I am sure you know how Singapore got its name.
Maybe let me refresh your memory a little about the history lessons we had in school.
We may remember reading about how Sang Nila Utama came to an island which was then called Temasek which means “sea port” or “sea town”.
When he landed there, he saw a strange, agile, fast-moving animal.
It had a red body and a black head.
When he asked what animal was that, he was told it was a lion.
He thought that the animal was a good sign, so he established a city at Temasek which he named Singapura, which means “Lion City”.
Can we remember all that? Brings back memories of school days and history lessons huh?
Well that account goes way back to the 14th century.
Today, Singapore has lived up to its name as the Lion City.
It is a lion in progress and prosperity, a lion in productivity and efficiency.
And we who live in Singapore are also brought up to be like lions.
We are brought up to be like lions in everything, from the airport to the integrated resorts, from the MRT to the ERP, from the clean to the green.
Yes, these are the show-pieces of Singapore, the Lion City.
Yes, we want to be like the lions in everything.
Yes, everything, maybe except football.
Maybe lions and football don’t go along well.
Nonetheless, the lion is a powerful symbol.
It is said that a 100 sheep led by a lion, is mightier than a 100 lions led by a sheep.
So between a lion and a sheep, it is obvious what we would choose.
But between a lion and a sheep what would God choose? What would Jesus choose?
In today’s gospel passage, we heard how John the Baptist pointed out Jesus and described who He is.
Jesus was described as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Sounds a bit strange right?
A lamb means that it has not crossed 12 months yet.
So it is a pretty small and meek thing.
So how can a lamb take away the sins of the world?
It would make more sense to say that the lion will take away the sins of the world.
But we know that the mighty lion did not take away the sins of the world, not even the woes of the world.
The mighty lion of capitalism promises wealth but we now know the world was brought to its knees in the recent financial crisis.
The lion of military might has not brought about peace; in fact, it keeps shattering the world to pieces.
Yet, it is the lamb that takes away the sins of the world, the lamb that was slain and sacrificed on the cross.
Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Yet Jesus is also called the Good Shepherd.
Remember the parable about the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 and goes about in search of the lost sheep.
Notice that it was not a lost lamb, but a lost sheep.
I came across this poem that tells us why it was a lost sheep. It goes like this:
Out on the hilltop, and out in the cold, It was a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.Back to the fold and back to the flock, It was a sheep that the Good Shepherd brought.
Now, why should the sheep be so carefully fed
And cared for even today?
That’s because there is danger if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.
The lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever they wander–wherever they go.
If the sheep goes wrong, it will not be long
That the lambs will just be as wrong.
So to the Good Shepherd we must earnestly pray,
For the sake of the lambs today.
If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost,
That we, the sheep, will have to pay.
If the young are the future of the world, then they are the lambs who are going to take away the sins of the world.
And they, the lambs, look to us, the sheep, for faith and for moral direction.
Let us teach them about the Lamb of God who made a difference in the word.
He went silently to the shearers, He also turned the other cheek, also prayed for His enemies.
He was the Lamb of God who did not call down fire on the Samaritans, nor did He condemn a fallen adulterous woman.
He was the Lamb of God who laid down His life for His friends.
May we, the sheep, teach the lambs to follow the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.