“Once He Came in Blessing” - Jesus at His Birth

Psalm 40, anitphon v. 7

John 1:35-42a

Hymns: 384, 333, 548

Rev. Alan Taylor

 

+ In Nomine Jesu +

 

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Over the years, I’ve read quite a few quotes that have attempted to capture the truest meaning and intent of the Season of Advent. We know, of course, that Advent is about expectation. It’s about waiting for the coming of Jesus. But that understanding of Advent without something more, specifically, something about what it means that Jesus comes to us, frankly, is a bit unsatisfactory, or at least, unfulfilling.

 

The other day, I finally came across a quote about Advent, that I, for one, will treasure. It’s from the now deceased, Pope Benedict XVI. He said, “A prison cell, in which one waits and hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.” “The door of freedom has to be opened from the outside.”

 

Our Advent reflections this year are going to have, at least in the background, the hymn “Once He Came in Blessing.” We just sang it this evening, and it will be the sermon hymn for each of these Wednesday nights in Advent. The hymn will, of course, be connected to a Scriptural passage that complements it. Tonight’s reading is from John 1. It’s about John the Baptist, and Andrew and Simon Peter. And, of course, it’s about Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The verse most closely connected to tonight’s scripture reading is verse 1.

 

“Once He came in blessing,

All our sins redressing;

Are in likeness lowly,

Son of God most holy;

Bore the cross to save us;

Hope and freedom gave us.”

 

John was standing with two of his disciples, and when Jesus walked by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” John identified Jesus with a unique, and yet, Scripturally faithful title. “The Lamb of God.” As we sometimes say, “The Agnus Dei.” What though is included in that title? What does it really mean that we confess Jesus to be God’s Lamb?

 

The whole reference takes us back Abraham and Isaac. Abraham climbed the mountain God had set before him in order to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Abraham’s faith in the promises of God was, perhaps more profound than we can grasp. When Abraham climbed that mountain with his son Isaac, he believed two things were certain. First, he believed that Isaac was the fulfillment of God’s promise to him and Sarah. Isaac was the son through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed. In fact, Isaac was the son through whom the seed of the woman would come to crush the head of the serpent, as God promised in Genesis 3. Therefore, as we are told in the Book of Hebrews, Abraham believed that, if he had to take the life of his son, Isaac, God would raise him from the dead.

 

When Abraham and Isaac reached the top of the mountain, Isaac his father, “but father, where is the lamb for the sacrifice.” “God, Abraham said, will provide the Lamb.” A lamb of sacrifice was there, caught in the thicket. But another Lamb of God would come.

 

You see, the sacrifices offered up to God in the Temple in Jerusalem, were really just a type of that which was to come. In others words, they didn’t open the door to the prison cell of sin and death from the outside. One was coming though who would do just that. And, when He came, all of the Temple sacrifices would come to an end, having been fulfilled in the offspring Isaac.

 

It was a stunning moment when John saw Jesus coming toward him. According to his prophetic office, John knew. He knew that Jesus was no ordinary man. Rather, He was anointed of God. He was set apart. He was God’s Lamb, the One who would bear in His body the sins of the whole world.

 

As some of you know, the translation of the word a “idou” in the New Testament is a bit of pet peeve of mine. Here, in John 1, it’s translated as it should be, as “Behold.” Some translations like to use the word “look,” but by my estimation that words are little under whelming. “Behold” means that what is about to come is significant, even amazing, therefore, do not miss it. “Behold, John said, the Lamb of God.”

 

And so, “The door to the prison has been opened from the outside.” And, you and I have been set free.

 

“Once He came in blessing,

All our sins redressing;

Are in likeness lowly,

Son of God most holy;

Bore the cross to save us;

Hope and freedom gave us.”

 

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

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +