Tuesday 20 June 2023

Psalm 53

Background

John’s Gospel opens with the testimony of John the Baptist. This is a powerful recognition of the importance of ‘preparing the way’ for Jesus and pointing to him as the path to salvation for all.

John proclaims four things: that Jesus is the Lamb of God; that he is the one for whom John baptises people and is preparing the way; that Jesus is the one who has received the Holy Spirit; and finally that he is nothing less than the long-awaited Messiah – the son of God. On these profound statements hinge everything that follows in John’s Gospel and the meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

 And yet, the use of the term 'Lamb of God’ unequivocally sets the scene for the nature of the Messiah-ship that Jesus will bring. Jesus’ leadership will be characterised by the principles of sacrifice and servanthood, not by power or grandeur. When speaking of the ‘Lamb of God’, faithful Jewish followers of the time would undoubtedly have made the connection with the lamb that God provided for Abraham as a sacrifice in place of his beloved son, Isaac (Genesis 22:8); of the Passover lamb that became a symbol of the people’s freedom from slavery; and of the suffering servant prophesy of Isaiah 53. By using this phrase, John firmly and deliberately identified Jesus both with the long-awaited liberating Messiah, and with the sacrificial servant, who offers his life in the service of others. And in stating that Jesus is God’s son, who has received God’s Spirit and who acts for all of humanity in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the love of God, John was making the most radical and transformative claim in history.

The Messiah for which John prepared the way was not as had traditionally been expected. But instead he offered a level of human identification and universality of purpose that had never before been imagined or considered. Over 2000 years later, in a world of conflict and injustice, the message of freedom and hope that John shared and the person to whom he pointed is as relevant and as needed as ever. But do we hear the message? And if we do, does it have the life- and world-transforming impact that it should? 

To Ponder:

• Do you, or how often do you ‘witness’ to who Jesus is? If so, how?
• How does your understanding of Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God’ impact upon your relationship with him and your commitment to discipleship?
• If you place yourself in this scene, where do you place yourself? And are you open to what John is saying? How do you feel? How do you respond?

Prayer

Merciful Lord, whose prophet John the Baptist proclaimed your son the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world: grant that we who have known your forgiveness and your life-giving love may ever tell of your mercy and your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.