2103AFC011521 – Lamb of God
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John 1:29, 35-36 – 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
Genesis 22:8 – 8 Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Belovéd. This week, the Church returns to “Ordinary Time.” We have completed Advent and the Octave of Christmas followed by the celebrations of the Epiphany (showing forth) and Baptism (immersion) of Jesus. The scene we observe today is a continuation of the account of Jesus’ baptism in 
Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. The key verses we have today take place a considerable distance from Jerusalem – a bit over 20 miles – and the Jews who have come to question John have travelled out to that place to ask him who he was and by what or whose authority was he acting. He knew they were trying to find out if he, John, was claiming to be the Messiah. He told them flat out he was not. A short time later, he saw Jesus approaching and the Spirit moved John to say something astonishing to them but very familiar now: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The way the verse is written in Greek characterizes “sin” as a single immense burden or affliction; a curse born by all and common to all. In this short phrase, Jesus is designated as the “sin-bearer” of the entire world. He carries away the guilt of all sin as did the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:8-10 and also makes atonement through the shedding of his own blood. (See Leviticus 17:11). He is the perfect sacrifice, the pure and spotless victim, completely innocent of sin until he “became sin for us.” (See CCC §615-623) No longer was the expiation – the reparation and complete atonement of sin – solely a birthright of Israel; the forgiveness of sin was a possibility for the entire World – for every living soul who accepts the authority and love of God. Jesus took all of that upon himself, placing his human existence before God as a substitutionary payment for the guilt of our sin – and the payment for sin is death. He accepted death for every kind of sin we can, and do, commit. What kinds of sin are included in that?
I think of it as three different kinds of sin. First there is sin against God. Next there is sin against our neighbors. Lastly there is sin against ourselves. We should have, by now, a pretty solid idea of what the sins against God include. He himself outlined them for us n the first three Commandments: 1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before me. 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. In these lessons over the years, we have looked at how easily we turn to idols in our day-to-day lives – famous people, sporting events, improper respect for our loved ones that places more importance on their needs than on God’s commands, and even simpler things which we choose to pleasure ourselves rather than actions taken to please God. We’ve also discussed our spontaneous prayers which are tossed off like no one’s listening – but God is always listening. “God! Did you see that idiot?” “O. My. God!” “Good@@@t, I told you, don’t do that!” “Oh, God, that was incredible!” These exclamatory prayers are not taken seriously by us; they should be. They are the little seedlings of the bigger, more sinister prayers we make when we use God’s name or his power or his majesty as a curse. We reap what we sow, and when we sow these seeds of disrespect it doesn’t take long to devalue our relationship and obligations to God to the point where he is given no significance in our lives. But it is the last group of sins that I believe is the most appalling. When we sin against ourselves, we sin against everything that God gives us – everything that is Good. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said about this; you’ll find it in Sunday’s readings.
1 Corinthians 6:17-20 – 17 But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Yes, Belovéd, we are bought and paid for, completely redeemed through “payment in full.” (← Check it out!) Every sin, every burden of our hearts rolled away, (↔ Music Link). Even the really stupid things we do to ourselves are paid for and we can say with confidence, “My Sins are gone” (↔ Music Link) and that’s more than enough reason to remember this pearl from the past, “Cheer up Ye Saints of God!” (↔ Music Link) There is basically only one thing we need to do to get all of this started.
We need to Listen Up! (← Check it out!) From Micaiah in 1 Kings 22:19 to Amos 7:16, we hear over and over “Now hear the Word of the Lord.” We have the B.I.B.L.E. that is chocky-jammed-full of Basic Instructions, and on every page of that wonderful tome we can hear God telling us “Love me and love your neighbors “as you love yourself.” Now I confess, I’ve always hears that “as” to mean “in the same way as.” But on re-re-re-reading what the Apostle Paul said to the Church in Corinth just up the page, it suddenly popped into my mind and heart that the “as” in “as you love yourself” can also mean “WHILE” you love yourself. Now, Belovéd, if we are going to love the self we have to live with, then wouldn’t it be a ton-and-a-half easier if that self was less of a sinner, or better still, a forgiven sinner? I don’t subscribe to the notion that once I say I’m a sinner that Jesus will automatically wipe away every sin in past, present, and future. Nope, I still need to acknowledge my sin, repent, and believe the Gospel. In most Christian lives that moment of repentance is activated (and re-re-re-re-re-activated) every time I listen to God. Do you remember what Samuel learned about listening to God? Check this out:
1 Samuel 3:7-10 – 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Jesus passed by John the Baptist while Andrew and “another Disciple” (probably the Apostle John) were with him and heard him say, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” It sounds to me like they were listening to their B.I.B.L.E. and remembered that “it was counted to Abraham as righteousness” when 8 Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. God has provided the Lamb for the offering, an offering that is completely consumed by Death and then completely restored by Life through God’s “perfect integrity, endless mercy, and eternal salvation through Christ our Lord.” They had found the Messiah by listening, by repenting, by believing the Gospel, by sharing the Gospel, and by hearing the Word of the Lord – “This is my Son, my Belovéd. With him I am well pleased.” Shall we not also choose to be the daughters and sons of El Elyon, the Most High God? Are not Heaven and Earth filled with the Glory of God the Lord of Hosts (JEHOVAH SABAOTH). We Have Been Told (↔ Music Link) that when we live out those first commandments, we have the fortitude to live up to the rest – even the ones that condemn us for the sins we commit against our own lives – lives that are our personal individual Gift from God. Tell him thank you by living in his Love. As the Father has loved his Son, so he also loves the Brothers and Sisters of the Son. And so, let us love one another in all righteousness and Grace. Then we, too, shall say, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World;” and also “Happy are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.” Amen.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
