Behold the Lamb of God

Today's sermon is based on the Gospel According to John, where we witness the beginning of Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist, who was baptizing and preaching to throngs of people on the eastern banks of the Jordan River, sees Jesus walking towards him. He then proclaims Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Lamb of God refers to the sacrificial lambs that were a central part of religious life for the people of ancient Israel. These lambs were ritually sacrificed as a way of atoning for sins. The Passover festival, in particular, involved the sacrifice of a lamb as a way of remembering God's deliverance and asking for God's forgiveness for sin. Each family had to sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb without any blemishes or broken bones. Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, shortly before Passover, coincided with the arrival of the flocks of Temple lambs that were specifically bred to die and shed their blood for the forgiveness of people's sins. These lambs would be sold in the capital markets for Passover. The grand parade of these one-year-old lambs, winding their way through the road in Jerusalem, quite possibly converged with Jesus' procession. Isaiah prophesied about Israel's coming Messiah, who would be a suffering servant and bear the sins of the people. Jesus' death during the Passover festival was not a coincidence, as he fulfilled this prophecy. In conclusion, let us remember the significance of the Lamb of God and Jesus' sacrifice during this Easter season. May we seek forgiveness for our sins and strive to live a life pleasing to God. Amen.   www.venicepres.org