The Lamb of God

January 3, 2020
Friday Before Epiphany
1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:29-3:6
Gospel: Jn 1:29-34
WHEN John saw Jesus coming towards him, he said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me who is already ahead of me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel.”
And John also gave this testimony, “I saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove from heaven and resting on him. I myself did not know him but God who sent me to baptize told me: ‘You will see the Spirit coming down and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ Yes, I have seen! and I declare that this is the Chosen One of God.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
John the Baptist’s description of Jesus as “The Lamb of God” pulled together significant scriptural references to the Exodus experience of the Jews. By Exodus experience we refer to their experiences on their way out of Egypt. “Lamb of God” recalls Yahweh’s instruction to them at the Passover (a term referring to their passing over from Egypt to the Promised Land) when He said: “Each man must take a lamb from the flock… It must be an animal without blemish… Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten… (Exodus 12:3 ff.). The blood of the lamb smeared on their doors saved the firstborn of the chosen people when the angel of death went around to snatch away the lives of first-born children to punish Pharaoh for refusing to allow the Jews to leave Egypt.
The link between Jesus “the Lamb of God” and “the Passover Lamb” is obvious. As the blood of the Passover lamb saved the lives of the firstborn of the chosen people, so the blood of “Jesus the Lamb” was to be the ransom for the lives of many. This link is strengthened by St. Luke’s account of the Last Supper. He wrote: “When the hour came he took his place at table, and the apostles with him, and he said to them, I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (Luke 22:16).” Described as “Lamb of God”, Jesus was the fulfillment of the salvation promised to God’s chosen people.
But one scholar suggests (J. Jeremias) that the title “Lamb of God” is a mistranslation of the Aramaic “talya” which can also mean “slave”. We have no problem with this, for it would still make reference to the Old Testament description of the Messiah as the suffering servant of Yahweh with “no looks to attract our eyes” (see Isaiah 53). Whether “talya” is translated as “lamb” or “slave”, the term still points to Jesus’ supreme self-sacrifice to save humanity. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., J.D., D.M.