Matthew 3:13-17
In our gospel account for today, we read two references to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” First, it is the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world. In the second reference, two disciples hear John say this and follow Jesus. This phrase associated with Jesus is not isolated in its meaning. There are several places in scripture that can be pointed to when attempting to define it fully. (see theological reflections) In the Jewish world, lambs were burned as a whole burnt offering, not strictly for sin, but as a sacrifice in a fuller more complete sense. Jesus as the “Lamb of God” is the ultimate sacrifice, not only to take away our sins; the sacrifice gives us an abundant life on earth as new creations and eternal life upon our death and departure from this world. We are to each live our lives as a living sacrifice. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Are you making sacrifices in the name of Jesus? If so, what are they?
