The Lamb of God

Bible Reading: John 1: 29-34

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him , and said,

" Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." (v.29)

Today, John begin his day like any other day, preaching to the people and baptizing those who heard his message and believed. That is until John saw something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly everything halted. For the first time the prophet was silent as his eyes became transfixed on a young man approaching from the distance. Pointing to Him, John called out with all the more vigor, " Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." Every head turned to see who the Baptist was pointing out and all eyes landed on Jesus.

Why did John call Jesus " the Lamb"? To modern ears this title does not have much meaning, but to those who heard it first that day images of the Passover lamb would have come to mind. You see it was the Passover lamb on that long never to be forgotten night when God sent the last plague on Egypt that was killed to redeem God's people from their years of slavery. Did John mean that Jesus would be killed, and thereby God's people once more redeemed from bondage? Was Jesus a spiritual " Passover Lamb" of whom the first lamb was but a shadow of a great one yet to come?

Or was John referring to the lamb that was offered up as the daily sacrifice in the temple. As most Jews understood at the time this lamb was sacrificed as an atonement sacrifice for the sins of the people every night and day. Did John mean that Jesus would be sacrificed like those lambs for the sins of the people?

Those in the crowd who knew their Bible, would have also recalled the word's of Isaiah in chapter 53 which tells how God's Servant would submit to suffering and death as meekly as a lamb on account of the sins of the people so that through its shed blood healing and peace would be given to God's chosen people. Did John mean that Jesus was the one would be, " brought like a lamb to the slaughter," and "wound for our transgressions", because, " the Lord has laid on Him the sins of us all"?

My friends, the answer to all these questions is yes! John meant all of those things when he called Jesus the Lamb of God. As God's children we have heard and sung many times John's words during Lent or a Communion service. We have in faith look upon Jesus just as those who beheld him that day so long ago as the Lamb of God, who borne our sins and the sins of the whole world suffering on the cross so that through his shed blood our sins could be forgiven and the angel of Death will pass over us on the last day.

Today we thank God that He has sent that Lamb for us so that we may too look upon Jesus in faith and behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Who takes away my sins and gives me life. May we love Him for His great love for us!

Prayer Hymn

Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain

Could give the guilty conscience peace

Or was away the stain.

But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name

And richer blood then they.

My soul looks back to see

The burden Thou didst bear

When hanging on the cursed tree;

I know my guilt was there.

Believing we rejoice

To see the curse remove;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice

And sing His bleeding love. Amen

Not all the Blood of Beast. Lutheran Service Book