St. John 1:29-34: "29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me." 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.' 32 And John bore witness, saying, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.'"
Behold the Lamb of God! What great words! This proclamation from St. John the Baptist is all over our liturgy. The proclamation that our dear Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God is found in the greater doxology, the Gloria in Excelsis. It is in the Proper Prefaces for Advent and Easter. It is in the Agnus Dei. It is also found in the canticle Dignus Est Agnus from the book of Revelation. What that means is that this proclamation is an important one.
Our Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God. Well, what was done to lambs, without spot or blemish, in the Old Testament times? They were sacrificed for sins. Our Lord Jesus is our sacrifice for our sin. But He is not just the Lamb, but He is also the priest Who offers Himself up on our behalf. Behold the Lamb of God, is a proclamation of Redemption. It is a proclamation of our forgiveness from sins.
St. John the Baptist realizes this great mystery. He realizes that our Lord Jesus is greater than he is, that he is not worthy to untie His sandals. This is a confession of his sinfulness, and an acknowledgement of the righteousness of Christ. St. John the Baptist cannot take away sin. Even though he is baptizing in the Jordan River, his baptism cannot save, it was nothing more than a symbolic washing. The Baptism that our Lord Jesus gives us can save, it can remove sins, and impart righteousness. For it is a baptism of not just plain water, but it is water connected with God's word. Which means in that water is the Holy Ghost, and those baptized with the Holy Ghost have their sins drowned in those waters, so that He may bring them out of the water spotless and pure, just like the Lord Jesus Christ was a pure and spotless Lamb.
He becomes for all those who are baptized into His Name, a Shepherd, and He leads them to the still waters of His holy Word and Sacraments. There we receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation, freely, abundantly. And in these things we find rest and comfort from the trials of this life. Yes, though we walk through the valley of tears, this life life filled with trouble and sorrow. We know we have a Shepherd, Who comforts us with His holy Word, washes our wounds from the battle with sin, death, and the world with the waters of Holy Baptism, and feeds us with His true Body and Blood, given in bread and wine.
And this is perhaps the greatest gift of Lamb of God, for just like in the Old Testament times, the sacrifice that was offered was eaten by the priests as a wage for their service, so too, does the royal priesthood, eat the Lamb of God, which is given to us in this sacred and holy mystery.
One might wonder why St. John the Baptist shows up at this time of the year, in the season of Epiphany. For Advent is really the season of St. John the Baptist, since Advent is the forerunner of Christmas, as St. John the Baptist is the forerunner of our Lord Christ. He is even mentioned in two of the Advent Gospels, once in prison, and once in the pericope that comes before this mornings reading. Epiphany is all about our Lord Jesus being manifested to the world as One, True, and only Savior. Here St. John the Baptist shows up, to proclaim into our ears, that our dear Lord Jesus has come to begin His work of salvation for us. Here He is the Lamb of God, proclaimed as the Son of God, having the Holy Ghost rest upon Him in the form of a dove, acknowledging Him as or Priestly King, Who will offer Himself up on the altar of the cross, for our forgiveness.
Behold the Lamb of God! Crucified for us! Hanging dead on the tree on account of our sins. The sacrifice is made, we are made clean and pure. And this Lamb of God, is offered as our spiritual food, to create and sustain faith and life within us. And just as this Lamb of God, although dead in the grave for three days, rose again to eternal life. All those who feast on the Lamb of God receive that eternal life as a gift.
So rejoice this day in the Lamb of God, hear Him proclaimed by the modern day John the Baptists, the ministers of the Word, and come to the Lord's house and receive that Lamb of God on your lips for your forgiveness and life.
God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
Our Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God. Well, what was done to lambs, without spot or blemish, in the Old Testament times? They were sacrificed for sins. Our Lord Jesus is our sacrifice for our sin. But He is not just the Lamb, but He is also the priest Who offers Himself up on our behalf. Behold the Lamb of God, is a proclamation of Redemption. It is a proclamation of our forgiveness from sins.
St. John the Baptist realizes this great mystery. He realizes that our Lord Jesus is greater than he is, that he is not worthy to untie His sandals. This is a confession of his sinfulness, and an acknowledgement of the righteousness of Christ. St. John the Baptist cannot take away sin. Even though he is baptizing in the Jordan River, his baptism cannot save, it was nothing more than a symbolic washing. The Baptism that our Lord Jesus gives us can save, it can remove sins, and impart righteousness. For it is a baptism of not just plain water, but it is water connected with God's word. Which means in that water is the Holy Ghost, and those baptized with the Holy Ghost have their sins drowned in those waters, so that He may bring them out of the water spotless and pure, just like the Lord Jesus Christ was a pure and spotless Lamb.
He becomes for all those who are baptized into His Name, a Shepherd, and He leads them to the still waters of His holy Word and Sacraments. There we receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation, freely, abundantly. And in these things we find rest and comfort from the trials of this life. Yes, though we walk through the valley of tears, this life life filled with trouble and sorrow. We know we have a Shepherd, Who comforts us with His holy Word, washes our wounds from the battle with sin, death, and the world with the waters of Holy Baptism, and feeds us with His true Body and Blood, given in bread and wine.
And this is perhaps the greatest gift of Lamb of God, for just like in the Old Testament times, the sacrifice that was offered was eaten by the priests as a wage for their service, so too, does the royal priesthood, eat the Lamb of God, which is given to us in this sacred and holy mystery.
One might wonder why St. John the Baptist shows up at this time of the year, in the season of Epiphany. For Advent is really the season of St. John the Baptist, since Advent is the forerunner of Christmas, as St. John the Baptist is the forerunner of our Lord Christ. He is even mentioned in two of the Advent Gospels, once in prison, and once in the pericope that comes before this mornings reading. Epiphany is all about our Lord Jesus being manifested to the world as One, True, and only Savior. Here St. John the Baptist shows up, to proclaim into our ears, that our dear Lord Jesus has come to begin His work of salvation for us. Here He is the Lamb of God, proclaimed as the Son of God, having the Holy Ghost rest upon Him in the form of a dove, acknowledging Him as or Priestly King, Who will offer Himself up on the altar of the cross, for our forgiveness.
Behold the Lamb of God! Crucified for us! Hanging dead on the tree on account of our sins. The sacrifice is made, we are made clean and pure. And this Lamb of God, is offered as our spiritual food, to create and sustain faith and life within us. And just as this Lamb of God, although dead in the grave for three days, rose again to eternal life. All those who feast on the Lamb of God receive that eternal life as a gift.
So rejoice this day in the Lamb of God, hear Him proclaimed by the modern day John the Baptists, the ministers of the Word, and come to the Lord's house and receive that Lamb of God on your lips for your forgiveness and life.
God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
