Theme of the Day: Jesus Appears As The Lamb Of God
For centuries the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin. Over and over blood flowed, testifying that the penalty of sin was death. But over and over a substitute stood in the place of the sinner. Countless animals died under the priestly knife as generations of the faithful brought lamb after lamb to the temple.
This week we see the Lamb that God himself was bringing to the temple. This was the Lamb that God himself would sacrifice. In the great act that would remove our condemnation, the Messiah took our sins, stood in our place, and died as the substitute for sinful mankind. This was the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system. Every lamb and goat and bird pointed to God’s Lamb who takes away our sin.
The heart that sees his Savior willingly becoming the Lamb cannot help but take this news of salvation to the ends of the earth.
John 1:29-41
Isaiah 49:1-6
Colossians 2:6-15
Psalm 40
317 – When All the World Was Cursed
375 – Arise and Shine in Splendor
947 – Lamb of God, Pure and Holy
629 – O God from God, O Light from Light
403 – Lamb of God
Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, you gave your one and only Son to be the light of the world. Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and believed to the ends of the earth; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia. Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Alleluia.