The Lamb of God brings justice and mercy

1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Our text from John gives us two stories about Jesus. The first story is about John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus. As John the Gospel writer tells the story of Jesus, John the Baptizer witnesses the Holy Spirit dove land on Jesus, but we don’t read that John did the actual baptizing. John’s testimony about what happened next is more important than the baptism itself. “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove onto Jesus and remain with him.”

Back in the day, John the Baptizer was well-known, drawing crowds of regular folks, and some leaders who were keeping a close eye on him. As a well-known person, his testimony bears some weight, speaks the truth. He could be called John the Testifier.

Then, in the second story, John’s testimony continues the next day as stands with two disciples and points to Jesus and calls him the Lamb of God. The disciples are Andrew and an unnamed person, and they run to introduce themselves to Jesus. After a short conversation, Andrew is convinced John the Testifier is right, and he hurries to get his brother Simon, saying, “We have just found the messiah!”  

When Jesus and Simon meet, Jesus gives him a new name, Peter, which could be interpreted as Rock, or Rocky. It’s surprising to us that this renaming happens at the beginning of the Gospel, since in Matthew, it happens in Chapter 16—well along in the story with the explanation that Jesus will build the church on this Rock named Simon Peter.

Jesus is identified by several terms in these 13 verses. According to John the Testifier, Jesus is Lamb of God; Holy Spirit-bearer; Holy-Spirit Baptizer; Chosen One. According to the disciples, Jesus is Rabbi and Messiah.

While the other Gospel-writers let the story develop and slowly reveal who Jesus, John starts off the story by stating that Jesus is the Son of God, filled with God’s Holy Spirit and expressing Holy Spirit power. The rest of the Gospel demonstrates this belief.

The descriptions related to the Holy Spirit would have been understandable for the disciples. The Jewish scriptures are filled with stories of spirit-led leaders, anointed leaders and prophets. There are many stories illustrating Jesus with Holy Spirit power – healing, feeding, stilling the storm, and so forth.

The description of Jesus as the Lamb of God may have surprised the disciples. They would have expected shepherd, not lamb. They would have expected a leader, not a sacrificial lamb.

The way John uses this term here at the beginning of the gospel and at the end, carries the sense that from the beginning of his ministry, Jesus knew he would die. Indeed, it was his intention to do so, and he orchestrates his life and the events around him to make sure it happens just as he plans it.

We know, because we have read the story so often, that in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus dies on Friday, just before the Passover celebrations begin. But in John, Jesus dies on Thursday, at the same time as the lambs for the meal are being slaughtered. Jesus wants all to see the connection: Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for our benefit. Sacrificed to show us how much God loves us.

… In this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wants the folks to understand that the result of believing in Jesus is to know that they are loved, beloved, and filled with God’s grace and power.

The Corinthians have the grace and power to testify to the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and his forgiveness and mercy for all people. They have the God-given strength to withstand the challenges of testifying to Jesus in the Greco-Roman culture which insists they also worship the Emperor, the Caesar.  

The version of 1 Corinthians on this slide helps us understand what Paul is saying. God … who has called us into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord … is faithful. Let’s take this in smaller pieces.

God has called us … God has put a claim on us, and we respond by believing what God says and does. We belong to God, and trust God’s promises.

God has called us into relationship with Jesus. … We have a relationship with God through the familiarity of God’s Son Jesus. Jesus lived and died to show us God’s heart, God’s love and forgiveness, God’s mercy for God’s people. Paul calls this grace, the free offering of forgiveness by God.

God is faithful … what we need, we can rely on God to provide. Of course, God isn’t going to get us a new car, or magically drop food into our kitchens. But when we need strength and companionship to get through hard times, God is there in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Family and friends show up with a hug, with a reminder that we are not alone.

… Sometimes, we are called to act in ways we never thought we would. Sometimes we have to rely on God and God’s called people to be there for us. I shared about one of those hard times last week. Sister Carolyn reports that the entire Venezuelan family arrested by ICE has chosen voluntary deportment, despite the fact that their asylum paperwork was perfectly in order and there were no arrest documents with their names on them.

I highlight this story again this week because news has reached us that the hotels in central Florida are currently filled with ICE agents. There is concern that they will try to enter the church or interfere with the hungry folks coming to the food pantry. There is also concern that ICE agents often target anyone with brown skin, so Evelyn and her family and other legal residents of Leesburg could be at risk.

This is a time to remember that Jesus, the Lamb of God, showed us the way to trust God. This is a time to remember that we are called by God for God’s mission. This is a time to testify about God’s grace and mercy. This is a time to rely on the God-given strength needed to get through tough times.

And this is a time to remember God’s mercy extends to all people. This week, I hope you will keep all who are hungry and thirsty and in need of justice and mercy in your prayers. Amen