CHRISTMAS has ended with the Epiphany of the Lord but the Christmas spirit should not have ended with it. Love, the essence of Christmas, is not only for a special occasion. It is meant to be practiced everyday − 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
That is precisely the reason why Jesus came into the world. He was born into our humanity as a helpless baby, but he did not remain a baby forever. The Bible says that Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and in favor before God and man (Luke 2:52). He grew up to fulfill the mission for which the Father sent him – to provide the only way for man to enjoy God’s gift of salvation.
This Sunday’s gospel (John 1:29-34), in which is narrated the Lord’s baptism on the Jordan River, John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” As the lamb, he is thus the one who will take on himself all the sins committed by man and offer his life as a penalty for the forgiveness of these sins.
Writing about Jesus some 600 years before his birth, the prophet Isaiah had this to say: “He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, and by his wounds we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our way, but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6).”
The choice of a lamb as a representation of Jesus was very fitting. Just as a lamb is very gentle and submissive, so did Jesus surrender himself in full obedience to the will of the Father. Isaiah continued, “Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Now we know that all these happened during the passion, crucifixion and death of the Lord.
But are these events of the Holy Week not anti-climactic to the joyful season of Christmas that we have just celebrated? Can’t we just stay on cloud 9 and avoid the heartbreaking thought of suffering and death? Doing so will confine us to the all-feel-good, incomplete brand of Christianity. Let us not forget that it is suffering that Jesus overpowered suffering, and it is in dying that he destroyed death.
Jesus always had his mission in mind when he lived on earth, and everything he did was in pursuit of this mission. Sinless, he assumed all our sins. Whole, he took all our infirmities and diseases. King, he humbled himself as the servant of all; and Divine, he chose to be human in everything except sin.
The most popular verse of the Bible comes to mind, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16).” This year, in all the ups and downs of life, may we continue to walk with Jesus, the Lamb of God, trusting that he will see us through.