Identity: Whose Are You? (Part 1)

When we behold Christ as our standard, we will no longer rehearse our failures, replay our shame, nor carry the weight of sin for which Christ already paid.

John 1:29-34 - ²⁹ The next day he 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 ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

What is Identity?

Is identity something that you create or something that you discover? This question is not merely philosophical; it is deeply personal. It underlies insecurity, comparison, shame, ambition, and self-perception. It has been flooding the book market, dominating social media, and fueling cultural movements. Our culture is obsessed with the question of identity.

The Problem

The debate of whether identity is created or discovered is not new. For centuries, on one side, essentialism has argued that you were born with a fixed inner essence waiting to be discovered. On the other side, existentialism has claimed there is no predetermined purpose and you simply exist and must create your own identity through personal choices.

People need to know that both continue to promise freedom, yet the result has not been clarity but confusion, anxiety, exhaustion, and cultural fragmentation. People are left confused and conflicted, asking, “Am I born this way, or do I make myself this way?”

The solution is in the gospel identity because the gospel identity does not trap us in this false dilemma but rather reveals that identity is not ultimately created or discovered— it is received through a relationship with Christ.

Last time in John 1:19–28, we witnessed exactly that in the life of John the Baptist. In John 1:19-28, when confronted about his identity, John knew who he was, who he was not, and most importantly, whose he was. That sense of belonging gave him confidence, courage, and clarity to stand against cultural, social, political, and religious pressures. Now in John 1:29–34, John the Baptist moves from explaining his identity, “who he is,” to declaring Christ’s identity, “whose he is.”

His move teaches that when your identity is rooted in Jesus, you stop obsessing over yourself and start beholding the One to whom we belong.

The Big Idea

When your identity is rooted in Christ, you stop wrestling over identity and start beholding the Savior. The question is, how do you know if your identity is truly rooted in Him? John’s testimony in John 1:29-34 shows that it will be evident in how you see Christ, speak of Christ, and surrender to Christ. Today, we start with the first evidence and will conclude with the second and third next time.

Gospel Identity Changes the Way We See Christ (John 1:29)

 John 1:29 says, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold…”

Notice that John sees first. What he sees is unbelievable. He sees the Creator Himself in flesh approaching. So, he cries out: “Behold!” That word “behold” is not a casual observation. It is a command. It does not mean glance, scroll, or analyze from a distance. It means fix your gaze, center your attention, refuse distraction. In the Greek text, it is ide and when placed at the beginning of sentences, it signals urgency that what follows must not be ignored.

Now look what follows “behold” in verse 29, “the Lamb of God,” This is the same Lamb that John the apostle, the human author of this Gospel, saw in heaven in the book of Revelation.

The context of Revelation 5:6-10 is that John is in exile, persecution of believers is everywhere, and he is taken up in heaven to show what must take place in the future. However, all that must take place was written in a sealed scroll in the hand of God, but no one was found worthy to take it and break its seal. In this context, Revelation 5:6-10 reads, “6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 

Could it be that John the Baptist’s eyes were opened and He received the same revelation when he saw Jesus walking toward him? I say that because though he was his cousin, yet look what he testifies in John 1:33-34, “33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 

John deliberately redirects attention away from himself and toward the Lamb of God. Just as he defined his identity in the preceding verses with what he was sent to do, next he describes the identity of Christ with what Christ came to do, John 1:29 continues, “who takes away the sin of the world!” 

Israel was expecting their Messiah to be a warrior like David, or a prophet like Moses. Instead, John announces that their Messiah is the Lamb of God. You see, when we have a distorted view of reality, we look for a temporary solution. They wanted to be delivered from Roman rule; God wanted to deliver them from Satan’s rule. Jesus in Matthew 10:28 said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The language that John uses to describe the long-awaited Messiah is soaked in Old Testament sacrificial theology. Every Jewish listener understood what this meant. The lamb was the substitute. The innocent suffered so the guilty could go free. Judgment fell on the sacrifice so mercy could fall on the sinner.

John is declaring that Jesus is not a temporary covering for sin but the final sacrifice who permanently removes sin. He is the fulfillment of the Passover. In Exodus 12, before the tenth plague that killed the firstborns in Egypt, including the son of Pharaoh, God instructed Israel to place the blood of an unblemished lamb on their doorposts. When judgment passed through Egypt, God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” That event pointed forward to the greater Passover when the blood of Christ would cause the wrath of God to pass over all who trust in Him. Only the blood of God’s Son could make God the Father’s wrath permanently pass over us. Here is the deal: because John’s identity was rooted in Christ, he could see what others couldn’t— the Savior, the Substitute, and the Sustainer. Can you see what others can’t see? What does that have to do with identity? Everything.

You see, the greatest identity struggle is not merely who we think we are; it is how that self-understanding shapes how we see reality. Our perception of life determines our priorities and practices in life. What we “behold” shapes what we become. At the heart of the identity crisis is a deeper disorder— a distorted vision of reality, misaligned priorities of the heart, and misplaced worship. Some worship power and prestige while others worship popularity and self.

That is why John’s command to behold the Lamb is not only theological— it is transformational. It is not information for the mind alone— it is formation for the heart. When you behold Christ rightly, your identity begins to shift— from self to Savior, from performance to purpose, from insecurity to security. As a result, three truths begin to reshape your identity:

You Will See Your Identity is Rooted in Christ’s Sufficiency, Not Your Perception of Life

Just as in the Passover, safety was not found in the sincerity of those inside the house, but in the sufficiency of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. Your security rests not in your perception of life that determines your priority and practices in life but who Christ is and what He came to do.

Spiritually speaking, you are declared righteous not because you achieved righteousness, but because Christ credited His righteousness to you. Socially speaking, why should you care about what others think of you when God thinks so highly of you that His Son died for you?

Imagine two families inside blood-marked homes in Egypt, one calm and the other trembling. Both are spared because deliverance was not based on their spiritual or social status but on the sufficiency of the blood. In the same way, your salvation is not sustained by the strength of your faith, but by the strength of the Savior you behold.

Application

When you perceive yourself to be weak, uncertain, and inconsistent, remind yourself that Christ is not. Your identity is rooted in the sufficiency of Christ and not your perception of self. He is your Savior, He is sufficient, and He will sustain you.

You Will See Your Identity is Rooted in Christ’s Security, Not Your Performance in Life

You are not defined by what you do or have done, but by what Christ does and has done. When your identity is anchored in the Lamb of God, you stop performing for approval and begin living from grace.

Think about a child who is constantly trying to earn their parents’ love by perfect behavior. That obedience is out of fear of rejection. However, a child who knows he or she is secure in his or her parents’ love obeys from gratitude, not anxiety. Many Christians live like spiritual orphans— working for love instead of living from love.

Application

Don’t perform to be accepted and validated because you have been accepted and validated by the only One who really matters.

You Will See Your Identity is Rooted in Christ’s Substitution, Not Your Perfection in Life

John understood that identity is first a spiritual reality, so he cared less about his image. When you see your sin and Christ’s perfection, your need and His sufficiency, you stop trying to improve your image and start reflecting His image. Then you don’t pretend to be who you are not and don’t labor to be what you perceive to be perfect because Christ’s perfection becomes yours.

Imagine a courtroom. The defendant is guilty. The verdict is just. Then someone steps forward and says, “I will take the sentence.” The judge accepts the substitute. The guilty walks free— not because innocence was proven, but because justice was satisfied. That is what happened at the cross. Jesus did not help you improve your image; He took your place entirely. When Christ becomes your Substitute, Savior, and Sustainer, shame loses its authority.

Application

When believers fail to behold Christ rightly, they swing between pride and despair— pride when they succeed, despair when they fail. But when we behold the Lamb, we grow in humility and confidence at the same time. Then your past no longer defines you, and your failures no longer imprison you.

Closing Thought

Let me draw your attention to a cultural dilemma that we are facing today. On one hand, the culture says, be whoever you are, and on the other hand, it says become whoever you want to be. The result is conflict, loss of family values, identity crisis, and even gender confusion. You see, when there is no standard for identity, everyone creates their own standard. John’s testimony does not point us to identity security in self but identity stability in Christ, because Christ is the true standard.

The problem is that many of us are not gazing, focusing, and staring at the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. If we “behold” Him as our standard, we will no longer live as though we are standing on trial every day— rehearsing our failures, replaying our shame, and carrying the weight of sins Christ already paid for.

Action Step

Every morning this week, declare aloud: “My identity is not in my perception of life, not in my performance in life, and not in perfection of life. It is in Christ’s sacrifice, sufficiency, and substitution.”

Appeal

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away your sins. When you behold Him rightly, shame loses its voice, worship gains its depth, and identity confusion fades.

Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, Application

• Observation                 https://www.kathyhoward.org/10-observation-tips-for-better-bible-study/

• Interpretation              https://www.kathyhoward.org/4-tips-to-help-you-understand-the-bible/

• Application                  https://www.kathyhoward.org/4-ways-you-can-apply-scripture-to-your-life/

Observation: What Does the Text & Message Say?

1. In John 1:29, what specific title does John the Baptist give to Jesus? What stands out to you about this description?

   
   

2. What command does John the Baptist use when he sees Jesus? What does this word imply about how people should respond to Jesus?

   
   

3. In John 1:29, what problem does Jesus come to address?

Interpretation: What Does It Mean?

1. Why do you think John chose to identify Jesus as the “Lamb of God” instead of using titles like king, warrior, or prophet? What message was he communicating?

   
   

2. What does it mean that Jesus “takes away” sin rather than merely covering it?  How does this shape our understanding of salvation?

   
   

3. How does the Passover illustration help explain substitution and justification? What theological truth is being emphasized?

Application: How Should We Respond?

1. How does “beholding Christ” shift the focus away from self-centered identity struggles toward Christ-centered identity stability?

   
   

2. The message says identity is not rooted in sincerity, performance, or perfection, but in Christ’s sufficiency, security, and substitution. Why is this distinction important for spiritual health?

3. In what ways do you try to “prove” your worth— through performance, religious activity, success, or approval from others?

   
   

4. What would change in your daily life if you truly believed your identity is anchored in Christ’s sacrifice rather than your own effort?

5. Are there areas where shame still shapes how you see yourself, even though Christ has already paid for those sins? How can the group pray for freedom in this area?

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