Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (Series A, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany) Ps.40:1-11 John 1:29-42
The scripture readings for today are each so rich. We have the prophet Isaiah declaring how the promised one was called from his mother's womb to be the one who brings salvation to the people of Israel and more who is appointed to be a light to the gentiles.
It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
And we have Paul speaking to people of Corinth - to the believers in that city - and saying that they will be kept strong and blameless till the time of the promised one's return - strong through the spiritual gifts that God has poured out on Christ's people through the Holy Spirit - and blameless because of the what Christ has done for us on the cross. Rich stuff eh!
Today's Gospel lesson we witness the testimony that John the Baptist makes about Jesus - and it's description of how Andrew first visited with Jesus and then, on the following day, brought his brother - Simon Peter - to meet Jesus.
Today I want to focus mainly on the gospel lesson - and within that - mainly upon part of the testimony that John the Baptist made about Jesus on two separate days. The first part. "Look" said John on the first day, pointing to Jesus as Jesus draws near to him and his disciples "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
And on the second day John again says to his disciples as Jesus approaches. "Look, the Lamb of God".
Is John referring to the thousands of lambs that were sacrificed daily at the temple in Jerusalem?
The time of sacrifice was a time of communion:
The flesh of the lamb was consumed by the worshippers and by the priests who offered the sacrifices. Much as we do today as we gather to commune with God and to thank God for being our God - prayers were said, psalms were sung, scripture was read, and the people affirmed by their presence and by their offering that they were the children of God and brothers and sisters to one another.
Is it these lambs of thanksgiving - of communion that John refers to when he calls Jesus 'The Lamb of God'? Or is John referring to another kind of lamb. Which kind of lamb is 'The Lamb of God'?
We believe that it is both kinds of lambs - but in particular - we believe that the is the Passover Lamb that John the Baptist had in mind - that Lamb whose blood signified that those who sheltered behind it were to be spared death and given new life in a new land.
But when John points at Jesus and says "behold the lamb of God" - he says something more about Jesus than the images of the Passover Lamb and the Lambs of Thanksgiving might suggest to us. He says that this person, this Lamb of God, provided by God's own hands, does more than simply spare the lives of his chosen people and help to bring them to the promised land.
He is saying that this particular lamb - this particular person - has been given by God to take away the sins of the whole world. Sin, as every child of Israel knew, leads to death.
Permanent Death. Final Death.
That is – precisely the point of the story of Adam and Eve - who upon eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - come under the sentence of death. And that is the message of the story of Noah and the flood and the message of every prophet sent by God to the people of Israel.
Sin leads to death. Not just for the people that God has chosen - but for all humankind. As the Apostle Paul so simply puts it in his letter to the Romans
"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" What John is indicating when he points to Jesus and says "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" is that this man - this Jesus – is the one promised by Isaiah and so many of the other prophets:
He is saying that Jesus will free all people from the sentence of death, not just those people God chose at the beginning to be his people
Just as the Passover lamb is slain so that it's blood may cause death to pass by the homes of the children of Israel and it's flesh may sustain the people as they escape from their bondage, and just as lambs in the temple were killed so that the prayers of thanksgiving and dedication might be heard by God, So the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World will offer his body and his blood for us - and to us - once and for all.
From the time of his baptism by John, Jesus is led like a lamb to his eventual slaughter in Jerusalem. His teachings and his healings, the miracles he works and the journeys that he makes all of his ministry, leads to one moment - his sacrifice on the cross.
"Here is the Lamb of God" we say, as we stand stunned, Here is one who was unblemished - one who was with out sin - an innocent one taking upon himself the punishment that should be ours; giving his life that we may have life.
As all the saints and the angels in heaven say, "Worthy is the Lamb, the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!"
There is a story about: A tourist that visited a church in Germany and was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church's tower. He asked why it was there and was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold.
His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured. How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb.
The lamb broke his fall and was crushed to death, but the man was saved. To commemorate that miraculous escape, someone carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell.
That expresses a tiny bit of what it means when John says "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" The sense indicated by Isaiah with his promise of one "who will bring salvation to the ends of the earth".
And with it's visible symbol, the carving on the bell tower that gives testimony to what happened, it expresses a tiny bit of another important part of the gospel reading today - that of John calling out to his own disciples - and to all those who would hear his voice: "Look - the Lamb of God."
As you know it was because John the Baptist said "look" that Andrew and another disciple - most likely the Apostle John - turned and followed Jesus and became excited by what they experienced with him and became his disciples.
And it was because of Andrew telling his brother Simon "We have found the Messiah" and then bringing Simon to him - that Simon became Peter – the Rock of the Church. I call you to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Like John the Baptist, I do not want you to follow me:
How people are brought into the Church, according Church growth expects:
In Christian witness. Plans and methods don’t evangelize, but people do.
And more - I want you to be like John - Andrew - Simon Peter – and every disciple since. I want you to call to those who trust you and to those who will hear your voice
The Lamb of God my friends is here:
He is here - and God is in heaven above interceding for and protecting his people and calling to all the world to come and be healed. Dr. T. Niles: says Sharing our faith (the Evangelism) is like “one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread”.
We have been given the greatest message of all time: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbour as your self. Therefore reaching out to the world is based on the conviction of our faith. Sharing what we know, thus…….
We become THE KIND OF CHURCH THAT GOD HAS INTENDED US TO BE.
"It is not how much we believe, but how much faith we put into believing.
It is not how much we serve, but how much commitment we put into serving."
God bless you all.
Amen.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
January 20, 2008