5th Sunday in Lent, March 29th 2009, Vicar Hanneman
When you see Jesus being represented by a lamb, what images come to mind? Someone could say that the lamb represents Jesus as the sacrificial lamb sent to take away our sins. Someone else might say that Jesus, like the Passover lamb, was to be without blemishes or defects. How about, the lamb points to Jesus’ willingness to die?
From what I have been told and have read, I don’t think a lamb simply accepts his fate beforehand and allows its death to unfold. However, a lamb, when it is being led to the slaughter, can be unusually quiet. Sheep are very trusting animals and they usually follow their master’s voice wherever he leads them even when it is to their end. The image must be surreal. Can you imagine watching anything just seemingly accepting its own fate of death so calmly?
It is the picture of a lamb “silent” before death that God uses in Isaiah chapter 53. He describes our Savior’s passion this way, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7 NIV)
Could this have been on the hearts and minds of many in Israel when John the Baptist began his ministry? Picture many, including John, looking for their “silent” Savior.
John was called to point Israel to their Savior so God wanted John to know to whom he was to direct the people. John tells us in this morning’s text: “I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”
John knew who the Savior of the world was and he pointed Jesus out with the picture of the lamb. John, seeing Jesus walking towards him, exclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Do you think the people understood what John was saying? Do you think Isaiah 53 was ringing in their hearts?
We can’t say for sure, but the image John used is a fitting picture of our Savior. As stated before, one concept the lamb represents is the willingness of our Savior to die in our place, and the passion reading for today brings that out to us.
Judas brings a detachment of soldiers carrying torches and weapons. They appear to be ready for Jesus to put up some kind of resistance. Jesus, however, doesn’t run. Instead, we are told that He knew what was going to happen and He went out to meet them. Jesus knew they were coming and, yet, He goes to them.
After Jesus tells the men that He is the one they are looking for, what happens to the detachment? They all fall down. Picture the scene. A detachment of men is roughly 600 men. They are armed with torches and weapons coming to arrest Jesus. This is a massive force. They approach Jesus asking for Him, and, when Jesus proclaims who He is, they all fall backwards. Perhaps their legs gave out or they fainted. At any rate, the men all fell flat before Jesus.
Imagine this just happened for you. The very men who came to take you to jail have just fallen over. Would you stay there to let them get up or would you run away while you had a head start? I think I would run. Jesus could have escaped at that very moment if He wanted to, but Jesus didn’t even need a head start did He? The reality is that the ONLY way these men could take Jesus in was if He let them.
As they are taking Jesus away Simon Peter tries to defend Jesus by striking a man’s ear. Jesus responds with an amazing statement. He tells Peter that if He wants to He can call twelve legions (about 7200) of angels at His disposal. Can you imagine if Jesus had done that? Picture the faces of Jesus’ enemies if this had happened.
Did Jesus do that? Did He call all those angels to fight for Him? Did Jesus even need angels? No. What Jesus could have done would have been amazing, but what Jesus didn’t do speaks volumes to you and to me about our Savior.
Jesus had the power to get away and didn’t use it. He never tried to fight His way out of His predicament. Jesus willingly went to the slaughter in our place. Jesus deserves our full appreciation for what He has done for us.
Do we give it to Him? Do we give Jesus the recognition He deserves? Do we thank God with our lives for His willingness to die for us? Jesus gave us His life. Shouldn’t we be willing to give ours back to Him? Don’t we sometimes behave as if God is asking too much of us?
“I’m not willing to give my best, Lord. I’m not willing to share your word with all people. I’m not willing to give you the respect that you deserve. I’m not willing to put your ways above my ways.”
When we do serve is it always willingly done? “Alright, I will serve You, I will love my enemies, and I will come to church, but I’m only doing it cause You said so.”
Doesn’t God deserve better? Doesn’t God deserve our best? Doesn’t God deserve willing servants? Of course He does, but, because of our sinful nature, we will many times fail to give Him what He deserves. When we look at our sinfulness we find it hard to believe that anyone would want to die for “unwilling” sinners like us.
You know what? JESUS DID! You know what makes it even better? He willingly did it! Just like the lamb to the slaughter Jesus followed the directions of His Father in heaven to the very end. He didn’t fight it. He didn’t say, “No Father I can not do such a thing.” He willingly took every step in our place.
John’s message rings true: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The Greek language really gives us a wonderful picture of Jesus’ work in this passage. The word translated, “takes,” is a present participle. Since the word is a participle it is describing a characteristic of something or someone. In this verse the participle describes a characteristic of the Lamb of God, that being “He takes away sin.” Also, because it is in the present tense means its ongoing or that this is true all the time. So, this means that Jesus is always taking away the sins of the world and He isn’t going to stop. Jesus will keep on forgiving you! This is true because Jesus’ death is sufficient to pay for all of your sins - past, present, and future.
Now, our “willing lamb” sits on His throne in heaven. That lamb is our King! A Lamb!? Ruling!? Yes, a lamb is our King and worthy to be so. Why? “Because you (Jesus) were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God.” (Revelation 5:9 NIV) Your lamb, who rules over you, purchased you with His own blood. How awesome it is for you to know that your Savior, who willingly died for you, is also your King. The lamb gives us a brilliant picture of Jesus. Not only in His sacrifice but also His willingness to die for us. In Revelation, John was privileged to see His saving lamb in all His glory. We too will see our glorious lamb in heaven where we will perfectly give Jesus the awe and respect He deserves. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12 NIV) Amen.