The Lamb of God Comes John 1:29-41
1) To Take Away the Sin of the World
2) To Give What We Need to Look For
When you think of a lamb, what do you first think of? Is it the cute, cuddly animal you see in petting zoos? Children love petting lambs for not only are these animals their size, but it’s surprising to feel how fluffy and soft their wool is. Maybe your first thought was completely opposite. You saw yourself going out to eat for a special occasion and what’s on the menu under meats? A sumptuous and delicious cut of lamb. But did anyone here first think of a sacrifice when you thought of a lamb?
For the Old Testament believers, that is how lambs were typically seen: offered up in sacrifice to God. It had been this way for nearly 1,500 years since Moses received the Law on Mt. Sinai. When Jesus first walked by John the Baptist, you wouldn’t have connected a sacrificial lamb with him, the Lamb of God. But that’s keeping in line with the season of Epiphany where Jesus appears in unknown or unexpected ways. As John the Baptist draws our eyes to Jesus, we see him come as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and who gives us what we need to look for.
To Take Away the Sin of the World
John the Baptist had no doubt when he called Jesus the Lamb of God. Last week, we heard how Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on him as a dove. That was one of the identifying marks of who the Lamb of God would be. Though Jesus was six months younger than John, he existed before John since he’s the Son of God. In fact, Jesus had been around before the beginning as an active participant in the creation of the world. As such, Jesus clearly outranked John because he was the main act, the headliner people came to see once the opening act was done.
How did John point everyone to Jesus? By calling him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. To fully understand this, we need to know how lambs were used in the Old Testament sacrificial system. Lambs were commonly sacrificed. There was the annual Passover lamb for each household. There were 2 lambs a day, one for the morning sacrifice and another for the
evening sacrifice. And there were any number more for the special, voluntary, and as-needed offerings for various reasons.
However, all these sacrificed lambs would be realized in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. When Jesus offered up his life on the cross, he was the last lamb to be sacrificed. He did what countless lambs over 1,500 years never could: take away the sin of the world. Our Second Reading from Colossians chapter 2 says it this way, “God erased the record of our debt brought against us by his legal demands. This record stood against us, but he took it away by nailing it to the cross. ” (Colossians 2:14 EHV) Sin is no more! For it has been erased by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Is that so? Could Jesus’ death on the cross really do all that? It’s incomprehensible to think that one sacrifice could take away all sins. How could Jesus’ death on the cross do what 1,500 years of countless sacrificed lambs could not? I don’t know about you, but this seems like one of those “as-seen-on-TV” kind of products. “For just $29.99, you can buy this frying pan with invincible Teflon, perfect pan-to-food ratio, and even heating. You’ll never burn your eggs again!” One single sacrifice can’t take away the sin of the whole world, not even if it’s the Lamb of God who’s sacrificed.
It’s also ludicrous to think that Jesus’ sacrifice could take away my horrendous sins. Our legal system rightly distinguishes between misdemeanors and felonies and selectively assigns bail and parole. Some crimes and criminals are worse than others. Some are so bad that the only fitting punishment is the worst possible sentence without any chance for parole. We know ourselves better than anyone else. Even if we haven’t committed a felony, we know how horrendous our secret, shameful sins are. They don’t deserve any leniency. And Jesus’ death on the cross, taking away the sin of the world, how could he take away that sin of mine? Not even the Lamb of God can do that!
But you know what? He can! The Lamb of God can, and indeed has, taken away the sin of the world. As a sacrificial lamb, he took our sins upon himself so he could be our substitute. Not some sins, not certain sins, but all of them no matter how many or horrendous they may be. Jesus was not our substitute in name only, but was treated as sin itself. That’s why the Father abandoned his Son while he was nailed to the cross, because Jesus became sin itself.
Having our sins upon himself, Jesus then paid the price as a sacrificial lamb would. Death is the required price for sin. That’s what Jesus gave it when he
breathed his last on the cross. If you wonder how Jesus’ death could pay for all your sins or your horrendous sins, remember Jesus’ rank. He outranks John the Baptist and every other human for he is the Son of God. As such, his death on the cross paid the price for the sin of the world, even yours.
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as the Lamb of God did what countless lambs over 1,500 years never could. Colossians chapter 2(:14 EHV) is correct in saying, “God erased the record of our debt brought against us by his legal demands. This record stood against us, but he took it away by nailing it to the cross.” So rejoice in what is yours because the Lamb of God. No matter how many or horrendous your sins are, they are no more. And it’s because the Lamb of God came to take away the sin of the world. This same Lamb also come for a second reason, and that’s to give us what we need to look for.
To Give What We Need to Look For
John the Baptist had two disciples who were looking for the Messiah, that is, the Christ. These two words refer to the same position of the Anointed One, the one promised from long ago to save God’s people from their sins. That’s what Jesus would do as the Lamb of God. Once John the Baptist pointed these two disciples to Jesus, they were quick to follow him. When Jesus saw them, he asked, “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38 EHV) They replied, asking Jesus where he was staying so they could spend the rest of the day listening to him teach. They were looking for what the needed the Lamb of God to give them: the forgiveness of their sins.
Suppose Jesus were to look at you following him and asked you, “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38 EHV) How would you answer? What do you look for out of Jesus? Is it the good friend you only call upon when things go south? Is it the masterful teacher who helps you become the best version of yourself? Is it the fearful officer who tracks your every move? Is it the Lamb of God who alone can give you forgiveness for all your sins? We look for many things out of Jesus, but how often do we look for what we most need: the forgiveness of our sins? Surely, not as much or as consistently as we should.
It’s a blessing that Jesus appears us to in a number of ways from the Bible. He’s our friend who’s there in the highs and lows. He’s our teacher who guides thankful hearts in service to God and our neighbor. He’s our officer who delivers impartial justice but also showers us with his loving mercy. But better than all that, he’s the Lamb of God who gives what we most need to look for: forgiveness. Sin is
a terminal disease and there’s nothing we can do about it. Until it’s cured by Jesus, nothing else ultimately matters. That’s why we look to Jesus as the Lamb of God above all else. For he alone gives what we most need. And he certainly gives his forgiveness to every child of his through faith.
John’s two disciples discovered this blessed truth when they spent the day with Jesus. They did not regret leaving John behind because Jesus is better by far. In fact, they made sure to tell others of the Lamb of God. Andrew in particular went to those who were near and dear to him, beginning with his brother, and later fellow apostle, Simon Peter. Andrew did so because it depended on him to share this good news. Peter would not have known about Jesus appearing as the Lamb of God and the needed gift of forgiveness he came to give had not Andrew told him about it. But once Andrew did, then the gospel took hold.
You and I know who the Lamb of God is: Jesus Christ who took away the sin of the world with his death on the cross. With his sacrificial death, Jesus did what 1,500 years of countless sacrificed lambs could not: erase our many and horrendous sins. Jesus hasn’t squirreled this gift away, but desires to give it to us who need it above all else.
So let’s tell people where to look for what they most need: Jesus, the Lamb of God, and his gift of forgiveness. God has given that message to you and me to share with others. Without us sharing it, how can they know trust in Jesus and receive his gift of forgiveness? You can start how Andrew did, with those who are near and dear to you. Think of your brother or sister, your aunt or uncle, childhood friend or kindred spirit. Do they believe in Jesus as you do? Do they look to the Lamb of God for what they need? If not, then you know who to pray for, who to talk to, who to invite to worship with you or at our sister church by them. If it’s difficult to do this because you’re shy or been told off, don’t give up. The gift of forgiveness our Lamb of God gives is so needed that it can’t be sloughed off. It’s so wonderful that it has no comparison. And it’s yours to share with those near and dear to you as you tell them from what a joy it is that Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to take away the sin of the world and to give what we need to look for. Amen.