Imagine that you’re standing next to a river. The water is flowing gently. Birds are singing. People are gathered together and listening to a man named John the Baptist. He’s strong, a little wild, wears a coat made out of camel hair, and is full of God’s Spirit. He’s been telling everyone to get ready because someone very special is coming. And soon!

And then… it happens!

John sees Jesus walking toward him. And he doesn’t whisper. He doesn’t keep it to himself. He shouts out loud for everyone to hear :“Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Let’s all say that together: “Look! The Lamb of God!”

Now, that’s a strange thing to say, isn’t it? Jesus isn’t white and fluffy or four-legged. He doesn’t say “baa” or eat grass. So why does John call Him a lamb?

Here’s why…

Lambs are gentle. They don’t fight and they don’t bite. They follow their shepherd. And in the Bible, lambs were used as a sign of peace and forgiveness. People would offer a lamb to God to say: “I’m sorry… please help me start all over again.”

So, when John calls Jesus the Lamb of God, he’s saying: This is the one who will help us start again. This is the one who brings us peace. This is the one who takes away everything that keeps us far away from God.

Jesus didn’t come with a sword. He came with love. He didn’t come to scare people. He came to heal them. He didn’t come to punish. He came to forgive.

And here’s the amazing part: John did not keep Jesus a secret. He pointed to Him. He told everyone, “That’s Him! That’s the one! Right there!”

So, I want to ask you something: How can all of us point to Jesus?

Well, we don’t have to stand by a river and shout. We don’t have to wear a camel hair coat like John. But we can point to Jesus with our lives.

When you’re kind to someone who’s sad… you’re pointing to Jesus.

When you forgive someone who hurt you… you’re pointing to Jesus.

When you pray, when you help, and when you share… you’re saying, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

I heard a story that made me think about the ways we can point to Jesus. Children were receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the very first time in a church near here a couple of years ago. They were all sitting with their parents and grandparents and friends, each one waiting their turn. When one little girl had her turn, she came back to her mom and asked her if she would go up too. The mom said no but the little girl insisted. So, the mom went to receive the Sacrament. Seeing this, other children asked their parents and grandparents and friends to go up as well. Eventually, just about everyone in that entire church went to receive the Sacrament. And it all started with that one little girl who, like John the Baptist, decided not to keep Jesus a secret.

So today, I’d like you to remember two things: First, Jesus is the Lamb of God – gentle, loving, and here to help us start again… and second, you can point to Jesus with your words and actions.

So, let’s all be just like John the Baptist. Let’s not keep Jesus a secret!