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Epiphany Season · Year A

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 18, 2026

Ecce Agnus Dei, Giovanni di Paolo
Ecce Agnus Dei, Giovanni di Paolo, 1455–60The Art Institute of Chicago
A Sienese panel from a Baptist cycle, with the pointing figure in the foreground and the Jordan drawn as a flat ribbon of blue behind.Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world: the reading is the sentence, and the painting is the pointing finger.Giovanni di PaoloA Sienese painter who ignored the Florentine Renaissance entirely and kept gold grounds and strange colour into old age.The Art Institute of ChicagoFounded in 1879 as both a museum and a school, and the home of American Gothic and of a famous Impressionist collection.The Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 1:29-34Jn 1:29-34
Second Reading1 Cor. 1:1-31 Cor 1:1-3
First ReadingIsa. 49:3, 5-6Is 49:3, 5-6
Responsorial PsalmPs. 40:2+4, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (8a, 9a)Ps 40:2+4, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (8a, 9a)

Overview & Insights

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and publicly identifies him as the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin. John testifies that he saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain on Jesus, the sign he had been told would mark the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, the Son of God.

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Take it further: John 1:29-34

Commentary

Commentary on John 1:29-42Commentary on Jn 1:29-42 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the fuller reading assigned for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, on John's testimony and the first disciples.

John 1:29-42 CommentaryJn 1:29-42 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary tracing how John's double declaration of the Lamb of God launches the disciples' search for Jesus.

John 1 CommentaryJn 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical commentary on John's testimony and the descent of the Spirit like a dove.

John 1:29 CommentariesJn 1:29 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the title Lamb of God and its sacrificial background.

John 1 - Gill's ExpositionJn 1 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

John Gill's notes on the Baptist's testimony and the sign of the descending Spirit.

John 1:29 CommentaryJn 1:29 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse by verse study notes on the Lamb of God title and its roots in Isaiah 53 and the Passover lamb.

The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre's Catholic exegesis of John's testimony alongside this Sunday's other readings.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Loyola Press background and reflection questions on John the Baptist's testimony to Jesus.

Background & Word Study

John 1:29 InterlinearJn 1:29 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word parsing of amnos tou theou (Lamb of God) and meno (remain).

Gospel of John Summary (Part 1)Gospel of Jn Summary (Part 1) BibleProject

Animated overview of John 1-12, tracing the Gospel's opening witnesses to Jesus' identity.

The Church Fathers

John 1 - Catena Bible & CommentariesJn 1 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment chained verse by verse on John's testimony and the Lamb of God.

Study Hub

John 1:29-42Jn 1:29-42 Textweek

A gathered set of links and preaching angles on this week's Gospel text.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave 703 - Second Sunday after Epiphany Working Preacher · Sermon Brainwave

A roundtable of preachers talking through John the Baptist's testimony and the Lamb of God.

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