- "The Shepherd and the Lamb"
John 1:29-42
2 Epiphany - 16 January, 2005
The Rev. Todd R. Goddard, pastor
The Zion West Walworth United Methodist Church
John 1:29-42
29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward 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.”
35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Prayer
Our Gospel lesson for today is John, the first chapter, verses 29 through 42. This is the final installment of the “John the Baptist stories” for the year. I purposely avoided preaching on John the Baptist through Advent because, frankly, I'd grown tired of the same story every year - of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness. It was time for me to explore the Isaiah texts, and I greatly enjoyed the temporary shift of focus. Though we will hear an echo of today's lesson come Good Friday when we hear the words, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” today's lesson concludes the passages from the lectionary regarding John the Baptist.
In the verses leading up to our lesson, we learn that on the previous day the Jews had sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to investigate John's preaching and actions. They wanted to know who John was - “are you the Messiah?” “... Elijah?” “No.” “Well then, who?” John replies, citing the words of the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'” (John 1:22)
The next day, our Gospel this morning picks up the trail, spaning two days. First, John is doing what he was sent to do – to testify, to witness to who Jesus is and what Jesus had come to do. The WHO: “Here is the Lamb of God,” John proclaims. WHAT: “Who takes away the sin of the world.” Then, the second day of our Gospel, John steps back in v.35-42 and watches the results of his witness, the process of discipleship taking place. Jesus calls many of his remaining disciples. John's job is completed and we don't hear anything further about him in this Gospel.
It is fascinating to me that our Gospel author records 10 different descriptive names for Jesus in a 22 verse stretch, including 5 different names in our passage today. He calls him “Lamb of God,” “this is the Son of God,” “Rabbi / Teacher,” “the Messiah,” and, of course, “Jesus.” It certainly speaks to the reality of God in Jesus, a vast conception that goes beyond words. It goes beyond titles and categories, doctrines or creed. The fullness of the Divine identity goes beyond our ability to understand, making it more cosmic and universal than even the stars. This is our Gospel author's quiet way of granting us permission to consider God more than just the familiar: Father, Mother, Creator, Redeemer, or Spirit.
I'd like to focus on two points in John today: first, John's witness. Secondly, as a result of John's witness, Jesus calls and converts his disciples.
I.John's Witness.
This is who Jesus is, John proclaims, “he is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Using the term lamb should bring to mind Isaiah's Servant Song, found in Isaiah 53:7 - “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” John is laying a foundation here, one that will serve the passion and death of Jesus, yet to come.
The image of the lamb should also bring to mind the Passover Lamb. To the Jew of Jesus' day, lambs symbolized deliverance, divine deliverance from Egyptian captivity. Remember how God comes to Moses in the dream and tells him to have every Hebrew family slaughter a lamb, to place their blood upon their door casement, so that when the angel of death is sent to kill the children of Pharaoh, it will know to pass-over the homes that are marked with the blood of the lamb. The lambs gave their lives that God's chosen might live. What a powerful symbol John uses.
This Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. Not individual sin, mind you. John isn't quite so specific. John is intentionally universal. This is the one who wipes the world clean of their sin. He is the solution to the original sin of Adam. By his blood, we are all washed clean.
John continues by clarifying his witness. In verse 30 he said that Jesus is the pre-existent one; that is, the one sent by God, and John the Baptist was called to simply prepare the way for him. “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” Furthermore, Jesus is the bearer of the Holy Spirit. John witnessed it with his own eyes. He says “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.” John is convinced at his baptism. John is confirmed when the Spirit lights upon him. Jesus is the one who has given his life purpose. God sent John specifically to ready the way for Jesus. God's voice, and Spirit, were proof enough. John concludes his witness in the 34th verse by naming Jesus “the Son of God.” He says, “I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” In John's eyes, this is the Divine Reality – Jesus is God's Son. He is also a man, one who he baptized. The substance of God, yet the flesh of man. And John had paved the way for him to come.
II.Discipleship: the Result of Witness
The second half of today's account takes place the next day; the day after John's first witness. Today, while standing with two of his disciples (two of John's disciples, that is), John would identify Jesus again, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36) The result is dramatic. It is immediate. In a flash of a millisecond, those who experience the witness of Jesus Christ complete a thought process that begins with hearing and ends with belief. “The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” (v.37)
When people learn who Jesus is, they are converted to follow him and serve as His disciples. It's been going on for 2,000 years!
John records that it began with Andrew and another unnamed disciple of John the Baptist. They HEARD John's witness, they INQUIRED further, they EXPERIENCED Jesus for themselves, they BELIEVED, and in turn, they WITNESSED to another, Andrew's bro, Simon. Understanding this process is critical to us today as we wrestle with the question, “How are we to bring others to Christ and the fullness of His Kingdom?”
1. First things first. The process of conversion takes place by somebody hearing a witness. They heard John's witness. In today's lesson, disciples of John heard their master witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, and that He is God's Son. John lifted up Jesus' identity, and let God do the rest.
What this means for us today is the fact that the Good News can not be spread unless we make the effort to share it. Likewise, it will not be received by people who are unwilling to hear it. I believe our job is like that of John the baptist; we lift up the name of Jesus, point the way to Christ by both our words and our deeds, and leave the rest up to God. God will find a way. God will open people's hearts. It is God's desire that we witness to His Son.
2. Secondly, the disciples ran after Jesus and inquired where he was staying. “Come and see,” Jesus invited. The cynic might suggest they were asking Jesus where He was spending the night. But I think they are asking a deeper question, “Where do you abide? With the Father? Just what is your relationship with God?”
Who will answer the inquiry of seeking disciples today? We will! We are the Body of Christ today. We are His Body present in our world. We need to have the answer ready to be delivered, “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father, except through him.”
3. Thirdly, the seeking disciples experienced Jesus for themselves. “They cam and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.” (John 1:39). Nothing can substitute for establishing and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today we do this through regular worship, prayer, sacraments, proclamation, and reflection. We do this by going on retreats, summer camp, or workshops. We take part in rallys, conferences, and opportunities like Walk to Emmaus or Lay Speakers school.
4. Fourthly, as a result of their experience, their personal encounter with Jesus Christ, the disciples of John believed in Jesus. They switched their loyalties, and left everything to follow Him. This affirms the fact that it is never too late to turn to Jesus.
Never give up hope! Don't stop lifting up Jesus just because you might believe that it's a lost cause. There is no such thing as a lost cause to God! It's never too late for the Moslem, the Jew, the Morman, or the Scientologist. It's never too late for the atheist, the agnostic, or the cold of heart. It's never too late for the drug addicted, the alcoholic, the bully, or the self-absorbed.
6. Lastly, discipleship comes around full circle when they, in turn, witness to someone new, lifting up Christ for yet even more people. “We have found the Messiah!” they shout to Simon. Discipleship is always incomplete without sharing your witness; testifying to others the reality of Jesus Christ in your life.
I am struck by the actions of John the Baptist in our lesson for today. At the start of each day, he looks at Jesus and proclaims “Here is the Lamb of God.” Likewise, I can't help but wonder how Jesus will great each of us. Will he proclaim to the heavenly realm, “Behold, a disciple of mine! Well done good and faithful servant. Enter now and receive thy eternal rewards” or will he observe, “I was thirsty and you did not give me a drink”?
My beloved, witness to the reality of Jesus in your life. Lift him up for all to see and hear. Encourage questions and inquiries. Be the ones who are called to lead others into Christ centered relationships, that they might also believe. And when they turn and pass on the baton one day to the next generation, the same baton you passed to them, listen for the whisper, the whisper of God in you ear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The Word of the Lord, as it has come to me. Thanks be to God. Amen.