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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Behold, the lamb of God

Behold, the lamb of God

Published Jan 2, 2025 10:44 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Lambs are permanent fixtures of our Christmas crèche. The shepherds had surely brought them when they went to Bethlehem and found the infant Jesus lying in the manger. 


In Israel, a year-old male lamb without blemish is prescribed for the Passover feast which celebrates God’s deliverance of his people from the Egyptians (Ex 12:5). 


The blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts of their houses spared the Israelite firstborn when the angel of the Lord struck down every firstborn in Egypt. Now, John the Baptist points to Jesus coming towards him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.


In the stable of Bethlehem, lambs surround the stable where Jesus, the true Lamb of God, lies in the manger. The cave of Bethlehem which receives the Son of the Most High indeed prefigures the garden tomb in Calvary where the slain Lamb of God will be laid to rest waiting for his resurrection. 


He will then be the Lamb of the Apocalypse that seems to have been slain but now standing, the posture of victory (Rv 5:6). 


Jesus is the Paschal Lamb without blemish whose blood saves the new Israel from sin and death. Indeed, the Pasko of Christmas and the Pasko of Easter are interrelated facets of the story of humanity’s redemption.

 

Gospel • John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” 


John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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