Second Sunday after the Epiphany

John 1:29-40

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

On January 6, our Christian tradition celebrates Epiphany Day, a feast day to celebrate the manifestation of God incarnate in the baby Jesus, who is worshiped like a king by the magi who represent all the peoples of  the earth. From this day, the biblical lessons bring us memories that reveal the divinity of Jesus. Last Sunday, for instance, at his baptism, we heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, The Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”. Today, we read a particular remembrance from John the Evangelist, who collects John the Baptist’s memories related to Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his ministry.

So far, John the Baptist’s proclamation about the coming of the One Sent by God has raised great expectation amid the people, and he has gained prominence in such a way that some believe he is the Messiah. However, he denies it and rather than exalting himself, the Baptist, with great commitment and humility, recognizes that his ministry is over. Instead, he points to Jesus, recently baptized, as the One Sent by God.  Furthermore, he guides his disciples to follow Jesus.

 For the launching of Jesus as the Messiah, we surely might have expected a grand, explosive event filled with colorful banners, the participation of the mighty Jewish leadership and all the proper paraphernalia.  However, Jesus’ presentation as the Messiah of God is very singular; it is in God’s way. While the Baptist is speaking with his disciples at the Jordan River, he sees Jesus coming toward him and declares to his disciples, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

Really John? Lamb of God? I think it would have been better if you had used a more impressive image to introduce Jesus: a King, a warrior, an Emperor, or Priest. . .

In the first century, John the Baptist’s audience was familiarized with the image of the lamb, which was proper in Jewish rites and meant salvation, liberation, redemption, purification, and reconciliation with God. However, this image was also directly related to sacrifice, to death.  So, when John the Baptist sees Jesus, he sees the One Sent by God who serves and loves the people to the point of sacrifice and death. It is not God who predestined Jesus to die because God is Life, but rather it is the hate-filled human system that persecuted and murdered Jesus, and he resisted this system by offering himself as the Lamb of God. Thus, the Baptist sees Jesus as the divine Lamb who reconciles humans with God and takes away hatred, selfishness, violence, and death. In this manner, Jesus takes away the sin of the world. Jesus takes away our sin, the state of being separated from God. He connects us with God. His self-sacrifice defeated this world and brought us Life.

It is the Lamb of God, John the Baptist invites his disciples to follow. He has witnessed the Epiphany at Jesus’ Baptism and testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. So, with great confidence, the Baptist leads his disciples to Jesus, and on hearing the Baptist call Jesus “The Lamb of God”, two of his disciples (Andrew and quite possibly John the Evangelist) make a big decision: to follow Jesus!  What great courage!

Jesus, turning around asks them, “What are you looking for?” They respond decidedly, “Where are you staying?” Really, they ARE not looking for just a “hello”; they want to stay with Jesus! Jesus then invites them to go with him saying, “Come and see.” And so, they do.  They now were members of the community of the Lamb of God, the one who loves, serves, heals, and liberates people.  

Dear sisters and brothers, the current paradigms of leadership today entice us to follow the powerful, the attractive, and wealthy; however, the divine model breaks with these paradigms and presents us with the image of a gentle, serene, and humble lamb, Jesus. This divine model reminds us that we are committed to the Lamb of God, and our calling is to promote justice and peace among our communities. As followers of the Lamb of God, we are also called to take away the sin of the world: hatred, violence, war, racism, tyranny, selfishness, among others. Our mission must also exclude those leaderships that do not identify with the humble and divine image of the Lamb of God.

Dear sisters and brothers, can you hear the voice of John the Baptist calling out and saying, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Are you willing to follow Jesus the Lamb of God? Are you willing to be part of the community of the Lamb of God?  

In this Epiphany season, may we hear the Lamb of God’s invitation, “Come and see!” Amen.