LAMB OF GOD We often call him by different names; Rock of ages, Ancient of days, Prince of peace, Lion of Judah, etc. John the evangelist reveals another name for Jesus: “Behold the LAMB OF GOD who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1: 29). What does John mean? Think back when ‘lamb’ was first used at the episode in Egypt on that glorious night when the people of Israel were freed from slavery (Exodus 12: 21-27). Each family had sacrificed a lamb and used its blood to mark their door-posts. That blood saved them from extermination and initiated the PASSOVER. That was only a family lamb and the blood of that lamb could only save a few from physical death. Now there is greater Lamb, a divine Lamb, an efficacious Lamb sent by God to save (us) the new Israel from a greater form of slavery, the slavery of Sin. So that is why Jesus became ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’. By using these words, John prefigures the death of Jesus on the cross, reminding us that the blood he shed is capable of redeeming us. This redemption is made (even more) possible when we re-enact this episode daily in our lives, as Jesus Himself did with his disciples the day before he suffered (read Luke 22: 14-20) and commanded them to “do this in memory of me”(verse 19). The Lamb of God has come to give his life by shedding His blood to free men from sin and the forces of evil. Jesus has come into this world to fulfill the mission of the suffering servant whose defeat would bring light and salvation to all people (Read Isaiah 49: 3. 5-6). I often wonder how people shout “blood of Jesus” and don’t stop to think about the import of these words. I often wonder how people re-echo those words at prayer, yet their lives are still the same. It has almost become a cliché (something fashionable) to say ‘Blood of Jesus’, while deep down we don’t meditate on what these words signify. What about the mandate to gather often and break bread and eat, made by that same Sacrificial Lamb of God who died to take away the sin of the world? I think we ought to take another look at the meaning of those words when we say them. I really think we ought to review the way we behold the ‘Lamb of God’ who suffered and died on the cross. A good way is to review once more the fact that LAMB actually means innocent, without guilt, sacrificed for others, etc. if Jesus is the innocent Lamb of God, what then are we his followers? Something to think about!
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 02:38:00 +0000
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