Sidney UMC - 4th Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/29/23 - Sermon - “Why The Sermon On The Mount Matters!”

Sunday 01/29/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Why The Sermon On The Mount Matters!”               

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 15                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

          As Christians we are called live and love like Jesus Christ. We are called to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, to share the gospel with others, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Many of us do this in various ways in our everyday lives.

          Sometimes though, it can be hard for those who are struggling and or suffering. The promises of God through Jesus Christ are the same for us all if we turn to Christ, but some of our life circumstances differ from others. Sometimes for some, it is easier to be the giver or the caretaker than to be the receiver. Many of us love helping others, but we might not like receiving help from others. This reality is how it has always been in the world, and the Christian community is tasked with loving and caring for each other. This is what we do, as followers of Jesus Christ.

          This morning, we have the famed “Sermon of the Mount,” in our gospel of Matthew reading. Some people also refer to this at the “Beatitudes.” The “Beatitudes” is a fancy way of describing saying of Jesus. As in, Jesus said these things, these “blessed(s)” are the “Beatitudes.” Some experts think that Jesus gave his “Sermon on the Mount” near the Sea of Galilee on a hill, and some might argue that he gave this sermon somewhere else. Maybe a mountain or somewhere else. There is a large agreement that Jesus was in an elevated area though, as this sermon is often known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” There also a version of this in the gospel of Luke, often called the “Sermon on the Plain.” In the gospel of Luke version, often called, once again, “The Sermon on the Plain,” which differs a little from the “Sermon on the Mount,” it is commonly believed that Jesus was preaching on a flat surface not an elevated service. This why in the gospel of Luke it is called the “Sermon on the Plain.”

          The Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain both give some of Jesus’ core teachings and challenges for us to be more like him. This is reflected in our Psalm 15 reading for this morning, as Psalm 15:1-2, which says once again:

O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? ² Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart; (Ps. 15:1-2, NRSV).

          It is interesting that that Psalmist asks this morning “who may dwell on your holy hill,” as Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes this morning on a hill or an elevated place. Who can dwell on the holy hill, and how should we strive to live? Well, this my friends is what the Sermon on the Mount and Beatitudes are all about. Jesus this morning, beyond just love God and love your neighbor is giving us further instructions for how to live, and this, as my sermon title is called, is “Why the Sermon On The Mount Matters!”

          If Jesus is the ultimate form of love, as he was God in flesh, then the ultimate act of love was Jesus dying on the cross for us. In fact, in our reading for this morning form 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, it says starting 1:1 once again:

¹⁸ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18, NRSV).

          The message of the cross is love, forgiveness, hope, repentance, and mercy. This is why the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 this, once again: 

²³ but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength                                   (1 Cor. 1:23-25, NRSV).

          Jesus, fully God, fully human, came for each and everyone of us. Jesus did not come just for some, but for us all. In fact, the Apostle Paul reaffirms this reality, picking up in 1 Corinthians 1:28, saying once again:

 ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 28-31, NRSV).

          So, Jesus, our Lord, the lover of our souls, just what did he preach on the mount this morning? What are these “Beatitudes,” and “Why Does the Sermon on the Mount Matter?” Let’s take a look once again at Matthew 5:1-12. Starting in 5:1 it says, once again:

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² And he began to speak and taught them, saying: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:1-3, NRSV). 

          According to one of my favorite bible commentaries, the Africa Bible Commentary it says this of being “poor in spirit”:

“The term poor in spirit has its roots in material poverty. Someone who is poor has no influence, power or prestige. Then, as now, they were often taken advantage of exploited” (Africa Bible Commentary, pg. 1144).

            To those who are “poor in spirit” all over the world, Jesus says this morning that he loves you, that you are chosen by him, and that you are blessed. Jesus then continues picking back in in 5:4, once again:

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Mt. 5:4, NRSV).

          Many people are mourning throughout the world. These could be people we know, or we could be these people. Struggling with a loss, grieving, mourning. Jesus says, in these times, I am with you, turn to me.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Mt. 5:4, NRSV).

          Jesus then tells us in Matthew 5:5:

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Mt. 5:5, NRSV).

          According the Africa Bible Commentary:

“Meekness is the ability to control one’s power and use it for the benefit of others. It is the opposite of arrogant, selfish assertiveness and uncontrolled emotions. The meek do get angry, but at the right time, and not because of wounded pride” (Africa Bible Commentary, pg. 1144).

          The meek are those serve others and not themselves. The meek are those who seek to make the world better, and not get just what they can for themselves.

          Jesus then tells us in Matthew 5:6:

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Mt. 5:6, NRSV).

          According the same bible commentary I have been citing throughout this sermon, it says of this beatitude:

“Hungering and thirsting for righteousness is a safe appetite, for God will always fill those with this hunger and thirst (5:6). This beatitude challenges is to eagerly seek righteousness, to seek God and his righteous instruction in much the same way that the very hungry or thirsty seek something to eat or drink” (Africa Bible Commentary, pg. 1144).

          The rest of Jesus’ “Beatitudes” I think are more self-explanatory than some that I just reviewed. For example, Jesus says in 5:7-9:

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Mt. 5:7-9, NRSV).

          Jesus challenges us to be merciful, and he says in doing so, God will show us mercy. Be pure of heart, or sincere in your love and kindness, and you will see God, Jesus says. Seek to make peace and not war, and Jesus says, peacemakers will be called children of God.

          In the last two “Beatitudes” Jesus instructs us about being persecuted and oppressed for your faith. Jesus tells us to conclude our Matthew 5:1-12 reading for this morning, his last two “Beatitudes”. Picking up on Matthew 5:10, Jesus says once again:

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:10, NRSV).

          Jesus is telling us that if we try to live righteous and holy lives, that magnify Christ, some will persecute us for this. Jesus however, says we will be given the kingdom of heaven. We should never grow weary in doing what is right and in living and loving like Jesus. Even if the world comes against us, Jesus is our hope, and he is the hope of the world.

          Lastly, Jesus concludes our reading with Matthew 5:11-12 saying, once again:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt. 5:11-12, NRSV).

          Who here this morning loves Jesus? Unfortunately, some people in this world will not like the fact that we love and follow Jesus. We are called to love and forgive them anyway. Jesus has given us the blue print for salvation and eternity, the path of sanctification, and way that we are to live on this earth.

          When we seek to like holy and righteous lives, when we seek to live and love like Jesus Christ, some people will try to tear us down. Continue though to live and love like Jesus, for he and his gospel are the hope of the world. Part of his gospel is the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” and since Jesus is truth and love itself, this is “Why The Sermon On The Mount Matters!”

    Further friends, any of these categories of people that suffer, are persecuted, are

 belittled, ignored, harmed, etc., Jesus is inviting this morning to love and care for them.

 May we love and reach out to the poor in spirit, to those who mourn, to the meek, to

 those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, to the merciful, to the pure in heart, to the

 peacemakers, to the persecuted, and to those who are attacked because of their

 righteousness. The Sermon on the Mount then is not just how we should act ourselves,

 but it also how we should love and lift up others, so that we all my grow closer to Christ

 and each other. Once again, this is “Why The Sermon On The Mount Matters!” Amen. 

Sidney UMC - 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/22/23 - Sermon - “Repent, For The Kingdom Of Heaven Has Come Near!”

Sunday 01/22/23 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:                                                                                          “Repent, For The Kingdom Of Heaven Has Come Near!”

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4                                      

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 4:12-23

          For those of you who heard about Melissa and I trying to travel to Chicago this past Christmas day afternoon, you may have heard that we never made it to Chicago. We did make it however, to our connection flight at BWI or Baltimore Washington International Airport, but that was as far we got. Originally our connection flight from BWI to Chicago O-Hare International Air Port was supposed to leave at 9:00 PM, bringing us to Chicago for 10:50 PM. At that point we would just get our bags, and we would meet my dad outside. We would then drive to rural Northern Illinois where I am from, and be there for a week.

          Well, we flew on Southwest Airlines. I am sure that many of you heard that something like 15,000-17,000 Southwest Airlines flights were canceled between Christmas time and New Year’s. Not only this, Melissa and I got see humanity, as it were, in its fullest and rawist form.

          I remember a dear friend, and a retired United Methodist Pastor, who has since passed on to glory, that liked to sit on a park bench in the warmer months. I asked Pastor Bob Pinto, did you do this to see nature, get fresh air, and to talk to God? He said that he did all of these things, but his other motive was to watch the people. I said, “Well why do you want to watch the people?” He said that, “he wanted to see what they would do and how they acted.” I then said to Pastor Bob, “Well why would you want to do that?” He said, “Because when you sit on a park bench and watch people, sometimes you can see the real person that we sometimes hide from much of the world.” Then said, “well why would you want to do that?” He said, “because we are called to repent of sin and darkness, come to Jesus Christ, and to live like Jesus.” He said by sitting on the park bench he could get a better idea of how his community was doing with what Jesus calls to us all in Matthew 4:17 that says:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mt. 4:17b, NRSV).

          I tell you all this, because as I told a few people in this church, things got a little dicey when Melissa and I were in the Baltimore Washington International Air Port on Christmas Day night. I mean, we were delayed getting there, and our departure time to Chicago was now about 11:45 PM, not 9:00 PM. We got through security and had our carry-on bags full of Christmas gifts for my family in Illinois. So, Melissa and I got some dinner, and they had a Burger King in the terminal. I hadn’t had a Whopper in years. So, Melissa and I got dinner, and I had my Whopper!

          She asked me if was stressed about the flight to Chicago being delayed, and I said, “Melissa were are sitting here in Baltimore, we have some time off, and I have you and a Whopper.” As a point of interest, Melissa was much more exciting than the Whopper! At this point though, we had made it through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and I was happy to be with her and having dinner, flight delay or no flight delay. Was I thrilled that our flight to Chicago at this point was delayed, no, but I realized I was with Melissa, we had some time off, God was good, and yes, I had a Whopper.

          Where I connect this experience with the late and great Pastor Bob Pinto sitting on the park bench periodically, was at 1:00 am. Our flight to Chicago was now delayed until about 1:50 am. It would eventually be cancelled at about 2:15 am, early on Monday morning December 26th. At 1:00 am though, Melissa and I, and the thousands of stranded and or delayed passengers were over tired, stressed, and awaiting what they were hoping was good news about there flights. What was interesting for me though, was at about 1:00 am, I just started watching people in the airplane terminal at BWI. I wasn’t starring at them, but I was watching their behaviors and interactions, as the late and great Pastor Bob Pinto did on the park bench.

          What was I looking for? Well, nothing in particular, I guess, I just wanted to see how the people acted. Once again, we were all over tired and stressed, and I started observing people, yes at 1:00 am in the BWI Airport. Did I take notes? No, I am no that cool, but I observed various things. Some people were just mean and nasty to each other and to the Southwest Airlines staff. By the way, Southwest refunded our tickets, gave us extra frequent flier points for the future, and even gave us some monetary reimbursements. We are grateful for that. So, some people were being just mean, selfish, and nasty. Yet some other people, even in their depleted and stressed-out state had a consideration for others around them. Some had a consideration for the disabled, the elderly, for Chicago Cubs fans, etc. Even in this stressful moment, some were kind and loving, while others where mean, selfish, and angry. Some were indifferent, and some shouted at the airline staff and demanded things. Amazing how people act when there really in a moment of tension and or distress. Sometimes that is really when you know who someone is.

          After our flight got canceled at 2:15 am, when then left the terminal of the BWI Airport and went back to the ticket counter. There were hundreds of people, and probably 1,000 people or more. Melissa and I were even on the news in the Baltimore Washington area at about 5:30 am in the morning, which we didn’t even know about until the next day. We waited in line for about 4-4.5 hours before we got to the ticket counter. By the time we got to the ticket counter it probably felt like the Israelites getting to the promised land after 40-years of wandering in the wilderness. Unfortunately, we had no mana from heaven or quail. When we got to the ticket counter, we couldn’t believe that we actually got to the ticket counter! What we then realized though, was that there were hundreds of more people in line behind us. Melissa and I figured they were all probably in line hours more.

          Interestingly, at about 3:30 am, some passengers were really getting angry and agitated, as the preferred customers were able to go right to the front of the line. Well, some of the other passengers weren’t having that in massive line of people. Some of these angry passengers were shouting in anger. Melissa and I were worried that was going to be riot or people storming the ticket counters of Southwest Airlines at BWI. Right then, a woman, out of the blue, began singing “O Holy Night.” Her voice soared, and she sang like a singer on Broadway. The whole room, hundreds and hundreds of people just calmed down. It was definitely a God moment.

          When Melissa and I got to the ticket counter for Southwest Airlines at about 6:30 am, we were told that there were no flights to Chicago until Wednesday, as it was early Monday morning December 26th. Luckily, we were able to catch a flight back to Albany on Monday December 26th, even though that was delayed 3-3.5 hours. We were blessed and lucky, as some people were stranded at BWI for another 2-4 days. We did not get to spend Christmas with some of my family in Northern Illinois, but I could see where God was present through the whole experience!

          What also rang true, from the late and great Pastor Bob Pinto watching people on the park bench, or me watching people in the BWI airplane terminal at 1:00 am, was that Jesus was right this morning, when he said in Matthew in 4:17 once again:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mt. 4:17b, NRSV).

          This morning once again, this is what Jesus tells his disciples and us. Or to put it another way, Jesus is asking us this, “how do we want to live?” What kind of people do we want to be? Believe me when I tell you that after Melissa and I had our little airport adventure, I believe more than ever that sin and evil are alive and well in this world. Yet, the love and hope of Jesus Christ is also alive and well in the world. We get to choose. Do we turn away from our sin and our darkness, as we all have some, or do we grow more cruel, angry, and wicked? Jesus instructs us to turn from our sin and darkness, and to put our trust in him as our Lord and Savior. When we turn from sin and darkness and put our trust in Jesus we are forgiven and we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. We offered salvation and eternity, but we can also build God’s kingdom here on earth, in anticipation for the fulfilment God’s coming kingdom when Christ returns.

          What is it like to repent of our sin and come to Christ? When I think about this, I think of what the prophet Isaiah said for this morning in the prophecy of the coming of Christ. In fact, Isaiah says in 9:2 once again:

²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined (Isa. 9:2, NRSV). 

          Jesus tells us to turn to him and to live. To be the person in the airport or the park that is showing love and kindness, and not anger and cruelty. Turn from sin and darkness, for Jesus Christ is light and the hope of the world.

          To live for Christ, also means that we should strive to live and love each other. How are we to live then as the Church of Jesus Christ? Well in our 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 reading for this morning, it starts in 1:10 saying, once again:

¹⁰ Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose (1 Cor. 1:10, NRSV).

 

          There are many things that divide people and Christians in this day in age. Some of these divisions are even occurring in the United Methodist Church. As we move through these uncertain times, may we be in agreement in our love for Jesus Christ. May we be in agreement in our hope in Jesus, and the love we show each other through Jesus Christ.

          In looking at our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning, where I got my sermon title, let’s hear the word once again. Where the gospel of Matthew lesson for this morning picks up once again, is with Jesus hearing that his cousin John the Baptist was arrested. This is where the gospel of Matthew picks up for this morning, once again, starting in Matthew 4:12:

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned” (Mt. 4:12-16, NRSV).

          Jesus of course is fulfilling the prophecy from the prophet Isaiah listed in our Isaiah 9:1-4 reading for this morning. Jesus is coming to the land, and bringing light, life, and love, as the Prophet Isaiah predicted centuries before.

          Where my sermon title comes in for this morning, is in Jesus fulfilling this prophecy from the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus then calls his disciples, the crowds, and us to repentance. Picking back up in Matthew 4:17 it says, once again:

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mt: 4:17, NRSV).

          Jesus is calling us all to turn from sin and darkness, and to put our faith and our trust in him as our Lord and Savior. Knowing Jesus, and being changed by Jesus may have prevented me from being mean and cruel in the airport. For I knew that Jesus called me to be kind and loving. Every day we must repent and draw closer to Christ.

          Our gospel lesson then ends once again with Jesus calling his first disciples, along the sea of Galilee. I was there 9-years ago, and there was a McDonald’s right where we were. It really messed with what I learned growing up in Sunday School! The gospel continues picking up in Matthew 4:18

¹⁸ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him            (Mt. 4:18-22, NRSV). 

          When I was at the Sea of Galilee 9-years ago with my seminary group, we went out in a boat and cast a net in the Sea of Galilee. We caught no fish, but it was powerful to do what those first disciples were doing. It was also strange to look back from the boat and see a McDonalds. I told the churches that I was serving at the time that I now envisioned Jesus walking with Ronald McDonald telling the fisherman to drop their nets and follow him.

          After calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Jesus, the gospel concludes for this morning with Matthew 4:23, saying once again:

 ²³ Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

          To be a Christian, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, is to live and to love like Jesus. Sometimes we fail to do this, and sometimes we do this well. Everyday is an opportunity to repent and turn to Christ. For as Jesus tells this morning:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mt: 4:17b, NRSV).

 

          Friends, turn to Christ and live. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Human Relations Day/2nd Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/15/23 - Sermon - “Exodus Lamb vs. The Lamb in John!”

Sunday 01/15/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Exodus Lamb vs. The Lamb in John!”                            

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7                                     

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Gospel Lesson: John 1:29-42

          So, I have always found it funny when people refer to other people as animals. For example, my older brother grabbed something off the stove that was too hot once, and juggled it around. My late Grandpa Winkelman then said, “You look like a bear cub with a hot biscuit!” I have heard people say, “I have been working like a dog!” I have heard people say “she swims like a fish!”

          Maybe you have made animal references towards others, or maybe an animal reference or references have been made about you. I remember one time I accidentally knocked a few things over in the house, and I heard, “you’re like a bull in a China shop!” In looking back in history, has there ever actually been an incident of an actual bull in actual China shop?” I have no idea. As I am talking, think about some of the animal references that you have given, or maybe have received. Maybe some were received and given in laughter, and maybe others in offense. For example, I have been told before when eating, “slow down you’re eating like pig!” I was told a couple of times as a kid, “you have the reflexes of a cat!”

          Using animal references towards people is nothing new, and they are something, as I said that we have probably given and received more than once in our lives. When looking at scripture, for example, Jesus says of King Herod in Luke 13:32:

³² He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work (Lk. 13:32, NRSV).

          In calling King Herod, a “fox,” Jesus was saying that Herod was sly and cunning, which are attributes often attributed to foxes. With this introduction and examples of giving humans animal names or attributes, this morning in our gospel of John reading, John the Baptist calls Jesus a “lamb” twice in the reading. John the Baptist doesn’t call Jesus a frog, or a Rhinoceros, or Panda Bear, but he calls him a “lamb”.

          In my experience, if someone calls someone a lamb, they are saying that the person is kind, gentle, innocent, caring, and unassuming. It is as if a lamb is an animal, seen the bible anyway, that is pure, innocent, and harmless. In fact, in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, when Moses was trying to get Pharoah to let the Jewish people go from Egyptian slavery, Pharoah refused. After plague and after plague, finally this culminated with the first Passover. This first Passover, which is still a Jewish holiday today involved, you guessed it, lambs.

          In looking at the Book of Exodus 12:3-7 it says of this first Passover:

³ Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. ⁴ If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. ⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. ⁶ You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. ⁷ They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it (Ex. 12:3-7, NRSV).

          A pure and a spotless lamb, as a sacrifice on that first Passover in Egypt, when the Jews were trying to flee Egyptian slavery, and depart through the Red Sea. On that night, any household that was not marked on there doorposts and lintels with the blood of lamb, would suffer the death of there firstborn child. The blood of the sacrificial lamb saved the Jews. Since there homes were marked with the blood of the lamb, there first-born child did not die that night.

          It is very interesting this morning then, that in our Gospel of John 1:29-42 reading that John the Baptist calls Jesus the “Lamb of God.” He calls him this, once again, not once, but twice. Is John the Baptist comparing Jesus Christ to the Passover over lamb that saved the first-born children of the Jews on that first Passover in Egypt? I would have to think so. Why else would John the Baptist call Jesus the “Lamb of God?” I am sure that every Jew that heard John the Baptist call Jesus the “Lamb of God,” knew right away that John the Baptist was saying that Jesus was like the pure, unblemished, and spotless lamb of the that first Jewish Passover in Egypt.

          Looking at the Book of Exodus a little further, it says in 12:13 of the Passover lamb:

¹³ The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:13, NRSV).

          The blood of the Passover Lamb spared the first-born children of the Jews from death in Egypt, and yet this morning John the Baptist call Jesus the “Lamb of God.” So, what then did John the Baptist mean by this? Did he mean they were to kill Jesus and spread Jesus’ blood on there doorposts and lintels? No, not at all. John the Baptist was saying that the blood of a pure, spotless, and innocent lamb saved the Jews for a night on that first Passover, but this lamb, Jesus Christ will save you for eternity. For when Christ dies on the cross, his blood will cover the doorpost and lintels of your hearts. In doing so, in we repent of our sin, and turn to Christ, death with pass us over, not just for a night, but for eternity.

          This morning, John the Baptist is saying that Jesus Christ is the new Passover Lamb. He is saying that Jesus Christ will be the blood sacrifice, not just for a night, but for eternity. There is a great Christian song called, “Worthy Is the Lamb.” In the song it says, “Worthy Is the Lamb that was slain.” The claim that John the Baptist is making in our gospel of John reading, once again, is that Jesus is the new Passover, the “Paschal Lamb” as the sacrificed lambs were called on that first Jewish Passover in Egypt.

          Some of you have maybe seen stained glass windows in churches or paintings that show a lamb with a Christian flag on a pole behind it. This is the “Lamb of God,” the “Paschal Lamb,” the one who died for the sins of the world.

          In our reading this morning from Isaiah 49:6b:

“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:6b, NRSV).

          Christ’s shed blood on the cross, the blood of the lamb, offers salvation to the whole world. In fact, in our reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 for this morning, the Apostle Paul says in 1:2

² To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (1 Cor. 1:2, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul says that we are “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” Yet what sanctifies us? The blood of Christ, the blood the lamb, is what makes us clean and worthy. Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” the new Paschal or Passover Lamb, who’s blood cover the doors and lintels of our hearts and souls. The blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ that will save us not for a night, but for eternity.

          In looking at our Gospel of John reading for this morning, once again, is says starting in John 1:29, with John the Baptist speaking:

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel” (Jn. 1:29-31, NRSV).

 

          John the Baptist is announcing that Jesus will be the sacrificial lamb, and this his blood will save the world. His blood won’t save us just for a night, but for eternity. John the Baptist then says he baptized Jesus, and in doing so, Jesus began his ministry to the world. At this point, Jesus came forth as the Messiah, the savior, the new Passover Lamb.

          In continuing on in our gospel of John reading for this morning, John the Baptist, once again speaks of what happened when baptized Jesus. John to Baptist said starting 1:32

³² And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One” (Jn. 1:32-34, NRSV).

 

          John the Baptist is saying that this Jesus is truly the savior of the world, the son of God, and Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus was baptized, and God the Father spoke, as the Holy Spirit descended. Then the Gospel of John continues with John the Baptist speaking again, picking up at John 1:35:

³⁵ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and see”       (Jn. 1:35-39, NRSV).

 

          John the Baptist again exclaimed that Jesus is the “Lamb of God.” As a result of this two people began following Jesus.  These two disciples then followed Jesus to where he weas staying, and they stayed with him that day. In fact, as our gospel of John reading for this morning, ends once again saying in 1:40-42:

⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). ⁴² He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter) (Jn. 1:40-42, NRSV).

 

          Today, Jesus calls the first of his twelve disciples, and John the Baptist proclaims that new Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ is among us. Jesus will go on to love, heal, and forgive, and on the cross the blood of new Passover Lamb will cover the doors and lintels of our hearts and or souls, not just for a night, but for all eternity.

          In fact, in the Book of Revelation 5:11-12 it says:

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11-12, NRSV). 

          This morning John the Baptist says Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” the new Passover

 Lamb, and this is how the lamb in the Book of Exodus compares to the Lamb of God in

the Gospel of John. Amen.