Tuesday, February 1, 2011
EPIPHANY AT THE JORDAN
As John the Baptizer was preaching God’s Word at the Jordan, he pointed at Jesus and exclaimed: "Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). When John made this statement many light bulbs would have gone off in the minds of the members of his desert congregation. Every morning and evening, at God’s direction, they took lambs and had them slaughtered and sacrificed at the temple as part of their worship. They knew why God had instituted this "strange" ritual. He wanted to keep before His people the great work which the Messiah would accomplish when He came into the world. He would remove the guilt of their sins by shedding His holy blood on the cross, offering His sinless life as the ransom payment. They would have realized that John was now telling them: "See this Man, Jesus of Nazareth, walking towards me here on the banks of the Jordan? He's the One God has sent to do this for us! Let us trust in Him!"
Whenever we hear the name "Lamb of God" or sing it in the worship liturgy on Sunday morning, the same truth is being proclaimed for our joy: The God of all grace has taken the whole ugly, dirty collection of our iniquities, transgressions, and trespasses and washed them clean away through the blood which His holy Lamb shed on the cross. All the evils we have done which He forbids. All the good we've failed to do which He requires. The selfishness to which we're prone. The uncharitable words that flow from our lips. The unholy thoughts we harbor in our hearts towards others. They are all part of the "sin of the world" that Jesus carried to Golgotha and suffered for without complaint. Now we need never carry around guilt feelings for wrongs we've done. We need not be burdened by worries about the future. Our future both here and hereafter is safe in the heavenly Father's hand, for Jesus' sake.
Hallelujah! Let praises ring!
Unto the Lamb of God we sing,
In whom we are elected.
He bought His church with His own blood,
He cleansed her in that blessed flood,
And as His Bride selected.
Holy, holy is our union
And communion. His befriending
Gives us joy and peace unending.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 23:2)
