We have all experienced times of mistaken identity, either when we are recognised as being someone else or when we have mistaken someone for someone else. These are times of embarrassment for everyone concerned. There are quite a few examples of mistaken identity in the Bible, for example, in the New Testament, after the resurrection when Mary goes to the tomb and thinks that the risen Jesus is the gardener, or when the disciples do not recognise Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

This Sunday John the Baptist does recognise Jesus but not especially as his cousin, which he is, but as something much more significant but he does this in very obscure language and imagery which probably left people wondering what he was talking about.

Last Sunday we heard a version of the baptism of Jesus by John. It is in the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Trinity is made manifest – Jesus called the Son, the voice of the Father and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

The baptism of Jesus features in three of the gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke. John’s gospel does not record the baptism of Jesus, but in Sunday's gospel St John the gospel writer implies the baptism has taken place as he refers to the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus which the other gospels tell us happened at the Jesus’ baptism.

John the Baptist is himself inspired by the Holy Spirit as he begins to use the language of prophesy. We have the benefit whole story and we have a good idea of what he was talking about, but the terms and images he uses would have puzzled his listeners at the time. What did he mean by “Lamb of God”? Earlier John the Baptist speaks of the messiah carrying out judgment against sinners casting them into eternal fire. Today he is inspired by and image of a lamb. Lambs were a common sacrifice in the temple. I can imagine that most of the people there would have thought what on earth is he talking about. Perhaps John too could not put together the pieces of what he found himself compelled to say. He was trying to communicate divinity using the language of humanity.

St John, the writer of the gospel, like us by that time had the whole picture, a picture that comes into focus at the time of the resurrection when the pieces of Jesus’ life fall into place. Jesus is not the warrior king who challenges the world in an overt political way. Instead he is the Lamb of God. We all love lambs who are gentle and approachable, we all love to give a lamb a cuddle if we can. Rather than the forbidding warrior king Jesus is the vulnerable, lovable and approachable saviour who dies that we can live and live forever. He invites you towards him, to receive a loving embrace.

Where and how do you recognise the identity of Jesus the Lamb of God in your own life and in the world? Of course he is always here with is in this place, his body, blood soul and divinity is truly present in the Eucharist. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist we are literally, physically and spiritually, united with him. This is so beautiful and wonderful, but Jesus tells is that his is also present in everyone everywhere and in every setting. Do we treat others with as much love and respect as we treat Jesus in the Eucharist? We need to ask that the Holy Spirit comes to us and remains with us to help us to experience the gentle love and compassion of the Lamb of God in ourselves and to see the same Lamb in others. In this way we will experience Jesus in our lives and see him in our brothers and sisters which is a key ingredient for eternal life.

God bless and keep you all. 

Fr Chris