The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

John the Baptist proclaims Jesus to be the Paschal Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.  In a world that celebrates everyone’s individual story, John is different.  He is not highlighting himself, but points the crowds and even his own disciples on the One who came after Him.  Our present-day culture, like all previous ages, needs prophets who point people to Jesus.

What is distinctive is not just that John speaks about Jesus, but what He says about Jesus.  He speaks about Him being the One who came to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity.  This voice in the wilderness had been sent by God to call sinners to repentance, a radical concept.  He confronts people with their own sinful condition and directs them to the sacrificial Lamb, without blemish.  It is such a poignant thread found throughout Scripture that the Church has confessed this certainty in the communion liturgy for nearly 1500 years.

As we come to the Lord’s table to receive Christ’s body and blood under the bread and wine, we are assured that we receive these gifts for the forgiveness of our sins.  We taste and see that the Lord is good as He gives us of Himself, peace that the world cannot give and takes away all of our sin.  Like those crowds that heard John’s message, we can be sure that we are forgiven of whatever sins we have committed solely for the sake of Jesus, the Lamb of God.  May our proclamation be as clear as the message that John the Baptist proclaimed so long ago as we point people to Jesus!

Prayer - Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan