Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10; John 1:19-34
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You can't get a simpler and clearer confession of who Jesus is than that of St. John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Notice he doesn't say “Behold the latest and greatest Teacher of Self-Improvement!” or “Here He is, the most popular guy you'll ever meet!” or “Behold, the Man who can make God fun!” or even “Behold! The nicest guy you'll ever meet.”
Jesus comes to be one thing: the Lamb. What does the Lamb do? He dies. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were messy affairs. They involved slitting the lamb's throat, draining out the blood and flinging it on the altar, skinning the lamb and burning its meat and entrails. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus, is no less brutal. He is slapped around, made fun off, beaten, and whipped with a razor-blade-tipped cat o' nine tails. He is smacked around some more, has a crown of thorns mashed down on His head and is finally crucified and left to die in excruciating pain.
But the point of His being the Lamb isn't so that we can feel sorry for Him, or even get grossed out by the gory details (ever notice how little detail the Scriptures actually give?) No, the point is to recognize that in the Old Testament, when lamb was killed, the Lord was saying, “I'll take that lamb's life in exchange for yours as punishment for your sins.” Now, when Jesus comes, it's the same confession, but for the whole world and for your sins. God the Father takes His Son's life in exchange for yours. Jesus dies to take away the sin of the world. That's what the Lamb does.
And how does that forgiveness become yours? By Baptism, you are sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb of God. By Absolution you are sent away forgiven. At the Lord's Supper you eat and drink the flesh and blood of this Lamb, knowing that by it your sins are taken away. Taking away your sins is why God's Son was a lamb sacrificed for you. That's why we sing in the liturgy: “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.” And He did and still does, richly and daily forgive you all your sins. Because He is the Lamb. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer, Even patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer. All sins Thou borest for us, Else had despair reigned o'er us: Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus! (LSB 434:1)