The Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" ~ John 1:29

There has always been pain in this world, but it feels like it's grown exponentially over the past two years. Why is our world tormented with so much pain? Reading our verse for today, I'm reminded that ultimately "the sin of the world" is responsible for this pain, even the pain of the innocents caught in the crossfire.

As a "good Christian" I know I should blog something about God walking with us through our pain--and that's true. I should remind myself that Jesus loves and cares for each of us--and that's also true. But I want to be real and say that even though these are unshakeable truths, when someone is going through a dark night of the soul these truths don't always feel true. I know that from personal experience. How then do we deal with such pain and suffering--the death of a child, the destruction of war, the injustice in our streets?

Ultimately the only answer to the sin of the world, which causes the pain of the world, is the cross. And in the shadow of that cross we find, not the answer to suffering, but the remedy for the sin that started the suffering in the first place, because on the cross we see "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." His death is the final answer. There will always be suffering and pain in this broken world, but in the cross the finality of death is taken away, and the comfort of God is made known. Jesus took the sin of the world and paid for it, so that we can have hope beyond our pain.

Look, the Lamb of God... Watch Him falling beneath the weight of the cross as He struggles toward the place of execution, beaten and bleeding, but determined to finish His task.

Look, the Lamb of God... Hanging on the cross, bearing in His perfect body the sins of the world.

Look, the Lamb of God... Risen and glorious, clothed in white and burning with light, holding out His hand to us as He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Lenten reading for today: John 1:29-34

Lamb photo from https://pixabay.com/photos/sheep-wool-animal-head-fur-grass-248632/