March 15, 2026

Jesus, the Lamb of God

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Dear Readers,

the Russian postage stamp from 1975 depicts a Karakul sheep or lamb. These sheep are bred especially in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, with its capital Samarkand, is a former Soviet republic and now an independent state.

Karakul sheep are adapted to live in dry steppes. The young lambs have particularly beautiful fleeces. These fleeces are highly prized and are often used to make Persian lamb coats or jackets. You can clearly see this distinctive fleece texture on the stamp.

John the Baptist speaks of a completely different lamb. He sees Jesus coming and tells his listeners: "This is the Lamb of God!" John sees Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. The Son of God will be sacrificed like a lamb. He will die on the cross of Golgotha. Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes the sins of the world. This is why the Lord Jesus came into our world.

Since the expulsion from Paradise, humanity has been alienated from God. Indeed, there is even rebellion against God and His good order. A mere glance at the Ten Commandments reveals this alienation. In these ten divine rules, I recognize God's holiness. His commandments show me how much respect the holy God desires from us. They also show me the great value which the holy God places on marriage, family, and indeed on the lives of our fellow human beings.

When Jesus comes to John, he enters this sinful world, alienated from God's holiness. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is without sin. He is holy as the Father in heaven is holy. On the cross of Golgotha, Jesus atones for the guilt that lies upon this world. The Son of God does this out of love for us unholy human beings. His love for us is the reason he sacrifices himself. Jesus says about his mission (John 3:16):

„For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. “

Jesus Christ has taken away the sin of all people. In him we find forgiveness. But not everyone desires this work of redemption. It is crucial to say YES to Jesus Christ and to accept his love as a gift of grace. Faith means trusting that Jesus has done everything for me so that I can live reconciled with God. I don't have to do anything. His grace alone is sufficient.

Whoever brings the fragments of their life to Jesus, heaven rejoices over them. Whoever is willing to confess their individual guilt before God will find one’s soul to breathe freely. Whoever allows their heart to be filled with God's love will become a different person. They will become a sanctified person through God's grace.

We are in the season of Lent. I invite you to find rest in Jesus and to reflect on him, the Lamb of God. What does the holiness of God mean to you? What does Jesus' death on the cross mean to you? Is there anything that separates you from God? For what do you need forgiveness? For what can you be thankful? I wish you a blessed Lent and a renewed turning to Jesus, the Lamb of God. I wish you a renewed turning to the holy God.

Thank you for visiting and listening. I would be delighted if you would join me again for my next short sermon on April 1st. May God bless you and keep you in spirit, soul, and body.