|
|
Sermon by The Rev. Canon Rosina Ampah, OSH |
Behold The Lamb Of God!
Today we have one of the greatest story of how Jesus was made known to the public after his baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. After Jesus’ baptism according to Mark Jesus was driven right from there to the desert for fourty days and fourty nights being tempted by the devil. After his return from the desert he started preaching and it was not clear when he passed by where John was with the crowd and his disciples. However, he saw Jesus passing by and told the people around him that he was the one he John was talking about, the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world.
John the Baptist had used the same statement before when Jesus came to be baptised but this time he added what he saw at his baptism and John lost his crowd including two of his disciples to Jesus. They went and followed Jesus until Jesus turned and asked them what they wanted; they in return asked him where he lived and he just responded “come and see”. People have been waiting for the Savior of the world for a long time and they believed John and so went after him. We can say John was was a good preacher in that he pointed the people toward where they need to go and not to himself as we preachers do today. Most people want the people to follow them instead of pointing them toward God or Jesus which is very sad because our job is to convert people for Jesus and not for ourselves. When you look at what happens to Churches today when they feel they have lost a good preacher they leave the Church or parish and I wonder, did they really got converted to following Christ?
When John first pointed Jesus out as “Behold the Lamb of God” people did not follow Jesus but when he said it again ans explained how he John came to know Jesus, the people were convinsed and then went after Jesus. Do you remember how some of John’s followers complained that Jesus had more followers than him and he reminding them that he had already told them that he was not the Christ? There are several lessons to learn from John the Baptist. We do not have to give up when we fail on the first effort because John did not give up when nobody followed Christ the first time he pointed him out. John continued to impressed upon the people whom Jesus was and the result was great in the end. We must never give up on trying to present Christ to others who may not for some reason hear us the first or the second time; we have to continue the effort when we know we are doing the right thing for Christ.
Now when you think about John’s words “Behold the Lamb of God” what comes to your mind? Do you think of a lamb feeding on fields or do you think of some in a barn ready to shea their wool or what else comes to mind? When a Jewish person thought of a lamb, two projections come to mind at that time. One, is a lamb for sacrifice for a sin offering and two: was the Pastover Lamb that had become part of their deliverance history from Egypt. So I believe when John said the lamb of God, something deep within may have indicated that Jesus would die in fighting on God’s behalf but they never thought it was going to be the way it turned out to be – for the whole world. That is why our faith as Christians began with the death and resurrection of Jesus rather than his life and work in a way. In a way, it seems that from the beginning of our falling from grace to grass, God had it in mind the plan of our salvation, that the one who was there from the beginning of creation would be the only one to come and redeem us from that kind of falling. Now, as a Christian; if you find yourself following Jesus and he turns and ask you what do you want? What would be your answer I often wondered. Do you just want to know where he lives or you want something more from him? Would you stay with him the rest of the day as the two men did or would you stay for a few seconds once you find out where he lives and decides to come and see him another time? Would getting to know him as a person now that you have discovered where he lives makes it important than all that you had planned for that day?
We hear that Andrew and the nameless youngman spend the rest of the day with Jesus and not only that, Andrew went home totally convinced that he had found in Jesus the waited Anointed one and encouraged his brother Simon to go see him with the following words: We have found the Messiah, the one spoken of by Moses and the prophets”.
Andrew knew from the hours he spent with him that John the Baptist was correct and with joy in his heart he went and brought his brother as well. Many of us come to Jesus when we are in need but we do not really tarry with him to personally know who he is that we can bear witness to others that: I say, instead of they said. Andrews witness brought Peter into contact with Christ and I don’t know about you, but I am glad to have Peter so I can make awful mistakes in my journey towards God knowing that I would be forgiven and not only that, but that God will strenghten me to do what I have to do. How deep and strong is your love for Jesus? Will you be able to witness with your life and attitude to others so they may be convinced to come and taste what it is to be with Christ? May God strengthen you in your inner being so you may be like Andrew and witness to a world that continues to hunger for the truth but not willing to hear when the truth is proclaimed. Amen