Pointing to the Lamb

It’s January and one of the things that this means for us at PSCRC is that it’s the start of a new ministry year. Last Sunday we installed new elders & deacons. We’ve held our first council meeting and the elders and deacons have met. 

I don’t know if you are a resolution kind of person (I am not), but the new year does offer something fresh. There is something about resetting the calendar to “1/__” that can’t help but suggest some possibility, and with it, hope. 

It was John the Baptist, last Sunday, standing in the Jordan River who was trying to give us a better hope, by giving up our small ones, emptying our hands in repentance in order to prepare for God’s Hope - the very return of God. And then, there God was, right next to us on the banks of the Jordan. Getting baptized and taking us with him. 

Well John is back this week, but he’s not baptizing; he’s pointing.

Matthew showed us John looking at us and getting us ready. 
John 1 shows us a different picture. John, not looking at us, but looking at Jesus and pointing him out - Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! - 

John is not the baptizer, but the testifier. 
He keeps pointing to Jesus when Jesus walks by. 

He is focusing our attention. Which is why I’m glad John makes another appearance to us in this second Sunday after the Epiphany. Especially at the new year, when everything is fresh it can be hard to know, what is most important? Where should I focus my attention? 

Indeed, for us in a technological age, attention might be one of the most precious limited resources we have....

When shopping is at your fingertips & the goods come to you;
when the news of the world is in your pocket & so is everyone’s Monday morning quarterback take;
when everything is urgent and somehow far away

isn’t it true that it’s hard to know what to focus on?  What’s actually important? 

John helps us with this - he’s pointing it out. 

The Lamb who takes away the Sin of the World.