Pr. DFD : January 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

Family Life Center update

Framing

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Purification of Mary; Presentation of Jesus

Purification of Mary; Presentation of Jesus

February 2, 2020 (Luke 2:22-32)

Mary, Unclean

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

For seven days after the birth of a child, a Jewish mother was “unclean”. Then for 33 more days she was in effect yet unclean as she could touch no hallowed thing (e.g. eat of a sacred meal) nor could she come into the sanctuary. This mother then (with her husband who would provide the necessities) had to bring a burnt offering and a sin offering (See Lev. 12:1ff). The poor could bring one pigeon (or turtledove) for the burnt offering and one for the sin offering.

Why was a sin offering needed for uncleanness? This seems strange, for what is wrong with having a baby, and this baby is the Christ!

Several theologians have noted that it was normal or even noble activities that made a person unclean. Certainly motherhood and childbearing are most noble, yet uncleanness was associated with this. What is nobler than to minister to the dying and to properly care for the body of a deceased relative, yet such actions would have made a person unclean. Certain things that related to sexual intercourse, both normal activity and abnormal conditions, established uncleanness. People became lepers by no fault of their own, so why should a leper be singled out as unclean? And probably the strangest pronouncement of uncleanness occurred in relation to certain official worship activities— activities commanded by God!

Yet, on the other hand, uncleanness illustrated a very important reality: The world is fallen. The first mother Eve was cursed in relation to childbearing, and babies are born sinners, thus it made sense that that which was associated with reproduction rendered one unclean. The dead and the lepers were unclean because Adam received the curse of death, and consequently also the curse of disease. Leprosy—a kind of representative disease—is an obvious result of the corruption of this world. Additionally, the sacrificial system, which would not have been in existence had the world not fallen into sin, at times brought uncleanness via certain God-ordained rituals, because such rituals were to purify man’s putrid condition. All such uncleanness was associated with sin, and thus sin offerings were often prescribed to “reverse” a person’s uncleanness. What is God teaching by all of this? W. Washburn summarizes nicely: 1

The law of ‘uncleanness,’ then, could not fail to call to the mind of the reflective worshiper the woeful event of the Fall, and the entailment of sin upon Adam and all his posterity… In its sad isolation and exclusion it told the mournful tale of man’s unavoidable, innate unfitness to approach a holy God. It was the pathetic and impressive declaration of the doctrine of man’s natural depravity; it was the Mosaic form of the dogma of original sin.

Simultaneous with our text’s reminder of original sin is the presentation of the Savior—the only one without original sin. Here, in Mary’s arms, is the truly “clean” child.

Yes here is the One who lets us depart in peace, and here is the One that Anna would boast about to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Indeed here in the arms of the blessed virgin—herself in need of purification—rested He who would redeem all from original sin as well as from every actual sin. He is the final, ultimate sin offering. All in Him may now touch the holy things and enter the sanctuary.

1. W. W. Washburn, The Import of Sacrifice in the Ancient Jewish Service, (New York: Phillips & Hunt, 1883), 85.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Epiphany 4 Series A

Epiphany 4 -Series A

(2 February 2020)

Micah 6:1–8

1 Corinthians 1:18–31

Matthew 5:1–12

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord

God Manifests His Glory in the Humility and Weakness of Christ Crucified

The Lord tells His people, “I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery” (Micah 6:4). By the sacrifice of His beloved Son, He has redeemed us from our slavery of sin and death; He has forgiven our transgressions by the shedding of His blood. His great mercy and salvation lead us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly” with our God (Micah 6:8). We boast only in the incarnate and crucified Lord Jesus. He is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is our life and salvation, our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Now He opens His mouth and teaches us His wisdom. By His cross and Passion the kingdom of heaven is ours, we receive mercy and are satisfied, we see God, and we are called sons of God in Christ. “Blessed are you,” therefore, “when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely” on account of Christ (Matthew 5:11).

Matthew 5:1-12 -

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος• καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ•

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Matthew 5:2

καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων•

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:3

Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:4

μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:5

μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:6

μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:7

μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:8

μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:9

μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:10

μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:11

μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν]πονηρὸν καθ’ ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Matthew 5:12

χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς• οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

Time in the Word - Epiphany 4

27 January - 01 February 2020

Collects for the Epiphany Season: Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory.

Father, You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to Your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.

Father, You make known the salvation of humankind at the birth of Your Son. Make us strong in faith and bring us to the glory You promise. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Collects for Epiphany 4: Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers, which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sins has brought upon us.

Collect for Psalm 15: Lord Jesus, You first chose to live among us, and in returning to Your Father You made an eternal home for us. Help us walk blamelessly in You ways and bring us at last to Your holy mountain, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The Ministry Of Light

The Epiphany season continues its revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. We saw his glory at his baptism (Epiphany 1). John the Baptist witnessed to His glory as Messiah (Epiphany 2). Through His ministry, His glory was revealed as the light in a dark world. Now, we see the glory of God in Jesus by His attitude and grace toward the outcasts of society: the spiritually poor, the humble, and the despised. His glory is seen in His love and concern for sinners. Though He is the Son of God, He does not cater to the religious elite, the highly educated and the economically rich. What a glorious God we see in Christ who humbles Himself to serve the unfortunate and the spiritually impoverished!

Monday, 27 January, 2020—Psalm 1:1-5; antiphon, Psalm 1:6—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. This Psalm speaks of the blessedness of those who derive their ideas of life from God’s Word rather than from their worldly neighbors. Happiness and prosperity is theirs. Not so with the wicked. Repeatedly the godly and the wicked are contrasted.

Thus the book of Psalms opens with an exaltation of God’s Word. If David so loved the brief writings that then constituted God’s Word, how much more should we love that same Word, which has not been brought to completion, headed up around the beautiful story of Christ. Other Psalms of the Word are Psalm 19 and Psalm 119. Note also the Psalm’s first word is “blessed.” Blessed is Beatitude: like the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel.

Tuesday, 28 January, 2020—Psalm 15 — This psalm gives instruction to those who wish to have access to God at His temple. Thomas Jefferson called this psalm the picture of “a true gentleman.” This is a testimonial of the man of God. What does God require of the individual who seeks his company?

He expects right conduct, right speaking (verses 2-3a), right relationships with others (verses 3b-4), and a right use of wealth (verse 5) See also Psalm 24. Who swears… (verse 4) i.e. who keeps his word whatever the cost; Verse 5, one of the Jewish laws, see Leviticus 25:36-37. It was not a total ban on lending at interest, but applied to fellow Israelites.

Wednesday, 29 January 2020—Micah 6:1-8—Blessed are they who walk with God. Micah pictures God as suing his people. He takes Israel to court. The people are the defendants. The prophet is God’s defense attorney. The cosmos consists of the witness. God has something against His people: they have been unfaithful to the covenant, played the harlot with pagan gods, and broke His commandments. They have been a disobedient, faithless, and rebellious people. God has a right to a controversy with His people.

Thursday, 30 January 2020—1 Corinthians 1:18-31—Blessed are the lowly and despised. Paul reminds the church at Corinth that God chose them when they were of no account in the sight of the world: slaves, women, and children.

They had no education (wisdom), no political power, and no blue blood. This harmonizes with Jesus’ example as friend of publicans and sinners. He did not choose wealthy, high class or scholarly men for disciples, but peasants and publicans. Why is God interested only in “down-and-outers” and not in the “up-and-outers?” How can this truth be applied to today’s church members who are generally from the middle to top class, have comfortable incomes, are college graduates and among the socially elite? It may be because the educated are educated out of their need for God. The wealthy need nothing that money cannot buy. The powerful are too self-sufficient and sophisticated to humble themselves before God as suppliants and miserable sinners.

Friday, 31 January 2020—Matthew 5:1-12—Blessed are those with spiritual qualities. The Beatitudes. They describe the condition of a person in a right relationship with God through faith in Christ. “Blessed” is often translated as “happy.” It is more than what the world considers happiness — possessions, satisfaction, and peace. The blessed one is in favor with God and man. However, the Beatitudes are applicable to the present, their promises look to the future for fulfillment. The Beatitudes are God-oriented: kingdom of heaven, see God, on my account. The blessed estate does not depend upon secular well-being for its fulfillment.

It is conceivable a Christian can be perfectly miserable on earth and yet blessed. Poor in spirit. Luke omits “in spirit.” Certainly Matthew is not neglecting the physically poor. There is no blessing in poverty. Poor people are not necessarily blessed. The economically poor can be godly or godless. “Poor in spirit,” moreover, does not mean a lack of spirit. Rather, the phrase describes a state of being which we might call humility, unworthiness, a dependence on God for the fulfillment of needs. The New English Bible helpfully translates 5:3: “How blest are those who know their need of God.”

Saturday, 01 February 2020—1 John 3:16-19; Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 25:40—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us (LSB #851). This wonderful hymn tells the story of salvation and places Christ at the center of everything the Christian does. We are still in a new year. In everything that is begun, continued and ended, may Christ be the focus of all that we do.

 Morning Prayer Readings for this coming week:

January 27 Monday Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11

January 28 Tuesday Peter’s Catch of fish Luke 5:1-11

January 29 Wednesday Chapel

January 30 Thursday Jesus calms a storm Mark 5:35-41

January 31 Friday Jesus heals a paralytic Mark 2:1-12

 Catechism Review: “What is Confession?” – “Which Sins Should we Confess?” – “What is the Sacrament of the Altar?”

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Sources:

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Epiphany 3

Epiphany 3
26 January 2020
Isaiah 9:1-4
Some Day You’ll Be Glad

“Almighty God, You sent Your Son to proclaim Your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of Your Spirit that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.”

When people are struggling, when they are in the midst of trouble, they cannot imagine things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fear, and anxiety will change to joy. It’s almost as if they are babes lost in the woods. They can’t see the forest for the trees. All seems hopeless and so pointless.

In the words of our Old Testament lesson a message of hope comes to a people who had lost everything and for whom there was little hope or promise. What was that promise? It was the promise of God to a people living in the oppression of darkness. The point of Isaiah’s message was designed to encourage and uplift those who may have had reason to despair. Where do people turn today when they contemplate their condition? Our text for this day says to you who find yourselves to be in trouble —

1. God promises you’ll be glad some day.

2. There are good reasons for your hope.

3. Light will replace the darkness.

4. Liberation from oppression will come.

1. God promises you’ll be glad someday – Vs. 3 “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.” Isaiah 9:3 When we are in the midst of some trouble, we can’t imagine that things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fears and anxiety will change to joy. Everything seems so overwhelming. Yet to this very situation of hopelessness a message of hope arrives…It comes in the form of a promise from God to a people living in the oppression of darkness.

What is the source of joy of being a Christian? It is the joy we have in knowing Christ. He is the Light of the world and the end of our darkness. To know Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of the Law and from the consequences of sin, which, of course, is death. Scripture is quite clear on this matter. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) In Ezekiel 18:4 God said, "Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die". The soul that dies is the soul that sins. Therefore, in order for a soul to die, sin would have to occur by that soul. The apostle John states it much clearer - in 1John 3:4 he says, "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law". Sin is something that you do. Says St. Paul; “By the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Romans 3:20)

God gave His Law to hunt us down, find us out, corner us, and kill us. The Law is powerful, but it is a deadly power because of our sin. In the end, the Law exposes us as the enemies of God we really are…In the end, the Law leaves the sinner utterly sinful, utterly condemned, - utterly dead. The Law leaves the sinner without hope in himself or the Law. There is no hope – except for one – our Lord Jesus Christ. 1

Again, Scripture is quite clear, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Joy is a by-product of Jesus’ preaching the good news of salvation, His teaching the truth of both sin and salvation of Law and Gospel helps us begin to understand such joy even in the midst of sadness. Jesus entered this world and began His mission to redeem me a lost and condemned creature. He came for only one purpose which was - to save me from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

2. There are good reasons to hope. Consider the historical background of our text for today. In 734 B.C. Assyria took into captivity Zebulon and Naphtali. It is a dark time of their history. But, the people see a light in the coming of a great king whose coming means great joy. He is their Messiah, their Savior. In the darkness of conquest, a light is seen bringing great joy.

Today’s Old Testament Lesson is in part a repeat of Christmas morning. Then it was used as a fulfilled prophecy of the birth of the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth. Here it is used as fulfillment of the glorious time for the land, “Galilee of the nations.” St. Matthew, in today’s Gospel lesson, sees the start of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of this great promise.

The Epiphany theme of light is evident in both Gospel and Old Testament lessons — the people, “have seen a great light.” Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises of that light. Christ is the Epiphany (or the manifestation) of light. Epiphany deals with the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus.

God’s glory is seen in the ministry of Jesus — He brings the kingdom to people through His threefold ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, a ministry to the whole person: soul, mind, and body. Paul sees the glory of God revealed in the cross — the means of deliverance from the oppression of sin, Satan, and death.

Transition: God promises you will be glad some day. Christ Jesus entered our world to deal with our sin and all which is broken in this world and in particular in our own lives. There is reason to hope for in this Epiphany season we discover that Jesus is God’s manifestation of light. You are given a reason to hope as you are drawn to Christ’s light.

3. Light will replace darkness – Vs. 2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 When Isaiah wrote these words, there was much darkness in the land. Assyria had conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness, and forced labor. In today’s world there is also much darkness: and therefore very little light. There are many experiencing loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty, and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins his ministry.

Transition: God promises you with a glad future. Christ entered this world to deal with you misery and sin. Christ the Son of light came to disperse the darkness of sin as He took your sin to Himself. As He carried those burdens and cares He frees you –

4. There will be liberation from oppression – Vs. 4 “For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.” Isaiah 9:4 In today’s society we often hear the word, “broken,” to describe the human condition: families are broken up by divorce; parents’ hearts are broken when rebellious children misbehave badly; nations are in turmoil because of broken relations — embassies are closed, ambassadors are called home and soon war is declared. In this verse, “broken” is a good word. Because of Christ the power of sin is broken. The broken relationship between God and humanity is healed.

Epiphany’s light – That light already is directing us to the cross on which we witness that great exchange – God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cost of His own Son! “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” (John 3:16) AMEN.

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Words – 1,410

Passive Sentences –7%

Readability – 71.3%

Reading Level –7.0

1. Issues, Etc. Journal Vol. 6, No. 1 “The Law’s Accusations: God’s Perfect, Specific and Unavoidable Demands” by Todd Wilken pp. 9-10

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Family Life Center update

Steel Erections!

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Epiphany 3 Series A

Epiphany 3 - Series A

(26 January 2020)

Isaiah 9:1–4

1 Corinthians 1:10–18

Matthew 4:12–25

The Lord Manifests His Glory through His Office of the Holy Ministry

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

By His coming in the flesh and by His preaching and miracles, the Lord Jesus shines the light of His Gospel upon “the people who walked in darkness” and “who dwelt in a land of deep darkness” (Isaiah 9:2). He has also “multiplied the nation” and “increased its joy” (Isaiah 9:3) by calling disciples to Himself from the ends of the earth. For this purpose, He calls Peter and Andrew, with James and John, to follow Him and be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). As Jesus did, they also go forth “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matthew 4:23). They preach the foolishness of the cross of Christ as the very power and wisdom of God. This word and preaching of the cross divides “those who are perishing” from “us who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18), but it unites the Church, the one Body of Christ, “in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Through
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

The ESV translates Matthew 4:14: so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. Unfortunately the little word “by” makes it sound like Isaiah is the originator of the prophecy quoted by Matthew. Actually this little word “by” (διὰ ) is better translated “through”. Thus Matthew is informing us that Isaiah was God’s instrument—that God spoke through Isaiah. Therefore Isaiah did not create his prophecy, but God was using Isaiah as His instrument to speak inspired words to humanity. Such wording is conveying the doctrine of Inspiration, for the Holy Spirit indeed speaks through the mouth of his holy prophets (Luke 1:70). And no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

As I was privileged to be in Israel less than two weeks ago, I saw there a photo-copy of the Dead Sea scroll of the complete book of Isaiah. This scroll that pre-dates the time of Christ was completely “unrolled’ so the entire book of Isaiah was before me. Scholars are amazed that the wording—and even the Hebrew script—is practically identical with the Hebrew of the book of Isaiah we read today. This is partly so because the Jews indeed believed that every little “jot and tittle” of the Hebrew was inspired by God, so they took extreme care whenever they hand-copied any of the writings of the “Old Testament”.

So what had God spoken through Isaiah? He spoke many wonderful prophecies about the coming Christ—prophecies that speak with crystal clarity. The Spirit predicted that a child would be born for us, a son would be given…and His name would be the Mighty God (9:6). Matthew’s gospel-reading for Sunday presents to us the verses preceding this astounding prediction of the Christ-child’s birth. Matthew informs us that Jesus began His ministry by fulfilling God’s prediction through Isaiah that the Christ would shine forth in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. These lands that had entered a state of spiritual darkness, lands that were so dark that they had substantially rejected their Jewish heritage, these were the very lands where the Christ would shine forth with holy preaching and heretofore unseen miracles. Here the Christ began to herald the gospel of the kingdom, a gospel that would culminate in the cross and the empty tomb of the kingdom’s king.

As the gospel of the kingdom announced both by word and by deed the presence of the Christ, so this Christ and this gospel would ultimately take believers to the climactic work of the kingdom: Christ dying for mankind’s salvation. Thus appropriately Isaiah—or rather God through Isaiah—predicted: But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5,6).

Through. Indeed God works through means, actively participating in His creation. The Spirit of God spoke through His prophets and apostles. God sent His Son through a virgin. The Son of God creates our salvation through His death and resurrection. God brings us to faith through His Holy Word. Through: God is always the agent, the one who must act upon us and upon His entire creation. Every good thing must come from Him, and we bow before Him as He gives us good things through the instruments He chooses.

Jesus begins His ministry –

Matthew 4:12

Ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἰωάννης παρεδόθη ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

John is "handed over" his time is done. This term is usually used of Jesus. When the forerunner is taken He is next. Jesus starts in Galilee. Even as he begins his ministry the kingdom is suffering violence...to this day (22 January the anniversary of Roe v Wade)

He withdraws... (to pray?)

Matthew 4:13

καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὰ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καφαρναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλίμ•

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Jesus leaves Nazareth (further separation) settles in Capernaum. But not a permanent situation. "The Son of Man will have no place to rest his head".

Matthew 4:14

ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος•

so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Fulfillment of Prophecy

Matthew 4:15

Γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλίμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν,

"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-

Matthew 4:16

ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.

the people (literally "sitting") dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."

The “land of milk and honey” have turned into sand and death. This is the Epiphany - people living in darkness have seen light.

These people were the nobodies Peter was called out on the night of Jesus' arrest for his Galilean accent.

These people are sitting without hope.

Matthew 4:17

Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν• Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." -

The kingdom is drawing near...it is at arms reach. The kingdom is the presence and work of Christ. The kingdom is Jesus. (In their midst)

The message is preached to those who had been separated. (Northern Kingdom) Through paganism they had merged into the Syrian culture.

Every great prophet has preached repentance. Remember, repentance has tow parts. Contrition and faith...more than just stop it!

Jesus Calls His First disciples -

Matthew 4:18

Περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς•

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:19

καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς• Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:20

οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

This is a specific calling. They are turning to a new vocation. A sudden change. They become the ultimate net throwers. Jesus is establishing his Church and this is how it works based on the foundation of the prophets and apostles.

Matthew 4:21

Καὶ προβὰς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄλλους δύο ἀδελφούς, Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ Ζεβεδαίου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς.

And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

They were cleaning/mending nets. They were done for the day. The other two were still fishing casting their nets. Yet once called they left all.

Here James is the dominant one.

Everyone has a calling. Zebedee stayed behind fishing for fish rejoicing in his vocation doing God's work in a secular world. Every job is honorable. Reflect the light where you live.

Matthew 4:22

οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὸ πλοῖον καὶ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. -

Jesus ministers to great crowds -

Matthew 4:23

Καὶ περιῆγεν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

All kind of maladies (see the Collect for the day) illnesses are specifically mentioned in v. 24 -

Matthew 4:24

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν Συρίαν• καὶ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ βασάνοις συνεχομένους, δαιμονιζομένους καὶ σεληνιαζομένους καὶ παραλυτικούς, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Matthew 4:25

καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ Δεκαπόλεως καὶ Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ Ἰουδαίας καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. -

His fame is spreading. Crowds are following.

Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

Time in the Word - Epiphany 3

20-25, January, 2020

Preparation for next week, Epiphany 3

The Ministry of Light

The Epiphany theme of light is evident in both the Gospel and the Old Testament lesson — “have seen a great light.” Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of that light. In Christ is the Epiphany (manifestation) of light. Epiphany deals with the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. God’s glory is seen in the ministry of Jesus — he brings the kingdom to people through his three-fold ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing; a ministry to the whole person: soul, mind, and body. Paul sees the glory of God revealed in the cross — the means of deliverance from the oppression of sin, Satan, and death.

Since the Epistle lesson is given in-course and deals with the problem of internal church division, it does not harmonize with the theme of the other Lessons. The Gospel fulfills the promise of a light coming to the people of Galilee. This fulfillment is in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. It is cause for celebration. By His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, Jesus brings the light of truth and grace to the world. Psalm 27 harmonizes with the theme of light — “The Lord is my light....” The Prayer asks for us to have a similar ministry of light.

Collects for Epiphany: Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory.

Collects for Epiphany 3: Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.

Collect for Psalm 27: Gracious Father, protector of those who hope in You: You heard the cry of Your Son and kept Him safe in Your shelter in the day of evil. Grant that Your servants who seek Your face in times of trouble may see Your goodness in the land of the living, through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Monday, 20 January 2020—Psalm 22:27-31; antiphon, Psalm 22:22—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, I will tell of Your name to my brothers, in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. Psalm 22 stands alone by itself. No other psalm pointed beyond itself so fully to the circumstances of Jesus at his crucifixion. John and Matthew will quote from this psalm as they give their accounts of Christ’s passion (see Matthew 27:46; 35, 39, 43 and John 19:23-24, 28). They proclaim the passion of Jesus as the fulfillment of this cry of the righteous sufferer. The author of the book of Hebrews placed the words of verse 22 on Jesus’ lips on Hebrews 2:12. No other psalm is quoted more frequently in the New Testament.

Tuesday, 21 January 2020—Psalm 27:1-9—The words of these choice verses are David’s triumphant confidence in God to deliver him from all those who conspire to bring him down. His prayer presupposes the Lord’s covenant with David. David’s confidence in his Lord introduces the prayer David will pray in verses 7-12. The conclusion of the prayer (verses 13-14) echoes the confidence of verses 1-6 and asks the reader to wait patiently for that which is sure although not yet seen.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020—Isaiah 9:1-4—When Isaiah wrote these words, there was darkness in the land. Assyria conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness, and forced labor. In today’s world there is also much darkness: loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty, and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins His ministry. What is the joy of a Christian? It is basically the joy of having Christ. He is the Light of the world. To have Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of sin and from the consequences of sin — death. Joy is a by-product of Jesus’ preaching the good news of salvation, His teaching the truth of God, and His ministry of healing to our bodies and minds.

Thursday, 23 January 2020—1 Corinthians 1:10-18—Fractions, dissensions, and cliques existed in the Corinthian church because there was a party spirit. A pastor (Apollos, Paul, Peter) was placed above Jesus. It was not Christ’s church but Dr. So-and-So’s church. Unity in a church is based upon the pre-eminence of Christ, not the personality of the pastor. Paul did not make a practice of baptizing people in order to avoid anyone’s claim he belonged to Paul rather than to Christ. Baptism tends to establish a loyalty between the pastor and the candidate. Often it is heard, “He baptized me,” in the sense of adulating the pastor. The closer people get to Christ, the closer they get to each other in harmony and peace.

Friday, 24 January 2020—Matthew 4:12-25—Matthew sees Jesus beginning His ministry as a fulfillment of the Isaiah promise that deliverance would come to those taken captive by the Assyrians in Zebulon and Naphtali. Fulfillment implies that Jesus was more than a man, a prophet, or a teacher; He was the Son of God, the Messiah. Repentance (verse 17)—For John the Baptist, repentance was a condition for entering the kingdom of God. For Jesus, repentance was accepting the salvation already offered and present. Repentance is not a condition of grace but a response to it. Repentance is acknowledging God’s forgiveness and acceptance; it is a turning to God to accept his grace by faith.

Saturday, 24 January 2020—1 Peter 1:20-23; Hebrews 7:25; John 13:34-35—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Son of God, Eternal Savior (LSB #842). This hymn is a prayer asking the Savior to direct us. We pray that He in love and pity would heal our wrongs and help our need. Each of us have burdens cares and struggles. Take these needs to your Savior in prayer. He knows your situation. He is more than able to address your need.

 Morning Prayer Readings for this week

January 20 Monday John prepares the way Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John1

January 21 Tuesday Baptism of Jesus Matthew 3

January 22 Wednesday Chapel

January 23 Thursday Temptation of Jesus Matthew 4:1-11

January 24 Friday Jesus calls first disciples John 1

 Catechism Review “What is the Office of the Keys?”

“What is Confession?”

______________________________

Sources:

Luther’s Seal comes courtesy of the Higher Things organization

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Epiphany 2

Epiphany 2

JOHN 1:29-42

19 January 2020

“Come and See”

Lord Jesus, You became obedient to death and Your name was exalted above all others. Teach us always to do the Father’s will, so that, made holy by Your obedience and united in Your sacrifice, we can know your great love even in times of sorrow to sing a new song to our God now and forever. – Collect for Psalm 40

[1]

A wise preacher once said that in John’s simple announcement, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” we have a perfect summary of the entire Gospel. Everything else is merely commentary.

In Jesus’ day a lamb had two important meanings for believers. First, the lamb conveyed a sense of innocence and purity. Much like the image of the Suffering Servant which we read about from the prophet Isaiah: “he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” [Isaiah 52: 7]

Secondly the lamb was also the central symbol of God’s deliverance of his people from their bondage in Egypt. An event commemorated by the slaughter of a lamb for the celebration of Passover.

John takes the symbol of the lamb and relates it not just to the Passover but also to human sinfulness. John’s Gospel makes it clear that this Lamb of God is not exclusively for Israel but for everyone. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

We must remember that Christians are not born. Christians are invited by those who are a part of the Church and, therefore, determined to repeat the precious words of John. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

A critical conversation grew out of an exchange between Jesus and several individuals. Who, up until now, were disciples of John the Baptist. John encouraged his followers to change their allegiance to Jesus. Many of them, like Andrew, were trying to determine what that would mean. They were wise enough to know that they would gain wisdom by participation and observation. So they asked Jesus where he was staying. Jesus responded by saying simply, “Come and see.”

That simple invitation. Come and see. Launched the Jesus Movement. Before long Andrew invited his brother, Peter. And, then Peter invited countless others to come and see the one they were quickly convinced was the Messiah, the Promised One.

Christians do not impose. Christians invite. Those people whose lives were changed experience a transformation. Not because they were threatened. No, they were changed by a gentle invitation: Come and see. No one told them to make a decision for Christ. No one directed them to master any spiritual laws. There’s no training manual or program. No one told them to give the right answer to that anxious question … “If you were to die tonight, do you know where you will spend eternity?” No, the people who became followers of Jesus were those who accepted that simple invitation to come and see.

This invitation, “come and see” continues. Welcome to our Friedheim family – the house of peace. We have a worship life that enriches and strengthens those who come. We have a parish life that gives individuals a sense of belonging. A feeling of participation in a community of values. This congregation is determined to be more caring toward those in need; feeding literally thousands through our Pack Away Hunger campaign. Touching the lives of grieving families who have lost infant children. By simply living your life in your given station of life – your calling your life’s work is to become the hands and feet the fingers and toes of Jesus.[2]

Might we do more? The possibilities are endless. Yet it all starts with a conversation, and an invitation. Come and see Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Words- 700

Passive Sentences-7%

Readability-70%

Reading Level -6.5

[2] http://wmchapel.org/2011/01/behold-the-lamb-come-and-see-john-1-29-42/

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Epiphany 2 Series A

Epiphany 2 - Series A

19 January 2020

Isaiah 49:1–7

1 Corinthians 1:1–9

John 1:29–42a

God Reveals His Glory in Christ and His Cross

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

“The Lord, the Redeemer of Israel” calls forth “his Holy One” (Isaiah 49:7), Jesus, the Christ, “from the womb” of His mother (Isaiah 49:1). The incarnate Son of God is revealed as the Savior, not only for Israel but also “as a light for the nations” whose salvation reaches “to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

John came “baptizing with water” (John 1:31) to reveal Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and who glorifies His God and Father by His atoning sacrifice upon the cross. When Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended “from heaven like a dove” and “remained on him” (John 1:32). By our Baptism, we are anointed by the same Spirit, adopted by God the Father and “called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:9). Therefore, we “are not lacking in any gift,” but we can trust Him who promises to sustain us to the end, “guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7–8).

Second Sunday after the Epiphany,
January 19, 2020
John 1:29-42a
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

The early church abbreviated a five-word creed by using the Greek word for “fish”. The English transliteration of this Greek word for fish is IXThUS. Each letter stood for a single word that confesses the identity and work of Jesus. Put into English: The “I” is the first letter of Jesus. The “X” is the first letter of Christ. The “Th” is the first letter of God’s. The “U” is the first letter of Son. And the “S” is the first letter of Savior. Thus the Greek word for “FISH” (IXThUS) was an acronym for Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. This “FISH” acronym for the identity and work of Jesus we here call the “Fish Story”.

John the Baptist starts this Fish Story as he is the first to realize Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. The Apostle John thus wrote, …all might believe through him (John 1:7). All believe through John the Baptist? Yes, he was the first to realize and share the Fish Story.

God had clearly predicted that the Christ would be uniquely endowed with the Holy Spirit. One example of such prophecy is found in Isaiah 61:1. Here the Christ (the “Anointed One”) says: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor….(61:1). Because the Holy Spirit is invisible, how could anyone identify the Christ to be endowed with the Spirit? God has a solution: The Holy Spirit would take the form of a dove! Thus John the Baptist attests: I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him (John 1:32). At that moment, literally visible to John the Baptist’s eyes, the long awaited Christ, who would be absolutely endowed with the Holy Spirit, is revealed. Merely confessing that Jesus is the Christ—the one who’s coming is at the very heart of the Old Testament—is in itself a confession that He is also the Son of God, the Savior.

Almost immediately after seeing Jesus to be the Christ, John confesses the second part of the Fish Story: And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God (v 34). Now we have the confession from John the Baptist that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This basic confession, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, echoes throughout the New Testament. Consider how in John 11 when Jesus asks Martha whether she believes Him to be the resurrection and the life, she answers, Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God (v 27). When Jesus is cross-examined before the Jewish Council they demand, If you are the Christ, tell us (Lu 22:67). Their next question is also part of the Fish Story: Are you the Son of God, then? (v 70). The Jewish leaders had been hearing that this Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. After Jesus rises from the grave the Apostle John explains the purpose for recording some of His miracles:…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (20:31). As a final example, immediately after Saul’s conversion, Luke records in Acts 9:20: And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God’. Then, almost as if scripted, verse 22 relates: But Saul…confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Saul (Paul) clearly considered it foundational that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

The Fish Story is the confession: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. So what about John the Baptist’s confession of Jesus as Savior? John identified this reality by introducing Jesus with the profound exclamation: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (v 29). Is there any greater confession of the saving work of Jesus? Indeed every Christian believes and confesses the Fish Story introduced by John the Baptist, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior: IXThUS.

John 1:29-42

Behold the Lamb of God

John 1:29

Τῇ ἐπαύριον βλέπει τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ λέγει• Ἴδε ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Behold right in front of you is the Christ, bearing removing the SIN of the world. Ongoing activity continues to bear the world's sin.

Which lamb? The chief lamb, the Passover lamb. All other lambs sacrificed pointed to the Passover lamb which pointed to Christ. See OT lesson. V. 5-6This is Israel with cosmic consequences.

What comes before is John's clear confession that he is not the Christ.

John 1:30

οὗτός ἐστιν [a]ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον• Ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν•

This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'

Hearkens back to the prologue Jesus was conceived and born after John...this is both temporal and theological.

John 1:31

κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ [b]ἐν ὕδατι βαπτίζων.

I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

I did not know him means...what? Parallel with the question, "are you the Christ? No I am not..." See Vs. 33, of myself I would not know him.

John 1:32

καὶ ἐμαρτύρησεν Ἰωάννης λέγων ὅτι Τεθέαμαι τὸ πνεῦμα καταβαῖνον [c]ὡς περιστερὰν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐπ’ αὐτόν•

And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

The other baptism accounts do not have the spirit remaining. The Father's word to John is the only way we know this is the Spirit, not the narrator.

John 1:33

κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ’ ὁ πέμψας με βαπτίζειν ἐν ὕδατι ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν• Ἐφ’ ὃν ἂν ἴδῃς τὸ πνεῦμα καταβαῖνον καὶ μένον ἐπ’ αὐτόν, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ•

I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

John 1:34

κἀγὼ ἑώρακα, καὶ μεμαρτύρηκα ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁἐκλεκτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ.

And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Jesus calls the first disciples -

John 1:35

Τῇ ἐπαύριον πάλιν εἱστήκει ὁ Ἰωάννης καὶ ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ δύο,

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,

John 1:36

καὶ ἐμβλέψας τῷ Ἰησοῦ περιπατοῦντι λέγει• Ἴδε ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ.

and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

John 1:37

καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ δύο μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος καὶ ἠκολούθησαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ.

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 1:38

στραφεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ θεασάμενος αὐτοὺς ἀκολουθοῦντας λέγει αὐτοῖς• Τί ζητεῖτε; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ• Ῥαββί (ὃ λέγεται μεθερμηνευόμενον Διδάσκαλε), ποῦ μένεις;

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

John 1:39

λέγει αὐτοῖς• Ἔρχεσθε καὶ [h]ὄψεσθε. ἦλθαν οὖν καὶ εἶδαν ποῦ μένει, καὶ παρ’ αὐτῷ ἔμειναν τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην• ὥρα ἦν ὡς δεκάτη.

He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:40

ἦν Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς Σίμωνος Πέτρου εἷς ἐκ τῶν δύο τῶν ἀκουσάντων παρὰ Ἰωάννου καὶ ἀκολουθησάντων αὐτῷ•

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

John 1:41

εὑρίσκει οὗτος πρῶτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἴδιον Σίμωνα καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ• Εὑρήκαμεν τὸν Μεσσίαν (ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον χριστός).

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).

John 1:42

ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν. ἐμβλέψας αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν• Σὺ εἶ Σίμων ὁ υἱὸς [k]Ἰωάννου, σὺ κληθήσῃ Κηφᾶς (ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται Πέτρος).

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

Time in the Word - Epiphany 2

Called to Witness

The Epiphany season has three festivals: The Festival of the Epiphany (January 6), The Baptism of Our Lord (Epiphany 1), and The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Last Sunday after The Epiphany). Unlike other seasons, it opens and closes with a festival. The Sundays in between (Epiphany 2-8) are called “Ordinary” Sundays.

The Old Testament lessons harmonize with the Gospel Lesson. Four of the seven Lessons are taken from Isaiah. The Epistle Lessons are given in semi “in-course” fashion from 1 Corinthians 1:1—4:5. Consequently, the Epistle is not intended to harmonize with the theme of the Gospel and the Old Testament lesson. The Epistle lends itself to a series of sermons on the church. The Gospel lesson lays the groundwork of Jesus’ public ministry, a transition from the ministry of John to the ministry of Jesus. Beginning with Epiphany 4, we will have an in-course (verse after verse) series on the fifth chapter of Matthew, the first of three chapters constituting the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-48). Because Easter falls mid April this year, the season of Epiphany will last seven weeks in 2020.

In the Gospel the story of God is manifested in Jesus as the Messiah. John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Lamb who is baptized by the Spirit and who baptizes with the Spirit. In the Old Testament Lesson,the Epiphany can be seen in God’s servant, Israel, who is to bring the light of salvation to the nations. Epiphany deals with the light and with the spreading of the light to the whole world. God is glorified in His servant (verse 3) who witness. In the Epistle Lesson, the glory of Christ can be seen in the power of the Gospel to make believers as in Corinth.

Collects for the Epiphany Season: Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory.

Collects for Epiphany 2: Lord God, you showed your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son. As he brought gladness and healing to his people, grant us these same gifts and lead us to perfect faith in Him.

Collect for Psalm 40: Lord Jesus Christ, You became obedient to death and Your name was exalted above all others. Teach us always to do the Father’s will, so that, made holy by Your obedience and united to Your sacrifice, we can know Your great love in time of sorrow and sing a new song to our God now and forever.

Monday, 13 January, 2020—Psalm 19:1-4; antiphon, Psalm 19:4—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer .These words are commonly prayed by the pastor before the sermon is delivered. The silent heavens speak, declaring the glory of their Maker to all who are on the earth. The heavenly lights are not divine nor do they control or disclose man’s destiny. Their glory testifies to the righteousness and faithfulness of the Lord who created them. For further reading and meditation, see Romans 1:19-20, Psalm 89:4-8, and Psalm 97:6.

Tuesday, 14 January, 2020—Psalm 40—The psalm is a prayer for help when troubles abound. While the cause of David’s distress is not specified, David acknowledges that they are occasioned by his sin. The prayer begins with praise of God for His past mercies (verses 1-5) and as testimony to the king’s own faithfulness to the Lord (verses 6-10). These form the ground for his present appeal for help (verses 11-17).

Wednesday, 15 January 2020—Isaiah 49:1-6—Witnessing to all nations. The Lord calls His servant, Israel, to bring the light of salvation to the nations. Here we have the second of the servant songs in Isaiah. The servant tells how the Lord called and chose him before he was born. For the task of restoring Israel, he was equipped with a mouth “like a sharp sword” and was made like “a polished arrow.” Yet, he feels that his labor was in vain. Then the Lord speaks to him and becomes his strength. However, the Lord has broadened his task to bring light and salvation not only to Israel but also to the whole world.

Thursday, 16 January 2020—1 Corinthians 1:1-9—Witnessing produces the church. Paul thanks God for the grace given to the Corinthian church. In these opening verses of Paul’s Corinthian correspondence, he identifies himself in terms of spiritual gifts. Paul reminds them of “the church of God.” Their church is a part of the ecumenical church “called to be saints together with all those who in every place....” Moreover, in these opening sentences, Paul puts his finger on the problem in the Corinthian church: spiritual gifts such as “all speech and knowledge” which most probably meant Gnosticism and Glossolalia. While they are waiting for the return of Christ on the last great day, Paul assures them of God’s faithfulness in sustaining and purifying them.

Friday, 17 January 2020—John 1:29-41—Witnessing to Christ as the Messiah. John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus as the Son of God. This is the closest John comes to reporting the baptism of Jesus. As Jesus comes to him, John the Baptist hails Him as the Lamb of God. He reports seeing the dove of the Spirit coming upon Jesus at the baptism. John confesses that Jesus is greater than he is because Jesus baptizes with the Spirit while he baptizes only with water. Out of this personal experience

John the Baptist declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. The Epiphany theme comes to the forefront in today’s Gospel. John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus as the Messiah. Here is a revelation coming forth: this simple peasant from Nazareth is understood as Son of God, the promised Deliverer, Savior. When we deal with Jesus, we are dealing with God.

Saturday, 16 January 2020—Galatians 4:4-5; 2 -Timothy 1:10; 1 John 4:9; Luke 1:30-35—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is “The Only Son from Heaven”(LSB #402). Who is Jesus? This is the question the world must address. The answer to this question is addressed in the season of Epiphany. St. Paul reminds us that at just the right time, a time set by the Father, He sent His Son, to be born of a woman. Jesus was truly human; He was born under the law to be subject to the Jewish law. Now those who are called by the Gospel are incorporated into the family of faith. Outside the weather might be cold and gloomy. The landscape appears to be lifeless. Yet new life is granted to us as we see Jesus who entered our world to be our Savior to win us back to full favor with the Father.

 Morning Prayer Readings for this coming week

January 13 Monday Jesus Presented in Temple Luke 2

January 14 Tuesday The Wise Men Matthew 2

January 15 Wednesday Chapel

January 16 Thursday Flight into Egypt Matthew 2

January 17 Friday Jesus in the Temple Luke 2

 Catechism Review: What Baptism Indicates

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