We Have Found The Messiah

2nd Sunday After Epiphany - January 16, 2005

John 1:29-41

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

You know, there are some things that you have heard me say quite a bit lately, one phrase is imbedded in our Gospel lesson. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’

Again we hear that John points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the Messiah, the One God promised to send. God’s people had been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for God’s Messiah. Adam and Eve were the first ones given the promise that Messiah would come, about 3000 years before this; Abraham some 2100 years before; Moses foretold His coming 1500 years before; David sang of His life, suffering and death, some 1000 years before; and this past Advent, we heard what Isaiah foretold concerning God’s Messiah, 700 years before He came.

In our text, we hear from John. John is the last of a long line of prophets, the one who was to go the Lord to prepare His ways. John said of Jesus, that he, John, was not worthy to untie his sandals. John’s purpose, as stated in our text, “I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John’s purpose was to reveal the Messiah to Israel, to those who were waiting for Him to come. He was to reveal the Messiah to those who had faith in Him. In other words, He was to reveal the Messiah to believers - to those who trusted that God’s Christ was to come to remove their sin and grant forgiveness - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

About Jesus, John says, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” John was born about 6 months before Jesus. He is Jesus’ cousin. So, how could John say this about Jesus? John came first. Yes, Jesus was born of human flesh after John was born, that is why John says, “A man who comes after me...” But John is surpassed by this man. How? Because John says that He was before him.

John is revealing the eternal nature of Jesus’ divinity. This is not some man who has only human beginnings. This is none other than the very Son of God, exactly what John testifies about in our text. Hidden in the carpenter’s son is God incarnate, enfleshed in a man is, very God of very God.

So it is, that John points this out to his disciples, some of his closest friends. He taught them, they followed him, they helped care for him, and while walking one day, John points to Jesus and says, “Look, the Lamb of God.”

They immediately left John and followed Jesus. Then, they spent the day with Jesus. We can only speculate what they were doing. Could you imagine a whole day with Jesus? When the went away from Jesus, the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ). Can you imagine it? Andrew immediately went to his brother to proclaim that they found the Messiah. We also know, that Andrew almost dragged his brother to be there with Jesus. You know Simon by another name, Peter.

Andrew’s excitement, “We have found the Messiah.”

Amazing, isn’t it? Jesus had been walking among them, but they had overlooked this man of humble birth - laid in a manger, born to a lowly woman in Bethlehem, the son of the carpenter from Nazareth. They had been looking for Him, He was right under their noses, but they hadn’t found Him. He was almost hidden, as it were.

Many took offense at Jesus, they couldn’t follow Him despite the miracles they knew that He had performed elsewhere. Once, He came to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" (Mat. 13:54_56 ESV)

On that day of our text, John points to Jesus with His disciples, “Look, the Lamb of God.” He had taught them, He had proclaimed to them forgiveness in the coming Messiah. They had heard the Word of God in the Scripture, and now, when Messiah is revealed to them, Andrew and John do not question, they simply follow.

Today, there are many like Andrew, they are searching for God. They look for Him all over. They find meditation, the find spiritism, they find all sorts of different religions. Some even appear to find Jesus, but they make Jesus in their own image, when they are done, it is much different than the Jesus of Scripture. You see, if people don’t find god as they like, a religious belief that fits exactly what they want to believe, they blend a few things that they learned along the way, and make up their own.

Well, after spending time with Jesus, Andrew’s first task is to proclaim it to others. He goes out and tells his brother, “We have found the Messiah.” Their lives were changed from that moment on. Peter also became a disciple. These men gave their lives to proclaim that message, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

What are you looking for? Are you looking for God on your terms? Do you want Him to be what you expect? Do you what you desire? Is God supposed to fit neatly into the little compartment you have built for Him?

God’s Christ, His Messiah is more than what people want. God’s Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He opens heaven so that sinners can enter for eternity through the forgiveness of their sins, for those who believe in Him for their salvation, will be saved. He gives eternal blessing, more than just earthly contentment, an everlasting peace that passes all understanding.

This is why Andrew went on and proclaimed to others, we have found the Messiah. You are to be like Andrew, excited that you have found God’s Messiah, the only One in whom there is forgiveness and salvation.

John said about Jesus, “I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

You know, all pastors are a lot like John. None of us knew Christ. In that regard, you and I and all people are the same. By nature we have all been aliens of God, blind and dead in our trespasses and sins. But each pastor has had Christ revealed to him. First, in the water of baptism. Furthermore in the Word of life, spoken, read, preached and given in absolution. And, Christ is revealed in the bread and wine which He gives as His own body and blood for us Christians to eat and to drink.

You know, sounds familiar, doesn’t it. A pastor’s task is also to be like John, to reveal God’s Messiah, His Christ, to Israel - to His believers. My task is to point to Jesus and say to you, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - who takes away your sin!”

I came, baptizing with water, so that God’s Messiah might be revealed. There, in the water, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - your sin.

I testify that this Jesus is the Son of God - He is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. He is the Word which you hear today.

Look, the Lamb of God! There on the table is Christ - take eat, this is His body... Take drink, this is His blood... given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

Andrew, having been with Jesus, left and said, “We have found the Messiah.”

I pray you will be like Andrew when you leave today, for Jesus has visited you, and He has saved you. Proclaim it boldly, “We have found the Messiah.” Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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