The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Thought for the Day: The Cleansing of Sin
At the Last Supper in the thirteenth chapter of John, Jesus acts as a servant, washing the feet of his disciples. While Jesus frequently told parables, in this instance he acted out one for his disciples to see that what he will do for them on the cross has eternal cleansing purposes. What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. If I do not wash you, you have no share with me (John 13:7-8). This acted-out parable has a message similar to that of the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector: he who humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus is preparing to humble himself on the cross so that the Father can exalt all who are located in him. There is no way into the presence of the Father unless we are cleansed by and located in Jesus.
There is a thread of water that runs throughout the gospel of John, especially the first four chapters, and this water has to do with cleansing from sin and conversion by the Spirit. The first reference to water in Chapter 1 is the account of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. John was baptizing people who had confessed and repented of their sins to God and sought forgiveness.
However, he also drew a crowd from the Jews who sent priests and Levites to ask who he was and why he was baptizing. According to Luke (3:7-9) John said [ ] to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And then he said (3:16), I baptize with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am unworthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
When Jesus did appear to be baptized, John said, “Behold, 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 before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel” (John 1:29-31).
The outward sign of water baptism illustrated the necessity for the inward act of spiritual renewal for the people of God through repentance and recommitment to God. John the Baptist calls on the people of God of the Old Covenant, who have Abraham as their father, to bear good fruit to prove the effectiveness of the baptismal act. He communicates this in rather harsh language, calling the leaders of Israel who come to him a brood of vipers. His main point, however, is prophetic: God can and will raise up a new people for himself because the continual bearing of good fruit is impossible.
John also prophetically announces that biological connection to Abraham through natural birth will be replaced by spiritual re-birth through the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He explains how the new people will be raised up in citing the fact that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. It is interesting that John does not mention water, but that Jesus will baptize and cleanse his people with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Lastly, John calls Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world, alluding to the salvific purposes of his death on the cross that will deal with original sin. Original sin is what John means by the sin of the world. He references the divinity of Jesus by calling him a man who ranks before me because he was before me. The logical conclusion: the sacrificial lamb will be none other than God himself.
Self-examination, repentance, prayer, and worship:
Before you pray, take some time to reflect on the most important human relationships in your life. Perhaps there is one in particular that is troubled and about which you are concerned. Ask the Lord to assist in correcting/reconciling that relationship, and then pray a prayer like the following:
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by unhappy divisions in our relationships in life, especially those in your Church; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Spend further time in prayer and worship before studying the Gospel of John below.
Study: John 5:1-17, The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" 7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." 8Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. 10So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." 11But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'" 12They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."
Reflection Questions:
1) Why do you feel there is concern over Jesus healing on the Sabbath? How do you think the Jews are misunderstanding the purpose of the Sabbath?
2) What does Jesus mean when he tells the man, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you”?
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