The Boundary of History

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Twice in today's Gospel lesson, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. The first time is to the Jews, and the second to John's disciples. But what does it mean that John repeatedly identifies Jesus with this title? What does it signify that John points to Jesus with this particular phrase, over and over again?

In this lesson, we see a condensed version of all of sacred history. Our lesson today picks up mid-conversation, as John the Baptist is speaking to the Jews about the coming Messiah. Just as the last and greatest prophet is declaring the Word of the Lord to the people of God, the Word of God Incarnate appears in their midst. This is the first day of history.

Then, the next day, John identifies Jesus in the same way to his disciples. John points to the One whom He had said would be greater than he. This is the second day of history.

Finally, on the third day of sacred history, John is not there to point to Jesus, but there is no need, for the whole world sees Jesus high and lifted up upon the cross. This is the third day, the rest of history.

The first day of history we see is the era of the Old Covenant. On this day, John preaches to the Jews about the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world. John reminds the Jews about the covenant given to their fathers. He calls to mind the continual sacrifices that the Law requires. The sin offerings to be given over and over again. The whole burnt offerings to be given every year. The numerous regulations presiding over daily life, all to make one clean enough to endure the presence of God. Sin must be dealt with in some way, and so the spotless lamb must die upon the altar for the sins of the people. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness, as Moses declares. No one is clean from sin, no not one, and so all require the blood of the lamb covering their doorposts to assuage the angel of death. On this day, the Lamb of God comes to the people of God. John points out Jesus as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins not just of the Jews, but of the whole world. He is the one who has been promised of old. But until the final sacrifice is enacted, the old covenant still remains. The daily sacrifices must still be made. The Passover must still be observed. The Law must be followed.

But then comes the next day, the second day. On this day, John identifies Jesus to his disciples, pointing Him out again as the Lamb of God. On this day, the line is drawn. The boundary of history is fixed. John can go no further. From this moment on, the last and greatest prophet must decrease and the promised Messiah must increase. John will fade away, as Jesus takes the stage. John's disciples need no longer follow him, for who follows the forerunner when the real thing arrives? Just as Moses saw the Promised Land from afar, but could not enter therein, so John was blessed to attend to the Lamb of God, but John could not go where Jesus would go. This is the boundary of the old covenant, the edge of salvation in Jesus. John could point the way, but only Jesus could do what is necessary. Only Jesus could take us into the Promised Land.

But even though this is the boundary, this is no stopping point. We cannot stop on the line and wait in John's shadow. When the king comes, his messenger is unnecessary. When the sun rises, the moon sets. When your beloved is before you, you need no photographs. If you hang onto the old when the new comes, you deceive yourself. You cannot hang onto the ways of the Law, because the Law has only the power to condemn you for your sins. The Law of God is good and wise, but it cannot save you when you break it. You must cross the line and enter into the third day.

As John decreases, so Jesus increases, so that when we come into the third day of history, John is not there. John has died before the third day dawns, because the third day is the day when our salvation is accomplished. John did not accomplish our salvation, no matter how much he talked about it or pointed to it. Only Jesus could accomplish our salvation, because He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is the pure, spotless lamb who went to the altar on Calvary, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the one final perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. He is the one who, by His blood, washes away our sins and conquers them for all time, cancelling the record of debts against us. On this day, there is no need for a forerunner, because the whole world sees Jesus high and lifted up upon the cross, receiving the recompense for our sins, and offering to us His precious life.

But that is not the end of the third day. For the third day of salvation history continues through the cross and the grave, to the resurrection. Even as Jesus was lifted up on high on the cross in His glorious death, so also is His glory displayed and confirmed as He rose to proclaim freedom from sin, death, and the devil. And the sun shall never set on this day, because the power of darkness has broken. There is no one to decrease. There is no sin left unatoned. There is no unrighteousness with which He has not yet dealt. There is only our Lord Christ, seated in glorious splendor at the right hand of the Father, waiting to come again in glory and bring us and all the faithful to Himself in heaven. And there we shall see the endless day, when we enter into the Light in which there is no darkness at all. We shall see our Lord face to face, without forerunner or veil or intermediate steps.

In the meanwhile, we live in this everlasting third day on earth. We live each day, knowing that whatever betide us, our future rests secure in Christ. We walk about this earth, knowing that our paths are sure, leading us home to the House of God. We come often to the Table of our Lord, for here we see the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Here we touch and taste and see the Body and Blood of Him who died for our sins and shed His blood that we might have life everlasting. So come and receive the fruits of our Lord's blessed sacrifice for you and me. Receive the forgiveness of your sins and the restoration of your soul and body as it is placed upon your tongue. Receive the heavenly food the Lord of Hosts comes this day to give to you. Taste and see that the Lord is good, and enter with Him into the everlasting day.

O Lord, our hearts awaken

To know and love You more,

In faith to stand unshaken,

In spirit to adore,

That we, through this world moving,

Each glimpse of heaven proving,

May reap its fullness there.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.