
Shamuel was a Caucasian prince living a couple of hundred years ago. His people seemed to be involved in constant war with the Turks. Once he besieged a Turkish city with his army. As usual his mother accompanied him. One night he planned a surprise assault, but the enemy was lying in wait. His secret plans had been divulged. The battle was lost. Distressed, Shamuel announced that the traitor, when caught, would be punished with 100 lashes of a whip. In great secrecy another attack was planned – but the result was the same. They had been betrayed again. But this time the traitor was caught. It was Shamuel’s mother.
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