December 29
John 1.29-31
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
I find that in sports I don’t care for the superstar mentality. That was one of the things I appreciated when Vegas made that run in hockey in their first season. Mostly second and third line players. I appreciate the fact that in football the ones who make a team great are not the ones getting all the praise. It is the offensive line that makes the rest of the offense work. People that very few take note of.
John says his role is not to be the one noticed. His role is to be the one pointing to Jesus and telling people to look. The role of Jesus is filled, once and for all. But we still have a place to hold that role like John’s. We can tell people, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” That continues to be the role of the church till we get to the day when every knee bows and every tongue confesses him as Lord.
John says, “Get ready, he is here.” We say, “Get ready, he’s coming back.” And his Spirit is here within his church, bringing his presence always, to the end of the age. As we approach the end of the year, we are reminded that Jesus is the Lamb who was slain and the risen Lamb. And we look forward to the day when we can sing his praises with those final “Amens!”
Song – Worthy is the Lamb (Revelation 5.12-13)
Prayer
Lord of time and new beginnings, give us good judgment to know what new things to do for you this year, and grant us the inner strength to finish each job we begin; so may we fully know the joy of doing your will; so may your kingdom come on earth — through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.