HE IS THE LAMB OF GOD

II SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - John 1:29-34

When Jesus came, most of the people did not recognise him as the Messiah who had been announced by the prophets. They were expecting a king full of power and glory, who would liberate the people of Israel and dominate the world, establishing the Kingdom of God.  However, Jesus rejected the kingship and said very clearly to Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world (Jn 18:36). Jesus did not come to be an earthly king. Instead, he chose to be a servant - the Servant of the LORD (YHWH), as the prophet Isaiah had announced long ago.

In Isaiah, there four passages, wich are considered the four songs of the Servant: Is 42:1-4; Is 49:1-6; Is 50:4-9 and Is 52:13 - 53:12. Some people understand these passages as speaking about the people of Israel, but many others read them as referring to the  Messiah presented as a servant, who listens, learns and obeys; someone who is faithful up to the end. The only aim his life is to give glory to the LORD, but he was rejected by all those who should have accepted him. He was a man of suffering, who was crushed by our sins, but who offered himself in sacrifice to atone for us and to reconcile us with God. It is in him that God “shall be glorified” (Is 49:3). 

Isaiah makes it clear that this servant has not come only for the people of Israel, but for the salvation of the whole world:

“It is not enough for you to be my servant,

to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;

I will make you the light of the nations

so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” - Is 49:6

This Sunday’s gospel makes clear this aspect, telling us that John the Baptist recognised Jesus as “the Chosen  One of God”, who came to take away the sin of the world. And John gives him a new title, that expresses well his salvific role: the Lamb of God. He his the lamb of the sacrifice, which reconciles us with God and sets us free. Jesus is the true Servant, the Messiah, whose blood is shed for us. He is the lamb of the sacrifice, the lamb of the new Passover. It is by him that the world can find salvation; he is “the light of the nations”, which guides the peoples in the way to life, justice and peace.

The Baptist - true to himself - gave witness to Jesus Christ, saying: “Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.” (Jn 1:34).

Being Christians, we are called to stand as witnesses that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. Only he is the true lamb of God who can take away the sin that oppresses the world. Let us approach him to find life and salvation and invite others to this encounter with Jesus, so that everybody may recognise that he is Lord and Saviour.