Behold The Child Who Takes Away Sin
Text: John 1:19-28 In the name of Jesus. Amen. In our reading from the Gospel of John, there is a profound statement. This may be the most profound statement in all of scripture. John the Baptist lifts his voice and points not to himself, not to the crowds, not to the pious religious elite, but to Jesus, and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Now, notice that John the Baptist does not tell us to look inward. He does not instruct us to try harder. He does not flatter us with words about our potential or advise us on how to self-actualize. Instead, he points to Jesus. And so, these words of John are not sentimental or vague. They are not religious wrapping paper. They are not symbolic fluff. Rather, they are a weighty, concrete declaration of what the Christ child has come into the flesh to do. John’s proclamation is a divine sermon in one sentence: Look at the One who alone can do for us - what we cannot do for ourselves. This, B...
