Larry Devich
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Agnus Dei - Wednesday of Holy Week
Read: John 1:29-43; Rev. 5:6-14; if you like, review devotion 12.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn. 1:29)
“The peace of the Lord be with you alway,” declares the pastor; and the
congregation responds by singing the Agnus Dei, Latin for “Lamb of God:” “O
Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy
upon us...grant us Thy peace.” As with so many parts of the liturgy, this hymn is
also straight from Scripture, this time from the lips of John the Baptist.
Remember, John has been preaching that the kingdom of heaven is near because
the King of heaven is near. Where is He? He has come to be baptized. He's
there in the crowd; but so unremarkable-looking is the Savior that John has to
point Him out and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world!”
As we discussed back in devotion 12, “Lamb of God” is a strange title for
the One who conquers sin, death and the devil. In Scripture, lambs are good
only for sacrifices and meals—which is precisely why Jesus is the Lamb of God.
As we continue through this Holy Week, it is no coincidence that Jesus is in
Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It is no coincidence that the Last Supper is
the Passover meal. It is no coincidence because He is the Paschal (Passover)
Lamb who is sacrificed to deliver us from death.
And, therefore, it also makes perfect sense that Christ feeds us Himself, our
Paschal Lamb, in His Supper, Holy Communion.
Jesus is called the Lamb also in Revelation 5, where the hosts of heaven
sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and
wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Rev. 5:12). The
Lamb of God whom all of heaven worships is the same who comes in Divine
Service, to serve you—to give you His body and blood for the forgiveness of
sins.
To the unbelieving eye, the Lord's Supper looks like a bit of bread and wine,
nothing more: we know that the Lord is present there only by His Word. That is
exactly how it was at the Jordan River, too: people did not recognize the Lamb
of God until John the Baptist pointed Him out. We live by faith, not by sight;
and by faith we believe He is there with grace.
(We also practice care in admitting people to the Sacrament, only because
the Lord warns that those who receive it without repentant faith will receive it to
their judgment. This warning is consistent with Scripture: it is not good for one
to come into the Lord's presence and say, “I believe in Jesus, but He is not here.”
See I Corinthians 11:27-32.)
The night that Jesus was betrayed will be remembered by the Church in just
one more day, and His death the day after. There He is, eating His Last Supper
with His disciples before His Sacrifice on the cross. And in the Lord's Supper,
there He is for you: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world. There, He has mercy upon you. There, He grants you His peace. ¶ 4/04/2007 05:18:00 AM 0 Comments
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn. 1:29)
“The peace of the Lord be with you alway,” declares the pastor; and the
congregation responds by singing the Agnus Dei, Latin for “Lamb of God:” “O
Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy
upon us...grant us Thy peace.” As with so many parts of the liturgy, this hymn is
also straight from Scripture, this time from the lips of John the Baptist.
Remember, John has been preaching that the kingdom of heaven is near because
the King of heaven is near. Where is He? He has come to be baptized. He's
there in the crowd; but so unremarkable-looking is the Savior that John has to
point Him out and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world!”
As we discussed back in devotion 12, “Lamb of God” is a strange title for
the One who conquers sin, death and the devil. In Scripture, lambs are good
only for sacrifices and meals—which is precisely why Jesus is the Lamb of God.
As we continue through this Holy Week, it is no coincidence that Jesus is in
Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It is no coincidence that the Last Supper is
the Passover meal. It is no coincidence because He is the Paschal (Passover)
Lamb who is sacrificed to deliver us from death.
And, therefore, it also makes perfect sense that Christ feeds us Himself, our
Paschal Lamb, in His Supper, Holy Communion.
Jesus is called the Lamb also in Revelation 5, where the hosts of heaven
sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and
wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Rev. 5:12). The
Lamb of God whom all of heaven worships is the same who comes in Divine
Service, to serve you—to give you His body and blood for the forgiveness of
sins.
To the unbelieving eye, the Lord's Supper looks like a bit of bread and wine,
nothing more: we know that the Lord is present there only by His Word. That is
exactly how it was at the Jordan River, too: people did not recognize the Lamb
of God until John the Baptist pointed Him out. We live by faith, not by sight;
and by faith we believe He is there with grace.
(We also practice care in admitting people to the Sacrament, only because
the Lord warns that those who receive it without repentant faith will receive it to
their judgment. This warning is consistent with Scripture: it is not good for one
to come into the Lord's presence and say, “I believe in Jesus, but He is not here.”
See I Corinthians 11:27-32.)
The night that Jesus was betrayed will be remembered by the Church in just
one more day, and His death the day after. There He is, eating His Last Supper
with His disciples before His Sacrifice on the cross. And in the Lord's Supper,
there He is for you: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world. There, He has mercy upon you. There, He grants you His peace. ¶ 4/04/2007 05:18:00 AM 0 Comments
