The Lamb of God

 

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29-34 ESV).

 

Mary and I have been watching episodes of “North Woods Law.” It is a series of episodes following some of the Maine Game Service officers in the performance of their duties in this beautiful state. One of those duties is the search and rescue of those who may have become lost or injured along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T. It is a marked and maintained hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is about 2,200 miles long with the highest point on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina at Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet above sea level). It is well used and maintained by the National Park Service. In order to keep hikers on the trail from getting lost it is blazed with white markers on trees along the way.

 

These trail blazes reminded me of our reading today. John (known as the “Baptizer”), was born miraculously to aged parents (cf. Luke 1:11-18) and given the mission of blazing (preparing) the way for the Messiah. As a preacher, he drew great crowds. He denounced people's sins, called for repentance, and baptized many who turned back to God. The high point in John's life came when he was baptizing at the Jordan River and Jesus approached him. John called out, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" He also explained, "This is the Son of God."

 

The first time we read the word "lamb" in the Old Testament, the speaker is Isaac, and he is asking his father, "Where is the lamb for the [sacrifice]?" (Genesis 22:7). In the New Testament at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, we see this word again as John announces, "Look, the Lamb of God ..." John pointed us to Jesus, the Son of God, as the Lamb who came to meet our deepest need by becoming the sacrifice for all our sin. This is the ultimate “trail” that leads to eternal life. I hope you are walking that one! It is clearly marked!