Evening Prayer 2-5-11

Reading:
John 1:19-34

 John the Baptist.

John the Baptist was the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He was the one that the prophet Isaiah foretold "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3).  John's role was to be a prophet to call people to repentance.  He wanted people to realize that they had strayed from God and that the Kingdom of God was coming near to them and they had better change their ways.  He preached to them the need to repent (turn away) from their old life, receive forgiveness and move forward in newness of life.  He did this by baptizing.  This was not Sacramental Baptism because the Holy Spirit was not yet given.  It symbolized the washing away of sins as they repented of their former life.

John knew that he was not the Messiah.  He knew his role in the plan of salvation.  He was to prepare the way for the one that would come after him.  This is incredible since the Scriptures say that there was none born among men as great as John the Baptist (Luke 7:28)  Despite the fact that he was the greatest among men, he knew that Jesus was greater.

So when John saw Him approaching he cries out "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!".  Such an incredible saying.  The Jews standing with John knew well what he meant.  They had seen the Temple sacrifices offered day in and day out trying to remove the sins of the people.  Here was John calling Jesus the Lamb of God.  He is the perfect Lamb, the one without spot or blemish.  He is the one that the sins of the whole world are laid upon.  He is the one that goes silently to the Cross where His precious blood was spilled to cover all of the worlds sin.  His sacrifice removed the sin forever.  Jesus is God in the flesh, He died for you so that you can have life everlasting.  A life filled with peace, joy, and hope because He died for you and continues to give Himself to you in the Blessed Sacrament.  In doing so His life is in you and you are in Him.

Look to the Lamb of God upon the cross.  Realize that it is there that your sins are removed and forgiven.  You receive your life, health and salvation through Jesus Christ who loved you and died for you.