The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is 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 ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). John 1:29-42

In Epiphany, we move rapidly from sweet little baby Jesus in a manger, to the fully grown man living into his identity. There are only a very few mentions of his childhood at all. So, we tend to see his as the vibrant man, calling disciples, and healing people everywhere he goes. It allows us to separate him from his family of origin, his culture and his people. For me, as a parent, the is very disconcerting. I see my very grown and capable daughters living their lives, and I see the little girls they were (and are) at the same time. I wish I could see Jesus through Mary's eyes. The essential being is there from the beginning. Here we find Jesus, walking by his cousin John who calls him the Lamb of God. I so desperately want to know what they called each other as kids, what experiences made them who they are as adults. None of us can really be fully who we are without embracing those experiences that formed and shaped us. May we, like the disciples, run to the one man John points out as the lamb of God. May we bring our whole selves, our past and our becoming to the feet of Jesus.

Wondrous Creator, you bring us into this world

completely vulnerable, wailing for our food

and surround us with those who help us grow.

We try to hide our origins and our vulnerable side

yet there is where you abide deeply with us

and bring your healing to our very hidden places.

O Lamb of God, be near the children in us today

so we might reach for you instead of weapons

and teach your love to a world broken by hate. Amen.