John the Baptist again points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. I believe that this is an example of divine inspiration (e.g., similar to what Jesus says to Peter in Mt 16:17). It seems the JTB understood early on that Jesus must come as the lamb who is sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. My text notes point to Genesis 22:8: "God himself will provide the lamb". However, we also know that JTB later questioned whether Jesus was the One (Mt 11). I am still pondering what this means, but it seems to tell us that even John the Baptist, a great prophet, had moments of doubt and questioning.
My notes point to v51 as one of those inspiring links between the old and new testament. Jesus, the Son of Man, declares himself to be Jacob's ladder. Jesus has opened heaven to those who believe. He is the path, the ladder, connecting heaven and earth. He is the only way out of our bondage to sin. In Genesis 28, Jacob is at a low place - alone in the world, isolated from his family, separated by his own sin and deception. And God comes to him and reveals this vision of the stairway reaching to heaven (of Jesus!).
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Divine inspiration, for sure. Remember in Luke 1 verses 15 and 41 and 44. "for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He will never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
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Love,
Mom