Agnus Dei, Lamb of God

Sermon Prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church

Auburn WA, April 9, 2009 – Maundy Thursday

by Gregory S. Kaurin, Senior Pastor

Texts: Genesis 22:6-13;

Revelation 5:1-10; &

Mark 14:12-25

“Agnus Dei, Lamb of God”

Through these past weeks of Lent, we’ve lifted up some of the names and titles of Jesus. Here is one more, “Lamb of God,” or “Agnus Dei” in the Latin.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who protects and lays down his life for the sheep, fulfilling many prophecies in Isaiah and other parts of scripture. He is not only the Shepherd over us, but a lamb from along with us sheep; he is the Lamb, who once and for all fulfills all our punishments and debts.

For our Old Testament lesson, I chose Abraham’s trek up the mountain with his only beloved son. Isaac asked him where the sacrificial lamb was, and Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb.” We know that Abraham thought Isaac would be that lamb, at least until he was stopped by God.

Two things. First, God lead but stopped Abraham to clearly say, “No, I am not that kind of God; I don’t want any human or child sacrifices.” The second thing just before that, though, is what Abraham had said to Isaac, “God himself will provide the lamb.” Those words should grab your attention.

“God himself will provide the lamb.” Abraham didn’t know how right he was. And it wasn’t just the ram they found stuck in the bushes nearby. Abraham was just about to offer up his only-begotten son. But it would be God himself through his only begotten Son who would provide the Lamb.

To us, the sacrifices seem disturbing, bloody. Maybe if we lived in a society where it was more obvious that our life depended on the give and take of other life, where life is raw and delicate and precious, it makes more sense to recognize God, to worship and show faith through sacrificing something as precious as life from the crops and herds of your livelihood.

But I also notice in scripture that there were times when even God was disturbed at all the mass blood-letting: sacrifices carried out too far, without heart, mindless expectations for good crops, or as an easy way to wipe the slate clean for another week of sin. It was never meant to be that way. Religion is always about keeping and understanding our relationship with God, more than performing certain rituals. Several times in the Bible God warned that he gets sick of mere ritual and sacrifice. “Your hands are full of blood,” he said through Isaiah (1:15).

So, finally, God sent Christ, once for all. Again: it is his way of saying, “No more. Enough. Jesus fulfilled any and all debts. No more blood, no more sacrifices.” God provided the Lamb to end the shedding of more blood.

Jesus said, “This is my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of the world.”

Through his life, suffering, and death among us, though his blood, this cup contains everything we bring to it: our grief, tears, fears, pain, loss, everything. We drink it as our way of joining Christ, as he joins the suffering and sin of the world, and as we rise with him to forgiveness, new life, joy and hope.

We are forgiven. Christ, the Lamb of God has paid all costs. We are freed to turn to others with the same kind of compassion and care he showed to us, when he said to you by name, “Child of God, you are forgiven and loved.” Go and do likewise. Amen.