Hope Lutheran Church, Port Coquitlam BC
Text: John 1:29–42a
Theme: Behold the Lamb
___________________________
Intro –I know that you would appreciate to have some motivation for the challenges in your life. So I’ll point you in a direction that would help you. Here it is:
“Be yourself,
unless you are wrong.
Because then, change is needed.”
How would that work for Sunday morning motivation? I know, you just can’t wait to go home and start your Monday on a high note!
But this is advice we hear a lot in our day. “Be yourself”. In one hand, it has a positive note, because you don’t want to keep comparing yourself to others. But would you say that to people who are wrong? Think about someone you think definitely has bad habits or terrible attitudes. Would you say, “just be yourself”?
Addressing this popular piece of advice could be interesting, but I want to focus on the structure of this saying.
It starts with what seems to be good news. “Be yourself”
Then one may realize that actually is pointing to something not pleasant to behold in themselves. “unless you are wrong.”
And then the realization that change is needed.
I bring it up because the Gospel today takes us to a similar place.
The despised Lamb
In the Gospel we see John pointing to Jesus and saying the famous words. “Behold the Lamb of God”
First of all, let’s be honest: “Lamb of God” is a terrible marketing strategy. If John were trying to “sell” Jesus to the masses, he would have gone with something stronger. King. Liberator. Champion. He could have called Him a Reformer, a Revolutionary, or a Lion. But he says Lamb. He chooses the one title no one would use to win a war.
There is a reason for this. In our time, we hear “Lamb” and think of something sweet and gentle. But for those standing by the Jordan river that day, the image of a Lamb meant one thing: A lamb is what you bring when you are the problem.
When Israel sinned, a lamb died. When guilt needed covering, a lamb bled. When the angel of death swept through Egypt, it was lamb’s blood on the doorposts that meant: “Pass over this house. Someone else has already died here.”
John isn’t giving Jesus a cute nickname. He is identifying a sacrifice.
The Rescue We Didn’t Ask For
The people of Israel wanted a King to punish “those awful people” over there. They wanted a Liberator to fix their politics. But God sent a Lamb to fix them.
John says, “Behold, the Lamb,” because the ledger never balances on its own. You can’t “be yourself” your way out of sin. You can only be rescued out of it.
This is where the “Be Yourself” advice needs to be taken with two grains of salt. If Jesus is the Lamb of God, you are admitting you are in trouble you cannot fix. You are admitting you don’t need a mere “Life Coach” to help you be yourself; you need a Saviour to help you live.
See the pattern? “Be yourself – unless you are in sin. Then you need change.” Then:
Behold the Lamb of God!
But he takes away the sin of the world?
Whose sin? Mine.
Therefore, death and rescue needs to happen
So when John says, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” he is saying two things:
- You can’t do it. We are sinners who need forgiveness, grace and a new heart. “Be yourself” sounds like a good advice but it can be a heavy burden. Isn’t it exhausting trying to ‘be’ enough and the best version of yourself all the time? So behold: Here is the Lamb who takes that pressure off your shoulders.
- “Look. This is how God saves you.” Not by demanding more from you. Not by grading your spiritual performance. Not by weighing your good deeds against your bad. But by giving you Someone who takes your sin away.
Bottom line: John is saying: This is how God deals with sin. This is how he deals with problem we have caused and we don’t have a solution for. That verb in the Greek does not mean “to ignore.” It does not mean “to tolerate.” It means to lift off, to remove, to carry away, by taking it Himself. Jesus doesn’t come to help you try harder. He comes to die in your place.
Your guilt. Your shame. Your failures. Your secret disappointments. Your regrets that still whisper at night. Jesus does not manage them. He takes them.
The Gospel John Points To
What we see in the Gospel, then, is John doing something beautiful. He steps out of the way. Twice in this text he says, “I am not the one.” And twice he points to Jesus. And two of his own disciples leave him. That is not failure. That is faithful ministry. The Church does not exist to make people follow us. It exists to point people to Christ. John the Baptist fades into the background of this story. Jesus takes center stage. That is how it should always be.
And what do those first disciples do? They do not get a sermon. They do not get a doctrinal exam. They hear two words: “Come and see.” And they do.
That’s the invitation. Not “Figure it all out first.” Not “Clean yourself up.” Not “Prove you’re serious.” Because you can’t do it. The invitation is: Come. Come tired. Come confused. Come with your doubt and your shame and your exhaustion. Come and see the Lamb who has already carried what you couldn’t.
And that is how faith still begins today. Not with everything figured out. But with the heart being called to faith and figuring out that it needs the presence of the Lamb.
The Lamb who takes away sin is not an idea, but a gift delivered to you. Through the Means of Grace
What This Means for You
Some of you walked in today with faith that feels strong. Some with faith that feels tired. Some with faith that feels thin as thread. Some of you have been following Jesus for decades. This text is for all of us: The Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world. Which means yours. That thing you did that still haunts you? He took it. That failure you can’t stop remembering? He carried it. That quiet fear that you’re not enough? He answered it—on a cross. When you confess them in faith, He removes takes your sin away. For good.
As for the daily life troubles or problems you need to solve right now, I don’t know them. I know that you’ll try your best. And you can do your best to live under His will, to reflect His love in your family, your friendships, and your community. But remember this: the Lord is with you, the Lord will go with you, and the Lord won’t let you go even when you think you can’t understand things and you are thinking of letting go. Because your hope does not rest on how well you understand Him. It rests on who He is for you. The Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world. Which includes yours.
You are not here today because you are impressive. You are here because Jesus is faithful.
Closing – Let me close by asking you: How many times this week will you quietly ask, “Is this good enough?” “Am I being myself in the right way” “Does God like it?” It may happen. That is us.
For those times, here’s a better quote, that is not motivational, it is transformational.
Be in Jesus
He gives you a new heart and a new life
He leads you to be that self.
Be that self.
God already loves you. Not because you performed well today. Not because you checked all the right boxes. But because Christ the Lamb, has already stood in your place. Be who you are in Him.
