As a child, I was taught early on that it was impolite to point a finger at someone else.
For, if you think about it, finger pointing usually has a negative connotation about the person to whom the finger is pointing.
Someone once reminded me that as we were pointing one finger at someone else, the other three fingers were pointing back to ourselves.
One of the great art works of the world is the famous Isenheim Altar piece.
It was painted in the beginning of the 14th century by Matthias Grunewald and is in the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France.
The central panel on the altarpiece is a very moving painting of the crucifixion of Jesus, who is presented on the cross with great suffering.
To Jesus’ right is Mary his mother, in the arms of the beloved disciple, John.
To Jesus’ left stands John the Baptizer, pointing a long, slender finger at Jesus as if to say, “look, there is the lamb of God.”
Interestingly enough, at John’s feet is a lamb which is looking up at the crucified Jesus with its leg wrapped around a vertical cross.
This is precisely what happens in today’s gospel, when John the Baptizer sees Jesus of Nazareth passing by.
John point him out and says ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Lamb of God? What can John mean by that and what do you suppose those who heard him thought?
How does he reconcile Lamb of God to the voice he heard from heaven at the baptism of Jesus: “This is my beloved Son in who I am well pleased.”
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to point and say, “Behold, there is the Son of God.”?
Perhaps John was thinking of the time that Abraham was called upon to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Abraham gets the firewood set up and ready, and Issac asks: “Father, the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham replies: “God himself will provide the lamb my son.”
Kind of awesome isn’t it.
John the Baptizer sees the answer to Issac’s question right in front of his eyes.
John also sees standing before him the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and did not open his mouth….He bore the sin of many and made intercession for our transgressions.”
Jean Vanier, founder of l’Arche communities for the mentally handicapped writes:
“Isn’t it strange that John the Baptizer should declare solemnly that Jesus is a lamb, the Lamb of God, such a meek and gentle little animal.
In front of the power and Roman armies of Caesar, in front of their mighty weapons, stands a lamb, the Lamb of God.
What can this lamb do?
The lamb will break down the walls of fear, of aggression, of violence, of sin, which imprison people among themselves and incite them to seek their own glory.
He will liberate in each person a new life of communion with God, with other people and with what is deepest in the self, sowing seeds for universal peace.
When Jesus comes, he comes not as a spectacular God of power, but as a gentle lamb, the Chosen One of God, the Beloved.’ (Vanier, Jean. Drawn Into the Mystery of Christ Through the Gospel of John, pgs. 33-34)
The day after John pointed out the Lamb of God, Jesus passes by again.
And, again, John points him out saying, “Look, here is the lamb of God.”
John could have kept his mouth shut, could have kept the divine secret to himself.
For, after all, by pointing out Jesus, he risks losing his followers and risks no longer being the spiritual center of attention.
Yet, John once again points out the Lamb of God.
This time, two of John’s most faithful disciples get up, leave John standing in the Jordan River, and start following Jesus.
Jesus turns around and asks a very interesting question: “What are you looking for?”
Please note that they don’t answer that question, but say “Rabbi, where are you staying?”
Please note that Jesus also does not answer their question.
He simply says: “Come and see.”
So, without hesitation, without getting the answer to their question, without knowing where they were going, they follow Jesus and when they got to where Jesus was staying, they also stayed.
We have no idea what transpired, but the next thing that happens is for Andrew to find his brother Simon and to tell him: “We have found the Messiah.”
Look, there is the Lamb of God - Where are you staying – come and see- we have found the Messiah.
All of this with no miracles, no cosmic happenings, no healings, no sermons.
None of this would have happened if John hadn’t pointed out Jesus.
So, perhaps it is polite to point.
Perhaps, in these very troubled days of 2008 it is vital to point to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
So, who is going to do the pointing?
My friends, we are called in baptism for our lives to constantly point to Christ the Lamb of God.
In a few moments, Jonathan’s life will also be pointing to Christ, the Lamb of God.
We are simply called to simply and quietly show him to others by our words, by our deeds, by our love, and by our very lives.
Otherwise, others will never know.
If people look and only see us, we have failed our task as baptized disciples of Jesus.
We must point with inclusive love for all people without exception, for, with Christ the lamb of God, there are no boundaries, there are no barriers, and the ground at the foot of the cross is absolutely level.
Pointing to Christ always means pointing beyond ourselves.
When asked a question Jesus simply said: “Come and see.”
Shouldn’t that be our response when people discover that we are pointing beyond ourselves to something that, especially in this day and time, is desperately needed?
Come and see. Join with us on the journey.
That is precisely what the Taize community does for the young people of the world.
They call it a “shock of meaning’” – simply providing a place where people can come and discover for themselves God’s place in their lives.
They don’t tell you what to do, how it should be – for that is something everyone must discover for themselves.
So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to point beyond ourselves to Christ the Lamb of God, and to invite everyone without exception, to come and see.
And then, they like Andrew can say: “We have found the Messiah.”
Let us pray:
Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me.
Ah, how long I’ve panted, and my heart has fainted, thirsting Lord for thee.
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb, I will suffer nought to hide thee, nought I ask beside thee.
Hence, all fears and sadness, for the Lord of gladness, Jesus enters in.
Those who love the Father, thought the storms may gather, still have peace within.
Yea, whate’er I must bear, still in the lies purest pleasure, Jesus, priceless treasure. Amen
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church | 1710 Moorpark Avenue | San Jose, CA 95128 | (408)297-0993 | immanuellutheransj@yahoo.com
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