"The Witness of the Gospel"

A tourist visiting a church in Germany was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church’s tower. He asked why it was there and was told that while the church was being built, a workman had fallen from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was very much alive and only slightly injured.

How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb. The lamb was crushed to death, but it broke the man’s fall enough to save his life. So the lamb was placed on the tower to commemorate this miraculous escape, the lamb was carved and placed on the tower at the exact height from which the workman had fallen.

In our Gospel lesson this morning, we hear John the Baptist call Jesus "the Lamb of God." Not just once, but twice. For us in the 21^st century, that might sound like a strange description. But for the average Jew of the 1^st century, the expression "Lamb of God" wouldn’t have seemed strange at all.

The connection of God and a Lamb might have conjured up recollections of the first Passover celebration, where the blood of a lamb sprinkled on the doorposts of a house saved the people inside from certain death, as God sent the angel of death to Egypt as the tenth and final plague that would secure the freedom of the Israelites.

God commanded the people of Israel to remember this act of salvation and deliverance from Egypt by holding a festival each year, which they called the "Feast of the Passover." In that festival, each household was supposed to sacrifice a lamb. This lamb was known as the Passover Lamb.

So when John called Jesus the Lamb of God, he was saying a lot about Christ with just a very few words. The Passover Lamb was supposed to be a lamb without blemish. Jesus was the Lamb of God who had no blemish. His was a life of spotless purity.

The original Passover Lamb offered protection. The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the Angel of death in Egypt. In the same way, Jesus, the Lamb of God, offers us protection from effects of our sin. Our sin deserves death and eternal separation from God. As the first Passover lamb died to save the firstborn sons in Egypt, Jesus died to save us. The years of sacrifices at each Passover feast, pointed to the innocent blood that would be shed to save us.

Like other prophets of old, disciple had gathered around John. Our text finds John trying to shift the focus away from himself, and to point his followers and all who would listen towards Jesus. John knew that the people must not look to him, but to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Every Communion Sunday we sing; Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace, grant us peace.

Those words are sung by Christians from Sweden to Canada, from Brazil to Tanzania, from India to Australia. Obviously, the primary source for this part of the liturgy comes from today’s Gospel. Not once, but twice, John calls Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Today the have the opportunity as we sing those words, to pause and consider our witness to God and what he has done for us.

A lawyer once said, "When I have a poor case," I prepare an eloquent speech. When I have a good case, I simply call the witnesses." The gospel of Jesus Christ simply needs to call its witnesses.  John the Baptist was an amazing witness for Christ. He declares, look at the Lamb – not at me.

We all tend to like the spotlight. Even when we act humble, we enjoy the attention that gives us the opportunity to act humble. Sin is nothing more than our own self-centeredness, thinking we are smarter than God and able to decide for ourselves what’s best for us. That’s just the way we are.

But let’s focus more on what the words, "Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" mean. We know the wages of sin is death. Jesus gives back life itself, which was stolen by sin. Like the sacrificial lamb, Jesus was sacrificed on the cross for the sins of all the people of the world.

But Jesus didn’t just die for our sins. Jesus died on the cross so that lives would be transformed. He died so that by the grace of God the Father, through faith in the blood of Jesus, our salvation could be a sure thing.

John knew where the people of his day had to start. We have to start the same place. His words, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" are where we draw the first breath of faith. Those words mark the beginning of our faith journey.

The needs of all mankind can be resolved by looking to the Lamb. John came preaching a message of repentance and baptizing with water so that Jesus Christ might be revealed to Israel. John was always pointing people to the Messiah. That is where the world must continue to look.

The world is full of places to go and things to do that lead us away from the Lamb. The list of things the devil holds out under our noses in his effort to lead

So today, I offer you John’s advice. Look to Jesus. Look to the Christ of the cross and the empty tomb. Look to Jesus, who earned your forgiveness and gives you real life. Look at him with all of your heart and soul and strength and mind. Look to the Christ who died for you, so your lives could be transformed into a new person, a person who has and understands the peace that comes from a faith relationship with their Savior.

In our Epistle lesson for today, Paul reminds the Corinthians that because of the grace they have through Jesus Christ, that their lives have been enriched in every way – in all their speaking and in all their knowledge. They are not lacking any spiritual gifts.

So what do those words mean for us today? Our response should be like that of St. Andrew. Once Andrew knew who that Jesus was the Messiah, he found his brother Simon and told him all about Jesus. He brought Peter to Jesus. You might say that Andrew was the first missionary.

If you really believe that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, you will want to bring others to meet him. The world is full of seekers, people looking for something, and not even sure of what. In our text today, we hear the first words of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel. Jesus asks the men following him "What are you seeking?"

Being a seeker is not a 21^st century concept. From the crystals in the new age shops to the growing popularity of eastern and pop-culture spirituality, there is evidence all around us that people are seeking something with meaning and for spiritual vitality. Even you and I are seekers. Others may be seeking what they do not know, but we seek the One who knows us by name. We seek the lamb.

Those first disciples were also seeking the Lamb. When confronted by Jesus as to that they were seeking, they seem timid and fumbling, only able to ask, "Where are you staying?" Maybe they just didn’t know what else to say.

Fortunately, like those first disciples, Jesus takes us as we are. It’s o.k. if we aren’t sure of what we’re looking for. By the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, Jesus takes us into community with himself and his Father. We begin to see the evidence of his presence in our lives. We begin to understand and experience true forgiveness.

We see Christ in one another. We see through the eyes of faith the promise of everlasting life in heaven. Sometimes we see things clearly, and sometimes we see things clouded through the tears and troubles of this world. Still, Jesus invites and promises, "Come and you will see."

In her book, A Man Called Peter, Catherine Marshall tells how her late preacher-husband felt a sense of destiny a sense of call in his life. One dark night, Peter, then a young man, decided to take a shortcut across the Scottish moors. He knew there was a deep deserted limestone quarry in that area, but he was confident he could avoid it.

Suddenly, he heard someone call, "Peter" there was great urgency in the voice. Peter stopped and called "Yes who is it? What do you want?" There was no answer. He walked a few more steps and then heard the voice calling still more urgently, "Peter!"

He paused then stumbled and fell on his knees. Putting out his hand to catch himself, he found nothing there!! He was at the very edge of the abandoned stone quarry. One more step would have meant certain death." From that calling, Peter Marshall knew he was called by God for the ministry.

Peter Marshall had a sense of calling, a sense that God had a purpose for his life. And I think in the same way each of us have been called by God to fulfill a purpose, to fulfill some task in this life, to become part of God’s over-all plan.

Those first disciples joined Jesus at about four in the afternoon. Immediately their lives took on new meaning and focus. They had to tell others about what they had found, and they didn’t wait for someone to ask. Now they were no longer seekers, but missionaries, men called by God to tell others "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

The world needs people of God, people transformed by faith and living by the Lamb. The world needs people who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit who are willing to tell others, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." How many lives can we touch with those words? How many lives will see the evidence in our lives of something that they wish they knew more about?

Don’t think for a moment that you are not able or not qualified to say those wonderful words. In just a little over three years, Jesus would be led away to be crucified. The disciples, most of whom were uneducated, working class men, had a pretty short time to learn what they would need to know as they would proclaim the power of the cross and the empty tomb around the known world.

But Jesus had made a difference in their lives. Their priorities changed, and they left families and careers to follow Jesus. How long have you known Jesus? Has Jesus made a difference in your life? How many people can you introduce to the Messiah? Amen.