In this Sunday's reading from the Gospel, John the Baptizer sees Jesus after His baptism and declares our Lord to be the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  

For those who were there, it must have been an odd thing to hear.  Clearly, John is praising Jesus. He is commending Jesus.  Yet, instead of using an animal noted for strength or intelligence like the lion or the eagle, John associates Jesus with the lowly lamb.  Why does he do it?  

John identifies Jesus as the lamb because of the role the animal plays in the religious life of the people of God.  For the Jewish people, the lamb was the animal designated by God to be offered in sacrifice for sin.  Thus, John's identifies Jesus as the lamb of God because, by his life, death, and resurrection, he takes away the sin of the world!