In His adult years, at the dawn of Jesus’ earthly ministry, John the “Baptist” pointed toward Him and said: “Look, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29-30)

He came to take away sin! My sin! Your sin! The sin of anyone who will relinquish it to Him!

This reminds me of Hebrews 9:12-14: “… with His own blood [Jesus] entered the Most Holy Place once for all… if the blood of [animals]… sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ…cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

In Old Testament times the Law provided for sins to be “covered” and atoned for by sacrificed animals: sheep, goats, or heifers. They could temporarily atone for particular sins, but they could not take sin away. Now came a Lamb who could!

Amazing: I can walk with and serve the holy God of the Universe with my sins removed, and even my conscience clean! All because Jesus came as a lowly baby, to grow up and give His own divine blood as the offering to take away my sin forever. What depth of blessing! What a Christmas gift!