Sermon: "Behold the Lamb of God"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

"Here is the Lamb of God." Or, in other translations, the more familiar, "Behold the Lamb of God." The evangelist John puts that affirmation in the mouth of John the Baptist as he characterizes Jesus of Nazareth.

Although this may be the first personal encounter between John and Jesus reported in the Fourth Gospel, they had come in contact previously … most notably at Jesus' baptism. Their very first encounter, though, came many years earlier.

Remember that St. Luke reports a visit enjoyed by two pregnant cousins. Mary had just received word that she was to be the mother of Jesus. She traveled to see her cousin Elizabeth, whose pregnancy with John was in its sixth month. And, we may read, "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb" (Lk 1:41).

The subsequent relationship of the two male cousins - John and Jesus - is a close one, bound together in God's plan for salvation. The relationship extends back, prior to birth. John salutes Jesus from the womb. Then, years later, John the forerunner, John the prophet, John the Baptist, baptizes Jesus. And just after that event, this interesting, profoundly important New Testament character identifies his title for Jesus - "Behold the Lamb of God."

What does that title mean - the Lamb of God? We know of other titles for Jesus - the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the good shepherd. But this strange title - the Lamb of God - what does that mean?

We may consider our culture to gain an initial insight. And, from our culture comes the familiar nursery rhyme:
              "Mary had a little lamb,
                      Its fleece was white as snow,
              And everywhere that Mary went,
                      The lamb was sure to go."
As children, we are introduced to the lamb - a symbol for innocence and for obedience … innocence and obedience.

The image fits Jesus in those terms. Remember that the baptism of Jesus by John has taken place only days prior to the encounter reported in our reading. The two of them remain out in the wilderness of Judea, beside the Jordan River. Thus, Jesus has not yet begun the acts of his public ministry. His life up to this point probably has been a pretty normal one, in fact. He has been raised in a small village. He has learned the trade of his earthly father, that of a carpenter. He has prepared himself for a normal life in his day. Thus, "Behold the Lamb of God" - the innocent one. Certainly in contrast to the life that lies just ahead for him, this day - this point in Jesus' life - seems innocent indeed.

The lamb also represents obedience. "Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go." In the biblical world, the sheep and lambs follow their shepherd. They know their shepherd's voice. They come when he calls. Their obedience certainly marks them.

Last week we read of Jesus' baptism by John. Remember that John objected to that plan, saying that Jesus should rather baptize him. But Jesus responded, "Let it be so for now; for thus it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness"(Matt 3:15). Jesus affirms his commitment to a life of obedience.

Near the end of his life, Jesus again indicates his profound obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prays to his Father to take the cup of suffering away from him. But he concludes that prayer with these words of obedience, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt"(Matt 26:39). "Behold the Lamb of God" - the obedient one.

Therefore, we perceive that Jesus as the Lamb of God indicates his innocence - innocence prior to experience. And, secondly, that title refers to the obedience of Jesus - the obedience of a lifetime.

However, further meaning lies behind this title, the Lamb of God. For this meaning, we must look back to the Old Testament, to the book of Genesis. We may read there of Abraham, our forefather in the Faith.

After Abraham and Sarah have reached advanced years, God grants them their long prayed-for request, a son. Yet, later, God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his precious son Isaac. Abraham takes Isaac to the place of sacrifice, and there the son asks his father, "Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"(Gen 22:7). The lamb, you see, is the animal of sacrifice. But Abraham responds, "God will provide himself the lamb" - a double meaning there. Then, as Abraham prepares to sacrifice his dear son, God's angel stops him and shows him the animal to be sacrificed instead, caught in a thicket - not a lamb this time, but a ram.

Therefore, "Behold the Lamb of God" - the one to be sacrificed, the one "who takes away the sin of the world." And here we come up against that very difficult doctrine, the propitiation … a substituted sacrifice. Our sins are taken away by the sacrificial action of someone else.

In this regard, think of another Old Testament image, that of a scapegoat. According to Leviticus, the priest is to lay hands on the head of a live goat, confessing the sins of the people and symbolically placing those sins on the goat. Then, the animal is set free in the wilderness, and as he wanders off, he takes with him the people's sins. Thus, the escape - or, scape - goat.

"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." While the idea of substitutionary sacrifice may seem unfair and remote from our experience, another related concept surely does not. And that is the idea of representation. We elect other people to represent us all the time - in schools, in government, in the church. Also, the money that we will place in the alms basins today represents all that we have and, indeed, our very selves. Finally, our names - mere words actually - also represent us, for those names call to mind who we are, the person that the name represents.

Jesus the Lamb, Jesus the sacrifice, represents us when he dies on Calvary's cross. In some remarkable mystery - and it is a mystery - Jesus, the Lamb on the cross, takes on himself the sins of our lives. "God will provide himself the sacrifice", Abraham said centuries earlier. And God did. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Therefore, the lamb symbolizes innocence, obedience, and sacrifice. Remarkable though it may seem, we proclaim by faith that the Lamb of God truly does take away our sins. Thus, we join John the Baptist as we proclaim with great joy, "Behold Jesus … Behold the Lamb of God."

Copyright © 2002 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee