Reading I: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
GOSPEL: John 1:29-34
The Feast of the Epiphany is a special time in the liturgical calendar, as it marks the moment when the Magi recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the King of the Jews. But did you know that the weekend following the Feast of the Epiphany also holds a significant message about Jesus’ identity?
Recognizing Jesus
In this week’s Gospel reading from John, we see how John the Baptist recognized Jesus as God’s Chosen One. As John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, a divine sign that confirmed Jesus as the Son of God.
This event is significant because it established Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. It also highlighted John’s role as a witness to Jesus’ divinity.
John describes this moment as a testimony, and in doing so, he explains how he knows Jesus is the Chosen One and why he didn’t realize it sooner. He calls Jesus the “Lamb of God,” which foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus would make to save us from our sins.
After but Before
What’s even more interesting is the statement John makes about Jesus being before him: “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” (John 1:30b) This is a reference to Jesus being the Word of God, who was with God from the beginning. So, even though the child Jesus was born after John, the Baptist knew Jesus was “before” him. This seemingly contradictory statement highlights the truth that Jesus is eternal and existed before time.
This Gospel reading shows us that Jesus came to take away our sins and his divinity is confirmed by the testimony of John the Baptist and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Let us reflect on this truth during this special time in the liturgical calendar and be reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation.
The Lamb of God
According to John the Baptist, Jesus is the Lamb of God, so he wants to protect us – from sin – and from ourselves. For those of us who live in a wealthy nation like the United States, it’s easy for us to stray and not realize it because life is still generally fine. And we just don’t think about Jesus all that much when we’re comfortable. So, we have to find a way to see past our privilege and remember that Jesus came to take away our sins!
Life Applications:
What does it mean to recognize Jesus today?
What does the imagery of “the Lamb of God” mean to you?
How can we see past our privilege and focus on Christ?
Check out the REAL Word Podcast for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A):
Original article by Brandon Jubar, 2023.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.