Text: John 1:29-34

29The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

 ”Lamb of God.”  Interesting choice of words by John the Baptist.  One has to wonder what people made of this saying.  Weren’t lambs considered animals that you sacrificed? 

In using these words, John seems to be revealing something about the nature of Jesus: one that comes, not as a ruler in the traditional sense, but as a servant- one who is willing to sacrifice oneself for all of creation.

In the way that Jesus was called the Lamb of God, we are called “sheep.”  If the Lamb of God, lead the life of a servant, then how are we who are called by God to live?  How can we follow Jesus’ example and learn to live for the Other?

Holy God, give us the courage to live a life not as one to be served, but to serve; to walk with our sisters and brothers, near and far.  Amen.

-Dennis Sanders, IT/Communications Specialist

Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area

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