The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
January 20, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 03

Everything But...
           “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” - most recognize this phrase as one of the most distinctive titles given to Christ. Every time we celebrate communion our choir sings that beautiful refrain, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us... grant us peace.” Since the choir sings while we are receiving the bread and the wine, this refrain has acquired almost a subliminal quality in our worship. It dances in our heads long after the service is over.
           Yet, as much as the Lamb of God has permeated our symbolism and thoughts about Jesus, the expression is only found twice in the entire Bible, both here in John, chapter 1.
           Did you ever stop to think what kind of a title Lamb of God is? Is that the way you want to label the saviour of the world? A lamb has always been a meek animal, so not the forthright image of one who struggles for justice in this world. And of course, lambs were sacrificed as an offering to remove one’s sins. There’s the purpose of a good religious lamb, all right, but what about the fate of the poor lamb? Did Jesus simply come to be bullied and beaten up, and to die? What kind of a religion faith considers that heroic and virtuous? Actually none.
           This is precisely why Christianity offers a unique perspective on the world’s dilemma. Something about this weird moniker caught those first disciples’ imaginations and they needed to find out who and what he was. This was a different way to be human - and in a strange way, to be godly. It is such a shame when Christians have operated so brutally and oppressively in the name of the Lamb of God. Listen to what John is trying to tell us.