John 1:19-34
Each of the Gospels has John the Baptist as the introducer of Jesus as the Christ. As we begin our adventure into the Gospel of John, it is significant how John the Baptist identifies Jesus. He is “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world!” This is the universal action of Christ, to remove the sin of the whole world.
The New Testament helps us understand that the world lies under the sway of the wicked one. We are taught that all have sinned, and that each sinful act will be judged by God. The judgement of God on the sinful world was on the cross of Christ when he became sin for us.
But too often, we take knowledge of the judgement of God for sin, and turn that into judgmentalism of others. Yes, often what we point out in them is sinful. Yes, it is a violation of God’s Holy Law. But we do not put their sin in the context of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. Instead of trusting God that judges all in truth, we make our voices and views the judge of the other. We make the remedy of their sin conformity to our view and not conformity to the love of God.
Here is a meditation I found on a web site that lets me think about this:
The Sin of the World
Not just your sin. Not just individual failings. But the tangled, systemic, generational mess of humanity. The violence we inherit, the injustice we perpetuate, the wounds we pass along.
The Lamb steps into that whole web and begins to unweave it.
This is not a private salvation. It is cosmic healing.
Where do you see the world aching? How might you join the Lamb’s work of mending?
In our time in John’s Gospel notice the way Jesus deals with people, even sinners, and the remedy that he prescribes for their sins.
Pastor Greg
