Follow the Leader

Scripture Reflection for Sunday, January 16, 2011

Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6
Psalm 40:2+4, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34

‘Follow the leader’ has many meanings. It can be a simple child’s game, or it can refer to something much more serious. We follow the leader in a parade, or there will be chaos; we follow the leader out of a burning building, or we might lose our lives; we follow political leaders by supporting their policies, and we follow religious leaders by upholding their decisions. In many ways ‘follow the leader’ is really serious business.

We are now in a period of Ordinary Time that is really a kind of interlude between seasons. Christmas is behind us and in a few weeks we will be entering the season of Lent. This is a time in the liturgical year when, rather than focus on events that took place in the life of Jesus, we pay closer attention to what it means to be his disciples. The various titles ascribed to Jesus in today’s readings tell us much about how he was perceived. John the Baptist called him the ‘Lamb of God’ and the ‘Son of God.’ Paul referred to him as ‘Christ’ and ‘Lord.’ Isaiah spoke of the ‘servant of the LORD,’ a designation the early Christians attributed to Jesus. Each title reveals something about Jesus, our leader, and encourages us to follow him.

‘Lamb of God’ is a cultic title. It calls to mind the animal sacrifices in ancient Israel. Perhaps the most significant and best-known ritual was the Passover offering, in which a lamb was sacrificed in remembrance of God’s deliverance of the people from Egyptian bondage. As the ‘Lamb of God,’ Jesus makes reparation for the sins of all. If we follow him, we too will be led back to God.

‘Son of God’ was an ancient title of the king. It implied that the king was divine. Israel stripped the title of any divine meaning. However, when Christians attributed this title to Jesus, they intended to recapture its original meaning. They believed that Jesus was indeed the ‘divine son with divine father.’ If we follow Jesus, we too become children of God.

‘Christ’ is the Greek term for messiah or ‘anointed one,’ the long awaited one who would inaugurate the reign of God and bring about its fulfillment. The designation ‘Lord’ has two distinct yet related meanings. It is the Greek substitute for YHWH, the personal name of ancient Israel’s God. It is also the title used by the Romans for the reigning emperor.

Therefore, when Christians attributed it to Jesus, they were making a very bold political statement. They were proclaiming that, not Caesar, but “Jesus is Lord!” To follow the Lord is to follow God rather than some human pretender. When we attribute Isaiah’s title ‘servant of the LORD’ to Jesus, we gain insight into the character of his ministry, a ministry of justice with gentleness and sensitivity to the vulnerable of all nations.

We have been called to follow our leader, and through our baptism we have accepted this call. But what does this mean? First, if we follow our leader, we are reconciled with God; we enjoy the benefits of being children of God; and we embrace the reign of God. Furthermore, if we follow our leader we will work for justice, and we will do this with gentleness and sensitivity to the vulnerable. Will we follow our leader?

Image: Calling of Saint Andrew and Saint John , from The Life of Jesus Christ by J.J.Tissot, 1899. by: freechristimages.org