Behold the Lamb of God
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday (John 1:29-34), John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” I see it as important for John the Baptist to refer to Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” because that name reminds us that Jesus made the sacrifice for our salvation. He was not the warrior-king who destroyed enemies and achieved salvation through domination. No, it was out of love and self-giving that He reconciled us back to God and saved us from our sins.
As Christians, we see Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy we hear from Isaiah in our first reading (Isaiah 49:3, 5-6): “It is too little, the Lord says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel: I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” As we reflected on the Feast of Epiphany, the message of God’s love in Jesus Christ is meant for all.
It is in that light, amid the reality of violence and division we see in our world and in this country, that I was struck by these words of Isaiah: “It is too little, the Lord says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel.”
For me, these words are a challenge to us who seek to follow Jesus. It is too little for us as Christians to fall into hate and fear of those we consider “other.” It is too little for us as Christians to dismiss the needs of others and only focus on what we want. It is too little for us as Christians to demonize and dehumanize others and so justify disregarding the demands of justice for all. It is even too little for us as Christians to only care for me and mine and our kind.
This is not to say that we forego our responsibilities to our families and loved ones.
But we are called to strive for a world in which all families have the necessities of life; a world in which justice is a reality for all of God’s beloved children.
Why should we strive for just such a world? Because God did not act so “little” with us – Thanks be to God!
We may not be able to transform the entire world, but we can do our part where we are. I think this is what it means to “think globally and act locally.”
May we follow the Lamb of God in love and sacrifice.
I welcome comments and questions. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
