This week’s readings again involve Jewish thought and prophecy. In the first reading from Isaiah we learn about the “Servant of God” who will show Israel the glory of the Lord and that salvation will spread to the ends of the earth. These are indeed some powerful words. St. Paul reminds us that we are called to be Holy and are sanctified by Christ Jesus. However, it is in the Gospel that some amazing things are said. I want to focus on what John the Baptist said to Jesus when he saw Him approach. “Behold the Son of God”! Notice he didn’t say “behold the King of kings, or behold the Lion of Judah, or even, behold my cousin Jesus”.
No instead John calls our Lord the Lamb of God. Why a lamb? John knew that the one whom the Holy Spirit came down and rested upon would be the Messiah. John also knew that in Judaism a lamb was used for sacrifice to cover over the sins of a family, and at Passover a spotless male lamb was slaughtered and the blood spread and the flesh was eaten so that the angel of death would Passover you. The lamb the Jews used was a typical lamb. A lamb of man so to speak. However, to cover over the sins of the whole world we needed a different kind of lamb. A Lamb of God. That’s why John calls Jesus by that name. So this week take some time and think about the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, both yours and mine, and in the stillness of your heart how about saying thank you for the Lamb that was slain for you and me…May God richly bless you always…
Comments