The Rev. Paul J Cain
John 1:29
Agnus Dei
Wednesday of Lent 1, 16 March 2011
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [Amen.]
Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.
Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
So speaks John the Baptist about Jesus Christ. Since then, Christ’s Church has sung these words as a prayer.
In its most basic Litany form, it has a simple, three-fold shape: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy. Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy. Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace (LSB 289).
Among liturgical Christians, this canticle, or Bible song from John 1:29, echoes the Kyrie’s prayer from the first part of the service where we prayed for mercy. It is called the Agnus Dei, Latin for “Lamb of God,” and is sung between the Words of Institution of the Lord’s Supper and the Distribution
The tune Angelus was used in The Lutheran Hymnal for three hymns. It supports four in Lutheran Service Book, including this Stephen P. Starke text on page 210: O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away; O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray. O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away; Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ, And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.
This singable tune will add to our services this summer.
Twice we pray, “have mercy.” At the end we pray, “grant us Your peace.” God’s people have forgiveness in Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. We also need mercy, when we pray for gifts of body and soul. Prayers for physical blessings are prefaced with “Thy will be done,” rather than “my will be done.” I like the phrase “according to Your good and gracious will.” When we pray for spiritual blessings, we are bolder. There are fewer Biblical restrictions. “Lord, increase my faith!”
Even as forgiven and blessed Christians, we need peace. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). This is the peace for which we pray.
“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you and give you peace” (LSB 212, Numbers 6:24-26). This is the peace for which we pray.
We need peace that only Christ can give. We need peace for life in this world that the world cannot understand. We have peace with God. We pray for peace at home, in the Church, and throughout the world. Amen.
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. [Amen.]
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV
Agnus Dei, LSB 210
C O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ,
And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Four from Lutheran Service Book
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
