John 1:29-36

“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!’” vs. 29

John the gospel writer begins the story of Jesus’ ministry, not with his baptism at the hands of John the Baptizer, but with John’s testimony concerning Jesus. John the Baptizer is the first witness, the first to recognize that the Spirit rested on Jesus, and he quickly spreads that good news among his disciples. The words he uses, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” are a forecast of what is to come, a vision of Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary. These words show us that Christians had begun using this image to describe Jesus very early in their life together. In fact the image of Jesus as the Lamb of God  continues to be used regularly in worship. It’s the hymn that is sung during Holy Communion in many congregations. It’s not that Jesus was a fuzzy cuddly lamb, but that he was the sacrificial lamb that had been central in temple worship, and his death has everything to do with forgiveness. Some people question that image, and wonder how one death can take away the sin of the world. Still the image persists, and we love to sing the Agnus Dei, (Latin for Lamb of God). It’s a precious symbol that, for many,  captures the message of sacrificial love better than anything else.

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite metaphor for forgiveness?