John 1:29- 42 - The Lamb of God

John 1:29-42 The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared.  "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.  And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.'  I 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.'  And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, "Look here is the lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.  When 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?"  He said to them, "Come and see," they remained with him that day.  It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.  One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon-Peter's brother.  He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Anointed). He 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).

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If you taught Sunday School last week you might be wondering why we are staying with the baptism story?  What is it that we might gain from considering John's telling of the baptism of Jesus?  The whole story unfolds in a rather odd way, doesn't it?  Surely I am not the only one who has found John's words as he saw Jesus approaching, a little jarring: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Note the exclamation mark both times that John yells or shouts this declaration out.  I have often wondered how this statement was heard in those times:  "Look here comes the sacrifice of God!"  Perhaps it catches me off guard because it juxtaposes the power we associate with God and the weakness of the Lamb.  Did their minds immediately go to the passover lamb, the blood around the door; the exodus, their freedom from slavery?  However the words were heard they must have tumbled out of John's mouth before it had fully registered in his mind  because with such a definitive statement, he goes on to say he 'did not know him'.  John the Baptist's life work, his calling has been to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and here he is - Jesus, the lamb of God. I think it would be hard to imagine a moment more full than this one - is this really him? And what now?  In this telling we discover a vulnerability - perhaps John is reflecting back on all he knows and has experienced of God; on his own calling; on all he has heard and proclaimed. And now the voice he knows says this to him, 'the one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Humanity and divinity - the wonder of incarnation.  And while this revelation is joyful fulfillment one has to wonder if John the Baptist felt any loss - his whole ministry would change; his disciples would become Jesus followers - everything was changing for John and for the whole world.  John the Baptist serves as an example to us, he points to Jesus always and in this moment he testifies, 'He is the Son of God'.

Epiphany and Incarnation - 

"The Word became flesh and blood 

and moved into the neighborhood.

We saw the glory with our own eyes,

the one of a kind glory,

like Father, like Son,

Generous inside and out, 

True from start to finish."

(John 1:14, The Message)

Well all of this activity in the wilderness had certainly been creating some buzz. Before Jesus came the Pharisees had sent Priests and Levites to question John the Baptist about his identity and his practices. John tells them, 'among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me.'  And he did come from amongst them; Jesus walked toward John to be baptized. The Anointed One - the Rescuer - walking towards them, no big deal, right??!!  This week Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel came to our city - to anyone who pays attention to this sort of thing there was certainly some anticipation and excitement.  There were pictures on facebook, posts on twitter, blog posts, newspaper columns, first person accounts from people who ran into them on the street or in the gym at their hotel.  Do you ever wonder what the buzz would be like if Jesus came to our city?  Now this is worth thinking about a little because it reminds us once again, that Jesus comes in a very different way than people of influence or power or fame come in our culture.  And yet his presence is utterly compelling.  Look at the way the first disciples respond to him, they start following him - they just want to be near him and perhaps they can't even articulate why that is.  In fact after they start following Jesus, he turns to them and says, "What are you looking for?"  I love this question as Jesus is inviting both conversation and reflection.  What are they looking for?  They can't even answer it, they just respond: "Rabbi, where are you staying?"  We just want to be near you, to learn from you, teacher.  And to this Jesus says, 'Come and see.'  What an invitation!  Jesus didn't choose the path of power or fame; he didn't come to give us what we want or need in the moment; to pacify us or amuse us for a while or leave us starstruck by his power.  No, he came to show us how to really live and this way of living would turn everything upside down and reveal to us truth and beauty and hope even in the least expected places.  Come and see - come get to know me and me, you. Come and receive a new name; a new identity, just like Simon, Son of John who became Peter.

Today we reflect on the wonder of incarnation and epiphany; on Jesus' humanity and his divinity; on power and weakness; on the salvation of God for all people.  We think about what it means to bear witness and to testify to who Jesus is today;  to receive the invitation to 'Come and see' and to extend it to others.  To be changed by Jesus.  

I think today's story would be a wonderful one to act out in our classes.  There are a number of roles that could be assigned - John the Baptist, Jesus, the Dove, the disciples (Andrew, Simon Peter, Simon), the voice of the one who called John to baptize with water (God). And a narrator, if you like.  Or you could narrate/direct which I sometimes find a bit easier as you can add cues which help the kids bring the story to life, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he raised his arms and shouted...  Please feel free to put it in your own words and have fun with it.

May we hear and receive the invitation from the Lord to 'come and see!'