2023-1-15 Epiphany 2 - Names for Jesus

2023-1-15 - Epiphany 2 - Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42a

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

As we go through the liturgical seasons and through the Scripture readings that give shape and content to these seasons, we hear many names for Jesus.  In Advent and the build up to Advent, Jesus is the righteous judge. In Christmas, we hear names for Jesus such as Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Savior, and Christ. At Jesus’ Baptism, we hear our heavenly Father stating that Jesus is “my beloved Son” and he commands us to listen to him. Today, we hear Jesus referred to as Servant in Isaiah and we hear Jesus called “The Lamb of God” by John.  

All these names tell a story and carry certain connotations and have a history of their own.  Each of the names express a promise and a hope for Jesus.  If there is a need for promise and hope, then that means that things are not so rosy for those that need a promise from God and the hope that He offers. 

If we are not willing to look in the theological mirror for a candid assessment of who and what we are before God and to admit how far we have fallen from the innocence and trust of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; then the Bible will tell us.  We have no reason to think that we are any better or worse than those we meet in Scripture.  If we do, we are lying to ourselves. 

Let me offer a few illustrations of what I mean. We can start with Adam and Eve. With only a question or two and a mere suggestion that they can have more than they already do, Adam and Eve most certainly wanted more than what they had.  They were even willing to directly disobey the LORD and eat the fruit of a forbidden tree in order to get the more that the devil insinuated. Certainly, anyone born in America in the last 100 years or so has wrestled to some degree or another with the desire for more.  Tied into more are the ready companions of lust and greed. Lust need not be sexual.  It can be a deep wanting for anything.  

The pursuit of more began innocently for us with a desire for freedom and economic prosperity.  And, as a people we have never really been satisfied. We want more freedom, more economic prosperity, more success. And, along with all of that comes better, bigger, faster. As a people, we have a very hard time being content and saying, “I have enough, and my life is good as it is.”

When Adam and Eve leave the garden, they have children. Who among us can say that we have never been jealous? Cain was jealous of Abel. And, who of us can say, we have not allowed the jealousy to move into anger?  Jealousy is a consuming thing and we must ever be weary of it.  

A few chapters later we are treated to a much fuller treatment of jealousy, manipulation, seething hatred, parental favoritism, and all-round general family disfunction through Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob.  The trickster Jacob steals Esau’s birthright. And, years later Jacob steals Esau’s blessing with a little help from his mother.  

Living with faith in the one true God has always been a difficult thing. So, has obeying God.  Sometimes we just don’t want to do it.  We either argue with God or try to avoid the calling.  I think of Moses' call to return to Egypt.  H argued with God to send someone else, because I am not qualified and I don’t speak well.   Or, think of Jonah, he didn’t argue with God, he just hopped on the nearest ship to go in the exact opposite direction of where he was supposed to go.  

My point in this is that we can see bits and pieces of our own fallenness, our own sin, in the decisions and lives of the people in the Bible.  Pick a book, pick a letter, pick just about any person in the Bible, and we will see people who are broken, fallen, sinful, and unable to fix themselves. 

Right about the time we enter into despair or a certain sense of guilt for what we have done or have not done, we encounter John the Baptist.  We hear John announce a name for Jesus that means everything to us. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

We can’t make ourselves right before God, but Jesus can.  We cannot make peace with God; not with all our failures; but Jesus can.  We can’t earn forgiveness from God; but Jesus can.  And, we most certainly cannot make ourselves presentable before God; but Jesus can.  

Jesus is revealed as God’s Son in Holy Baptism.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. As further revelation demonstrates, Jesus is no mere man.  Jesus is God incarnate.  He comes down for us and for our salvation. 

The other name we heard for Jesus is Servant. Isaiah prophesied about the coming Christ. Jesus saves us by serving us.  He serves us by fully entering our humanity. As the Apostle John writes, Jesus is the light of the world. He serves us by being the light that is not overcome by the darkness.  Jesus serves us by offering his life on the cross for our sakes.  He is slaughtered as a Lamb on the Altar so that we may be made right before God.  Jesus suffers what we should suffer.  He dies on the cross so that when God looks upon us, he sees Christ’s righteousness. For Jesus, the Lamb of God, the pure and obedient one, exchanges his righteousness for our sin.  And, we have peace.  We receive our Lord’s forgiveness through faith in Him and his cross.   

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In gratitude for His grace upon us, we do Behold Him.  And, we follow Him, trusting in his cross and seeking forgiveness every step of the way.  

In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.