Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

John 1:29-34 “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

The primary purpose of the church is to provide access to Jesus Christ.

That Jesus may be born in individual hearts and from individual hearts have his way in human affairs.

After that the purpose of the church is not to be a moral compass 🧭 although many people think it is.

Rather, it is to say to the world as the Gospel says to us today: Look 👀, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Did you catch that? He seeks to take away the sins of the world.

The world wants to nail you to your sins. Nail me to my sins. Nail everybody. You must be held accountable.

But not Jesus. Jesus doesn’t want this to happen because accountability in eternity is too severe!

So out of love and to save us, Jesus seeks to be nailed for your sins, my sins, our sins.

Do you see it? Accountability doesn’t disappear 🫥

He seeks to take responsibility, to be held accountable on your behalf. What love is this?

“I did not die on the Cross for you to bear the burden of your sins.”

And once he takes responsibility, you’re set free, cleansed, washed clean in the blood of Christ, redeemed.

And when he does this for you he acquires you…

And when this really happens for you… you’ll love ❤️ him to bits!

The mission of the church is not primarily about being a moral compass. It’s about salvation.

It’s about saving us all from God’s Justice.