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.
Monday, 16 January 2023—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,
17 January 2023—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, 18 January 20203—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, 19 January 2023—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, 20
January 2023—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, 21 January 2023—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.
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 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.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A
by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for
and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi , NY
Luther’s Seal comes courtesy of
the Higher Things organization
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