Christmas centers on the birth of the Christ Child, emphasizing that in the person of Jesus God has become flesh and dwelt among us.

Epiphany emphasizes that the man Jesus actually is God. Who He is and what He does is revealed each week, piece by piece. As I once heard, “That God could become man needs no proof, but that Jesus is God needed proof.” After all, anyone can claim to be God. So, how are we to know it’s true? Well, the season of Epiphany helps answer that.

On the Day of Epiphany, we heard the visit of the magi. They brought royal gifts to Jesus—announcing Him as “the king of the Jews.”

Last week, we heard of Jesus’ Baptism. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah in His task to “fulfill all righteousness.”

The events of today’s Gospel begin the day after Jesus’ Baptism. We learn what it means that Jesus is the Messiah (or Anointed One).

John the Baptist points directly to Jesus and says, “Hey, look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

In that one sentence, John directs our attention to the thing that causes suffering and death: sin. Sin is the real problem leading to all other problems. Sin brings all bad stuff into the world—disease, poverty, war. Sin corrupts the hearts of humanity with violence, envy, impurity, and pride. Sin taints our good works. God says, “Good works are as filthy rags.” God says, “No one does good; not even one.” John preaches a message that no one asked for, but it’s a message that everyone needs to hear. We are sinners who desperately need salvation.

Many people who hear John’s call for all people to repent of their sins refuse to listen and reject his message. They think they don’t need to repent of anything. Some people deny that sin is a problem or they deny that sin even exists. They don’t see any need for salvation. They find John’s entire message (the basic message of Scripture) offensive.

Others refuse to listen and reject John’s message, because they are absorbed by the things of this world. They might be trying to make a mark on the world through their career, fame, power, or all three. They care about little else. Perhaps they seek security and happiness in money, as they put all their love and trust in it. They could be trying to find hope, comfort, and peace in the pleasures of life. Whatever the reason, they become carried away by fleeting things and lose sight of the one thing needful—the One to whom John points and says, “Hey, look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

We have many sufferings, difficulties, and challenges in life. Yet, nothing is as problematic as sin. Sin rejects God through rejection of His Law and Gospel instruction. Sin is lawlessness—living as if we are the Law and the world revolves around us. Sin corrupts the human heart to be curved in on itself, which leads to a “me-first” attitude in thought, word, and deed as we lose sight of the Lord and hurt our neighbors in body, mind, or spirit. Lawlessness, rejection of the Lord, sin brings death. God Himself is life (the source of life), and so, to oppose God is to unwittingly embrace death.

Yet, as the Lord is Life, He desires all people to have life in Him. God planned to deliver people whom He created in His image and likeness (an image and likeness corrupted by sin). He promised deliverance from the very sin that corrupts. He promised to take away sin. The Lord promised to remove the curse of death and give life.

To accomplish this feat, the Lord has sent His Son Jesus who is “the way and the truth and the life”, who is “the resurrection and the life”, who is the “author of life.” John points right to Jesus and announces to everyone standing around him, “Hey, look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John’s statement has a direct Old Testament reference. God called Abraham to follow Him, promising to make Abraham a great nation (the Israelites), promising to give him the land of Canaan, and promising to give the Savior through Abraham’s offspring. Many years later, Abraham’s family became slaves in Egypt. They suffered horribly. The Egyptians systematically killed male Israelites to keep their population lower, while at the same time the Egyptians exploited the remaining Israelites for slave labor. The Lord appeared to a man named Moses, promising to redeem His people from slavery.

God saved His people through a very specific means—the blood of lambs. Israelites sacrificed lambs and painted the blood on their doorposts, following the Lord’s commands. Then, when the prophesied angel of death had passed through the land of Egypt, striking down every firstborn male, the angel saw the doors marked with lambs’ blood and passed over those homes. This was called the Passover—as the Lord showed His almighty power over Egypt in judgment. Not even Pharoah’s home was spared. God delivered His people (Israel) from slavery and guided them to abundant life in the Promised Land.

As the Lord guided Israel through the wilderness, He established an event in their worship practice—sacrifices. Along with hearing God’s Word and male circumcision, the people of Israel offered sacrifices of pure and spotless lambs. Circumcision and sacrifices were sacramental acts instituted by God, having visible signs, promising the forgiveness of sins, similar to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Circumcision and the sacrifices pointed forward to the greatest gift God gives (Christ Jesus), who was born of woman, under the Law. Jesus is the great sacrifice (the once-for-all perfect sacrifice).

So, for the benefit of his own disciples, John points to Jesus and says, “Hey, look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John recognizes Jesus as God’s Son (the Messiah and world’s Savior). He directs the attention of his followers to Jesus. It’s as if John says, “You don’t need to follow me anymore, the one greater than me has come. Behold the Lamb of God!”

God’s Lamb has come to take away the sin of the world! This is great news for you and me, because we are in the world. Therefore, He came to take away your sin. He came to take away my sin. He came to take away the sins of everyone—man and woman, big and small, elderly and infant. He came to take away all our sins.

Jesus shed His blood upon the wood of the cross so that the angel of death passes over you. God leads you through the valley of the shadow of death to His kingdom of life.

God’s Lamb has come to take away your sin, to bear your sin, to become your sin, to be punished for all of your sin. “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all!” Jesus bore all sin, and with His dying breath, He exhaled the words: “It is finished.” The price of your sin was paid in full. “The blood of Jesus—God’s Son—cleanses us of all sin.” You are forgiven through the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

John’s followers received his message and began to follow Jesus. When Jesus questions them, they share a desire to receive His teaching, having believed by the power of the Holy Spirit that He is the Messiah. A man named Andrew, then, tells his brother Peter the Good News, and both men become disciples (followers, learners, and devotees) of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, like the followers of John, you have been told where to direct your gaze. In telling you, “Hey, look! The Lamb of God!” John tells you where to find very Good News. He tells you where to direct your attention to receive salvation. He tells you exactly who takes away your sins and forgives you.

You all are here today, seeking “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” He has promised to be among you in His Word and Sacraments. You are baptized into the Lamb. In His Supper, the Lamb feeds you His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of your faith. By His Word of absolution, the Lamb announces pardon and peace with God. You are in the right place to look upon the Lamb with eyes of faith.

Many people rejected John’s message, which is God’s message of sin and salvation. But there were those who heard the message from God, took it to heart, received it, and believed it. They looked to Jesus as the Savior from their sins. So do you.

Even though we are tempted by the pride of our hearts, the selfishness of our flesh, and the cares of this world, the Lord has called us out of the darkness of sin into the marvelous light of His salvation. The Lord has taken away our sins, claimed us as His own in Baptism, and nourishes us with His very body and blood as the Lamb given for our salvation. Amen.