Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from John 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have been alive at the time of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We think that we would have immediately followed Him and become His close disciples. Actually, all of this was quite a daunting and challenging task. It involved re-thinking a lot of the assumptions that these men grew up with.
- I remember thinking as a young man that I was lucky not to have to make these kinds of immediate and forceful decisions. I could just live my life with faith in Jesus, and kind of continue to be a child of my times – but a Christian. I looked at that as being fortunate – my discipleship, my following Jesus, was not too costly or expensive.
- However, I also wondered what “following Jesus” was really supposed to be like. I wondered what He wanted me to do, what my purpose was supposed to be, just how literally I was supposed to take His words. I read the novel by Dostoevsky – about the naïve life of Prince Mishkin who lived literally according to Jesus’ instruction. Surely, I concluded, that was not what we were supposed to be doing!
- But if not, then what did “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” involve in these modern times? I read the book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer – “The Cost Of Discipleship” – and considered again what was involved in taking the words of Jesus seriously. Again, I was thankful that I did not have to make the kinds of choices and decisions that Bonhoeffer had to make.
- As I’ve grown in years, I have come to realize that we must take the words of Jesus seriously, including what it means to “follow” Him. But this does not mean that we “model” our lives after the original disciples, or a Prince Mishkin, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Our text offers the main points in regard to “FOLLOWING THE LAMB,” discipleship to Jesus. First, that:
I. Following Jesus Requires Knowing Him, That He Is The Messiah – Who Alone Takes Away The Sin Of The World
Text: “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.”
Statement: John goes on to identify Jesus as the eternal Son of God – before Whom we are all utterly unworthy. This is important also for us to realize. But more important is to know that He is our Savior, Who has removed all sin and guilt from us, so that we have peace with God and can stand before Him undaunted – with utter joy, humility, and gratitude to God our Heavenly Father. This is the beginning of “FOLLOWING THE LAMB,” and no one can follow Him who doesn’t know Him.
Application: So I was correct, as a young man – to simply rest myself in the gracious mercy, forgiveness, and love of God in Christ Jesus. This is the foundation of “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” – the essence of true discipleship to Jesus. And:
II. It Is This Message, This Gospel – Good News, Which Calls Us To Follow The Lamb As His Disciples
Text: “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.”
Statement: My discipleship to Jesus, my faith and trust in Him as the Messiah, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, began by people telling me the same thing about Jesus – my parents, grandparents, pastors, Sunday School teachers. It is true – that only God can give us the gift of faith, by the power of His Holy Spirit, but it is also true that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” specifically this good news of forgiveness and salvation in Jesus, the Lamb of God.
Application: Your experience was no different than mine – you also came to faith and “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” by hearing the good news about Him, that He is our dear Savior! Our life, real spiritual life, begins with the Word of God regarding Jesus, and is continually fed by this same Word of good news – God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation in Jesus. It was true when we were younger, and it is just as true today! So we continue to “congregate” with fellow Christians, fellow “followers” of the Lamb – to hear His absolution, to hear His Word, to receive His Sacramental meal of His body and blood “for the forgiveness of sins.” This is at the heart and center of “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” as Christians today! And:
III. This Discipleship Of Faith In Jesus Insures Us Of The Gift Of The Holy Spirit Of God
Text: “He on Whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
Eph. 1:13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
2 Cor. 1:22 “He has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
Statement: So we also have received the Holy Spirit from Jesus – Who has brought us to faith and discipleship, and Who sustains us in faith and our discipleship. This is the gift of God, and without it no one can be “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” as His disciple.
Application: So we see that being disciples of Jesus, and “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” is not so much a matter of our determining and deciding as it is God’s leading and empowering us by His Holy Spirit, in accord with His Word – the Holy Scripture. So the pressure I placed upon myself, and all the “models” that I wrestled with, didn’t really matter – for it is God Who calls us to faith through His Word, Who gives us His Holy Spirit, Who continues to feed and nurture us in faith, and Who thus enables and compels us to be “FOLLOWING THE LAMB.”
This is not so much a particular course of action, or a particular vocation, but rather a life of repentance and faith in Jesus – “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” And through this love we are also moved to love – in our own particular place and set of circumstances, as the presence of God and His love in that place. And lastly, we see in our text that:
IV. Discipleship To Jesus, Following The Lamb, Is All About Inviting Others To Come To Jesus, Bringing Others To Jesus
Text: “One of those who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ [which means Christ]. He brought him to Jesus.”
Statement: Once Peter came to Jesus, he became a disciple of Jesus, a “follower of the Lamb.” We all know the rest of the story, about what Peter became and did. It is our privilege as those are “FOLLOWING THE LAMB” to invite and bring others to Jesus – to His Word of grace and mercy, of forgiveness and salvation. It is our privilege to bring them to Jesus’ baptism –which according to God’s Word bestows forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is our privilege to be “birthing” other disciples, so that they too may experience the joy and blessedness of “FOLLOWING THE LAMB.”
Application: This is our privilege regardless of our place or position in life, regardless of our vocation or profession. The most important thing that can be said of any of us is that we are “FOLLOWING THE LAMB.” This means that we are believers in Jesus, heirs of eternal life, beneficiaries of the Holy Spirit’s presence, and “inviters” of others to come with us to Jesus!
Conclusion: So my consternation as a young disciple of Jesus – all the questions I had about lifestyle, and the shape of being a modern disciple – was essentially an exercise in futility. God made me a disciple, a “follower of Jesus,” and He provides and sustains the essentials of “FOLLOWING THE LAMB.” What He did for me He does for all of us – and He has been guiding and leading you all along in your discipleship, so that you also are “FOLLOWING THE LAMB.”
When we are poor disciples, and fail to follow Him, “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” comes back for us, picking us up with His forgiveness, restoring us and empowering us further to follow Him. And with joy we too have been able to tell others about Jesus, and to bring them to Him.
It is all the marvelous work of God, His great love for us! So we follow the Lamb in giving all praise, honor, and glory to God for His great love for us. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.