Jesus is the Son of God and also the Lamb of God. We Christians believe and proclaim him so. We also point and witness to him.

John’s reason for being is to point and witness to Jesus. For he baptizes with water so that he may reveal the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. And he is sure to point Jesus out as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He further witnesses that Jesus has the Holy Spirit and is the Son of God.

We Christians are also to point and witness to Jesus as the Son of God and the Lamb of God. To do so, however, we have first to believe and know him.

And we begin as John, humbly admitting that we do not know Jesus. Humble like little children, we hope for the knowledge that comes from the Father.

For the Lord of heaven and earth reveals to the childlike what he hides from the wise (Mt 11, 25-27). So, we trust that he will count us among the poor who keep the true religion (SV.EN XI:190). They have a living faith, believing simply without taking everything apart.

Yes, poor people stand a better chance than the learned of grasping that Jesus is the Lamb of God. The Lamb whose flesh is food and whose blood saves (Ex 12, 11-13), the Lamb for sacrifice (1 Cor 5, 7; Rev 5, 11). For because of their poverty, they more easily identify and relate with the Suffering Servant. This Servant bears our sins and brings us healing by his wounds (1 Pt 2, 24); he is like a lamb for the slaughter (Is 53, 7). And so, Son of God though he is, Jesus learns obedience through suffering (Heb 5, 8).

Is it this Son and Servant we believe in and know? We surely do not want to point and witness to the wrong Jesus.

Lamb of God, you bless us and make us holy by calling us to your Supper. As we eat your body and drink your blood, make us follow you even to the point of offering ourselves as lambs of sacrifice. And may your Holy Spirit drive us to go about doing good.

19 January 2020
2nd Sunday in O.T. (A)
Is 49, 3. 5-6; 1 Cor 1, 1-3; Jn 1, 29-34