BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD
JOHN 1:29
BACKGROUND
The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,* who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29 John points to Jesus as the one who has come to be sacrificed for our salvation.
Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.
Just as Eve, the mother of all life, was taken from the side of Adam, the Church and all the life-giving sacraments flow from the pierced side of Jesus.
In the first century, Pope St. Clement I wrote “Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realize how truly precious it is; it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world. This sacrifice is repeated in every Eucharistic celebration.
REFLECTION
The Bible regards blood as the symbol and source of life. “For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Leviticus 17:14 The lifeblood of a sacrificial animal offered in sacrifice represented the life of the individual making atonement.
In the book of Leviticus chapter 16 we are told the story of the scapegoat. Two goats are brought to the temple high-priest for sacrifice. He sends one off into wilderness with the sins of the people to die alone and the other goat, without blemish, he will sacrifice and sprinkle its blood on the temple and on the worshippers.
God’s holiness and justice demands atonement. Atonement for our offense against God requires a perfect, spotless sacrifice. Jesus Christ is that perfect sacrifice, human and divine… he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. Isaiah 53:5
This is My blood, the blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:28
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You became Man that you might suffer your Passion and Death
even to the draining of your most precious blood so you might prove to us your love for us.
Protect us, dear Jesus. Strengthen our weak human wills so that we will not run away from the cross,
but welcome every opportunity to shed our blood in spirit in union with your Precious Blood,
so that, dying to ourselves in time, we might live with You in Eternity Amen