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John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of
whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’” John 1:29–30
Central to the Jewish faith was the Feast of Passover, the
commemoration of God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in
Egypt (Exodus 12). In Jesus’ time, Passover was one of three major
annual feasts during which the Jews made a pilgrimage to the Temple
in Jerusalem. Additionally, the Feast of Weeks celebrated the
giving of the Law on Mount Sinai and the first fruits of the
harvest (Leviticus 23:15-22), and the Feast of Tabernacles recalled
the Israelites’ wandering in the desert and celebrated God’s
providence (Leviticus 23:33-43).
Recall the first Passover meal. Moses instructed the people to
sacrifice an unblemished lamb, mark the doorposts of their homes
with its blood, and eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter
herbs in haste, ready to depart. This act of faith and obedience
protected them from the angel of death who passed over the marked
houses, sparing the firstborn of Israel, while striking down the
firstborn of Egypt. The Passover thus became a perpetual memorial
of God’s saving power and His covenantal faithfulness to His
people.
Because of the Passover, the idea of a sacrificial lamb was
intimately familiar to the Jewish people. The Jews were also
familiar with the prophecy in Isaiah 53—often referred to as the
Suffering Servant—in which the servant of the Lord is described as
“a lamb led to the slaughter,” who bears the sins of many (Isaiah
53:7, 10–12). Additionally, each morning and evening, a lamb was
sacrificed in the temple as a continual offering for sin (Exodus
29:38–42).
As Jesus began His public ministry, the first thing said of Him
came from John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world.” His words would have resonated within
the minds and hearts of John’s disciples. His disciples believed
that John was a great prophet and the forerunner of the Messiah,
sent to prepare the way for the Lord. They saw him as a holy man
who called for repentance and renewal, and some even wondered if he
himself might be the Christ, though John consistently denied
this.
Because John’s ministry was one of preparation for the Messiah, his
disciples would have anticipated the Messiah’s imminent arrival.
Imagine the excitement, surprise, questions, uncertainty, and hope
that would have filled their minds and hearts as they listened to
John’s prophecy about Jesus. John continued, “He is the one of whom
I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he
existed before me.’”
Though John’s proclamation about Jesus took on a powerful
significance for his disciples that first moment that he revealed
Jesus as the Lamb of God, John’s words must resonate within each of
us today. Now that the Christmas Season is complete and we enter
into Ordinary Time, we are invited to embrace Jesus’ public
ministry, with all His teachings and Paschal Sacrifice, as
something extraordinary in our lives. We must approach His ministry
with the same hope, enthusiasm, excitement, and anticipation that
John’s disciples experienced.
Reflect today on the moment when John the Baptist’s disciples heard
him proclaim, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Like them, strive to see
Jesus with new eyes and hopeful anticipation as we begin Ordinary
Time. This liturgical season marks the beginning of Jesus’ public
ministry, and it must also be a renewed beginning of His works in
your life. Follow Him without reserve, allowing Him to take away
your sins and share in His life and love.
Most holy Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, I
choose to follow You, for You are the Messiah, the Son of God. As
we enter into Ordinary Time, please give me the grace to embrace
Your public ministry in an extraordinary way. May Your working in
my life begin anew, transforming me and leading me to the freedom
won by Your Paschal Sacrifice. Jesus, I trust in You.
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