Pr. DFD : Epiphany 1

Showing posts with label Epiphany 1. Show all posts

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Epiphany 1 - The Baptism of our Lord

Epiphany 1
The Baptism of our LORD
08 January 2023
Matthew 3:13-17
Say What?

Almighty and eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism in the Jordan, Your proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life. [2]

One step forward…one step back. Two steps forward…two steps back! Sometimes that’s how life works.

The internet goes down because of the snow. Two steps forward. One step back. The furnace goes out because of the cold. One step forward. Two steps back. The power goes out because of the wind. No steps forward. Three steps back!

The water goes out because of a main break in town! Say What! Enough already! Four steps back! Two steps forward. One step back. One step forward. Two steps back! Three steps down. Two steps up.

Jesus took three steps down.

He entered time and space.

He is baptized.

He will suffer death by crucifixion.

These downward steps happened deliberately. In preparation for two beg steps up. His resurrection. And his ascension into glory. To prepare a place for you.

Jesus makes it a habit of showing up where you wouldn’t expect Him. Where do the shepherds find Him? He’s housed in a stable. Resting in a manger. Not in a palace. Not in a mansion.

The Magi find Him in Bethlehem A tiny little town. Which time forgot. Not in David’s royal city of Jerusalem.

Now. At the banks of the river Jordan. We find Jesus ready for baptism. He desires to be baptized by John. Who was preaching a message of repentance.

He is baptized into a baptism of repentance. John baptizes him in a baptism intended for sinners. Say What! Jesus is fulfilling all righteousness.

In the waters of the Jordan. Jesus takes His place with sinners. And takes all the sins of the world upon Himself. He undergoes the Baptism of repentance in order to “fulfill all righteousness” for you. (Matthew 3:15)

H4e submits Himself to the curse of sin and death in order to redeem you. You are baptized with a Baptism like His. Thereby. Dying and rising with Him. So that. “You will also live with Him.” (Romans 6:8)

The messages of Jesus and John is the same. “Repent, for the kingdom is here.” “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin.” Repent, and be baptized. ‘And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Say What! That is certainly not a place where Jesus ought to belong. Or is it? He is fulfilling all righteousness. By being baptized with sinners. Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem. His focus is on Calvary. There is not turning back.

Matthew tells of John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus who insists upon it in order that he might fulfill righteousness and identify with all who need repentance. The big question is this. If Jesus were sinless; why would He desire John’s baptism of repentance? He did this on account of you.

Lord, what are You doing here? By going to the water of the Jordan. Jesus is committing Himself to the way of the cross. He identifies with sinners. He stands with them. He stands for them. This baptism will take Him there to a place for executing criminals. As he entered those waters. Your sin became His. Your troubles His burdens. He died your death only to rise again.

Coming out of the water. The Father declared Jesus to be His very own child. Likewise. As you are baptized into Christ. The Father declares, “you are mind. I love you. I claim you. I pronounce you forgiven and forever free from sin.

The Father accepts Jesus as His Son at His baptism. The epiphany season deals with the manifestation of God’s glory in Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism. The Father is glorified in Jesus. By His voice. The LORD declares Jesus as His Son. And by the appearance of the dove. Indicating the gift of the Spirit. Jesus receives the Spirit. And is declared by God the Father to be His own unique Son.

Jesus. Whose very name means, “The LORF saves” is baptized. To fulfill all righteousness. “For He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

The entire salvation history of Israel is fulfilled in Jesus. He is Israel reduced to one. Everything the LORD God was doing with Abraham. Isaac. And Jacob. With Moses. And Joshua. With David. And all of God’s kind dealings. With. And for. And through Israel. Now come to fruition with the coming of the Christ.

The Father loves His Son. And He loves what the Son is doing.

In Jesus’ baptism. Heaven opens. The Father speaks. In your baptism. Heaven opens. And the Father speaks. Heaven is opened. And is now accessible to sinners. As your sins were washed away. You receive the righteousness Jesus fulfilled.

In Jesus’ baptism. The Holy Spirit descends. In your baptism. You received the gift of His Holy Spirit. To enlighten and sanctify you.

Indeed. All of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus are anointed with His Spirit. And named by His Father as beloved and well-pleasing sons and daughters.

Two steps forward. On step back. One step forward two steps back! Three steps down. Two steps up.

When you experience tough times in your life. Remember. Jesus had to take three steps down before He could take two steps up.

He is born in a stable intended for sheep. He becomes the sacrifice for sin.

He is baptized in a baptism intended for sinners. He who knew no sin becomes sin on our behalf.

He dies on a cross intended for criminals. An innocent victim who had committed no treachery dies in a tranter’s stead. [3]

Yet on the third day the Savior rose from the sleep of death.

And He ascended into heaven to prepare a place for you.

He did these things to help you. As a result: “God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Sometimes it works that way for us too. Sometimes the Father lets life humble us. But we can be sure that He has not abandoned us. He might let us fall. But we live in faith. He will never let us fail. Hi baptism proves it. You. Dear child. Are from God. And have overcome them. Because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4

Christianity is not a solo endeavor. Not a private relationship between Jesus and me. Did you know that word does not ever appear in the Scripture!

As the LORD formed Israel in the Old Testament as His people. Forged together into a body by His covenant, so He has formed the church in the New Testament as His people. Washed together into a body by baptism.

Thank God it is this way. Heaven forbid that I should have a personal relationship with Jesus. For I know what would happen. I would end up, in my mind, reshaping my personal Jesus into a strikingly familiar image: The image of me.

As it is. Jesus is reshaping us into his image. In the church, surrounded by others, all of whom together, communally, and the one body of Christ.[4]

Words-1,315
Passive Sentences – 8.3%
Readability – 81%
Reading Level –3.5

[3] CS Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[4] https://faithit.com/christianity-not-personal-relationship-jesus-chad-bird/

Sunday, January 1, 2023

The Baptism of our Lord - 1st Sunday after the Epiphany - Series A

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

The First Sunday after the Epiphany

08 January 2023

Series -A

Isaiah 42:1–9

Romans 6:1–11

Matthew 3:13–17

The Holy Triune God Is Manifested and Reveals Himself to Us in Holy Baptism

Collects for the Baptism of our Lord: Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life.

Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism in the Jordan, You revealed Him as Your own beloved Son. Keep us, Your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. 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.

The Baptism of our Lord is an “epiphany” of the one true God in the flesh and blood of Jesus. He is the chosen servant of the Lord, anointed with the Spirit for the rescue of God’s people and to “bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).

Thus, He makes all things new, and He is given “as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

In the waters of the Jordan, He takes His place with sinners and takes all the sins of the world upon Himself. He undergoes the Baptism of repentance in order to “fulfill all righteousness” for us (Matthew 3:15).

He submits Himself to the curse of sin and death in order to redeem us. We are baptized with a Baptism like His, thereby dying and rising with Him, so that “we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8).

Indeed, all of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus are anointed with His Spirit and named by His Father as beloved and well-pleasing sons and daughters.

The message of Jesus and John is the same. "Repent for the kingdom is here..." "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin." Repent, be baptized and you will receive the gift of the Spirit."

God accepts Jesus as His Son at His baptism. The Epiphany season deals with the manifestation of God’s glory in Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, God is glorified in Jesus by the voice of God declaring Jesus as his Son, and by the appearance of the dove, indicating the gift of the Spirit. Jesus received the Spirit and was declared by God to be his Son. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism differs in two ways from the other Synoptic accounts. Matthew tells of John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus who insists upon it in order that he might fulfill righteousness and identify with all who need repentance. The big question is, if Jesus were sinless why would he want John’s baptism of repentance? The other difference is that God’s voice of acceptance and approval of Jesus is addressed to the spectators: “This is my beloved Son.” Mark and Luke make it a personal experience: “Thou art my beloved Son.”

The Holy Trinity and Holy Baptism – January 8, 2020

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

First Sunday After Epiphany,

(Matthew 3:13-17)

As the number of cults increase and as paganism is displacing Christianity in many lands, preachers must be more consciously persistent about preaching the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Not that most sermons need be expositions of this essential doctrine, but pastors would do well to point out the frequent references to the True God—one essence with three distinct persons—permeating the Scriptures.

At the Baptism of our Lord the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is quite apparent. In this most wonderful account we observe the only occasion where the Holy Spirit takes upon himself a form—that of a dove. From this temporary morphing of the Spirit we observe him to be separate from the Son and the Father. Then from the voice that acclaims Jesus to be My beloved Son, we hear the voice of the Father, again a distinctly separate third person in the one God. There are three distinct God-persons, but one God.

Consider now how the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is echoed in various New Testament Baptism texts.

Of course the foundational Baptism text—Matthew 28: 19, 20—reveals that disciples are made as they are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The word name is singular, as there is but one divine essence, and yet there are three distinct persons, each possessing this name.

Consider then the first application of Christian Baptism as recorded in Acts 2:38,39: Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself. Again we see the name noted in Matthew 28:19 as owned 100% by each God-person, and the three persons are again identified: Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Lord our God (God the Father). Clearly the work of the Holy Trinity explains Holy Baptism.

Observe the doctrine of the Holy Trinity linked to Baptism in 1 Corinthians 6:11. St. Paul explains to those who had been caught up in the filthiness of sin, that in Holy Baptism they were wonderfully washed: But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Observe again the name possessed by all three persons, and recognize all three persons compactly identified: Lord Jesus Christ, Spirit of our God [the Father].

Paul identifies two persons of the Trinity as he writes an apparent Baptism concept in Galatians 3:5: Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe? The Apostle then in verses 26, 27, identifies two persons of the Holy Trinity as he links faith and sonship with Baptism: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. The true God is clear: God (the Father) lavishes His Spirit (uniquely in Baptism) and we are sons of God (the Father) as we are clothed with Christ Jesus (the Son of God) in Baptism. One need only go a few verses further to find a condensed mentioning of each person of the Holy Trinity, relating our sonship established in Baptism: And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Look up also Ephesians 1:13,14 (Baptism is the seal of the Spirit); Titus 3:5-8; John 3:1-16. Each text speaks of Baptism, explaining such talk by referencing the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Pastors, preach then the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and proclaim its unique connection to Holy Baptism.

Matthew 3:13–17

The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13

Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

Why the Jordan?

- Jordan where sin/death are left behind

- Israel crossed over forgetting sin and receiving life.

Matthew 3:14

ὁ δὲ ωάννης διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν λέγων• Ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω ὑπὸ σοῦ βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με;

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus becomes the serpent who is lifted up for life. Jesus refers himself to the serpent nailed for life.

John knows who Jesus is. It makes no sense.

Matthew 3:15

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν• Ἄφες ἄρτι, οὕτως γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην. τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν.

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

"Permit it" Ἄφες ἄρτι, οὕτως is same word for forgiveness "let it be"

Look at the pronouns Jesus says "us" all together. As with John he uses you, me.

These are Jesus' first words in Matthew's gospel, "let it be so."

Matthew 3:16

βαπτισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς [d]εὐθὺς ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος• καὶ ἰδοὺ [e]ἠνεῴχθησαν οἱ οὐρανοί, καὶ εἶδεν [f]πνεῦμα θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ [g]περιστερὰν ἐρχόμενον ἐπ’ αὐτόν•

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

Matthew 3:17

καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα• Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.”

- Heavens are open

-Spirit descents came down as a dove

Genesis 8:6-12,The end of wrath the dove is a preacher of peace.

Time in the Word - The Baptism of our Lord

Time in the Word
Preparation for next week, Epiphany 1 – The Baptism of our Lord

God Accepts You

The theme of acceptance harmonizes with baptism. At this time God accepts the repentant sinner, washes away the dirt of sin in the waters of baptism, and adopts the believer as His child, making him His Servant and delights in him. God finds those who fear Him to be acceptable to Him (Epistle Lesson). At Jesus’ baptism, we hear God’s voice, “This is my beloved Son.” The Epistle Lesson closes by assuring those with faith that for Jesus’ sake their sins are forgiven. By faith we accept God’s acceptance of us.

The Spirit is prominent in the three lessons. Some erroneously refer to a water and a Spirit baptism as though there were two baptisms. Christian baptism is both at the same time and consequently there is, as Paul says, one baptism. The Prayer refers to Jesus’ being anointed with the Spirit. In Psalm 29 we hear God’s voice “upon the waters.” Luther’s Hymn of the Day tells the story of Jesus’ baptism.

Monday, 02 January, 2023—Psalm 2:7-11, 12c; antiphon, Isaiah 42:1a—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, Behold My servant, whom I uphold,, My chosen in whom My soul delights. The Father accepts the Son at His baptism and so the work of Jesus’ active public ministry has begun. From this Sunday through Easter we will witness those active acts the Savior did to win for you salvation. The psalmist and the prophet Isaiah rejoice for that day. We join them with our prayers and praises.

Tuesday, 03 January, 2023—Psalm 29 —The voice of God is the theme for Psalm 29 as seen in the thunderstorm - sometimes frightening, suggestive of terrifying cataclysms at the end of the world. In the torrent of rain, the ear-splitting thunderclaps, the blaze of lightning, and the roaring wind that sets the great forests in motion, the psalmist hears God’s voice. For God made and orders them all (verses 1-10). Let the hosts of heaven sing His glory (verses 1-2) – and may He bless His people on earth. (verse 11) The style of this psalm is very similar to ancient Canaanite poetry. Sirion (verse 6): 9,000 ft. Mt. Hermon, on the Israel/Lebanon border .Kadesh (verse 8): a place in the desert south of Beersheba.

Wednesday, 04 January 2023—Isaiah 42:1-91—God chooses and delights in His Servant. Epiphany deals with light. God chooses His servant to be the light of the nations. Epiphany is the season for world outreach with the Gospel. The Lord describes the character and work of His Servant. This is the first of four servant songs in Isaiah. In verses 1-4 the Servant is described as chosen and well-pleasing to the Lord, Spirit-filled, patient, and faithful. In verses 5-9, the work of the Servant is to bring the light of salvation to the world, justice, and He shall be a covenant of the people. How does this passage relate to Jesus’ baptism? As the Servant was anointed with the Spirit, Jesus at His baptism received the Holy Spirit. As the Servant was “chosen, in whom my soul delights,” at His baptism, God’s voice said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” As the Servant was given a task (vv. 6-7), Jesus’ ministry began at His baptism.

Thursday, 05 January 2023—Acts 10:34-43—God accepts us by forgiving us for Jesus’ sake (verse 43). The glory of God is seen in the anointing of Jesus as Messiah by the gift of the Spirit and in His life of doing good, made possible by God’s being with Him. Peter, in a sermon to Cornelius, tells the story of the Gospel. The passage is a part of Peter’s sermon to Cornelius and his family in Caesarea. It marks the giving of the Gospel to the Gentiles. In this sermon Peter reminded his listeners how Jesus, after His baptism when He received the Spirit, went about preaching and healing. Peter says he was one of the witnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Faith in Jesus brings forgiveness of sin. How does this lesson relate to Jesus’ baptism? Peter sees Jesus’ baptism as the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, testifies to the fact that at baptism Jesus received the Spirit and power to carry out His ministry, and tells Cornelius that forgiveness, which is endemic to baptism, comes from faith in Jesus.

Friday, 06 January 2023—Matthew 3:13-17—God accepts Jesus as His Son at His baptism. The Epiphany season deals with the manifestation of God’s glory in Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, God is glorified in Jesus by the voice of God declaring Jesus as His Son, and by the appearance of the dove, indicating the gift of the Spirit. Jesus received the Spirit and was declared by God to be His Son.Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism differs in two ways from the other Synoptic accounts. Matthew tells of John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus who insists upon it in order that He might fulfill righteousness and identify with all who need repentance. The big question is, if Jesus were sinless why would He want John’s baptism of repentance? The other difference is that God’s voice of acceptance and approval of Jesus is addressed to the spectators: “This is my beloved Son.” Mark and Luke make it a personal experience: “Thou art my beloved Son.”

Saturday, 07 January 2023—Isaiah 40:3; Mathew 3:1-6—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is “To Jordan Came The Christ The Lord”(LSB #406/407). As you read and study the words of this hymn, you will find the story of Christ’s ministry and your salvation. As we begin a New Year, may each day be dedicated to living our baptismal life in the Name of our Lord and Savior.

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.”

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 mankind 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 the Baptism of our Lord: Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life.

Sources:

Sunday, January 2, 2022

The Baptism of our Lord - Epiphany 1 Series C

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD - Series C"

(First Sunday after the Epiphany)

09 January, 2022

Isaiah 43:1–7

Romans 6:1–11

Luke 3:15–22

The Triune God Opens Heaven to You in Holy Baptism

Collect for Epiphany 1 – Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

The Baptism of our Lord is an “Epiphany” of the one true God in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. In divine mercy, He takes His place with sinners and takes their sin upon Himself. “When all the people were baptized,” Jesus submitted Himself to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:21). He had no sins of His own, but He took the sins of the world upon Himself and so was baptized into His own death. Therefore, “when you pass through the waters,” He is with you (Isaiah 43:2). He created you for His glory, and He has redeemed you with His blood, that you may be His own and live with Him in His Kingdom (Isaiah 43:1, 7). As you are baptized with a baptism like His, so also are you united with Him in His death and resurrection that you “might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). For all who are baptized into Christ Jesus receive His anointing of the Holy Spirit and are named by His Father as beloved and well-pleasing sons and daughters.

How many baptisms are there? Luke emphasizes the anointing of the Spirit in connection with baptism. The Holy Spirit comes to us in and through our baptism. In the Gospel lesson “water baptism” and “spirit baptism” are mentioned. In verse 16 John the Baptizer says he baptizes with water but a greater than he will baptize with the Spirit and fire. Water and Spirit baptism are one and the same. The Spirit comes with the Word manifested by the sign of water.

Baptism is essentially a spiritual matter, a covenant between God and the believer. It is not a mere external matter of applying water to a person. You are a true and complete Christian by virtue of your baptism. This is your birthright, where faith is born. Its purpose and power cannot be taken away from you.

Luke 3:15-22

Luke 3:15

Προσδοκῶντος δὲ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ διαλογιζομένων πάντων ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν περὶ τοῦ Ἰωάννου, μήποτε αὐτὸς εἴη ὁ χριστός,

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

Luke 3:16

ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης• Ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς• ἔρχεται δὲ ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ• αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί•

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:17

οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ διακαθᾶραι τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ καὶ συναγαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην αὐτοῦ, τὸ δὲ ἄχυρον κατακαύσει πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ.

His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:18

Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἕτερα παρακαλῶν εὐηγγελίζετο τὸν λαόν•

So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

Luke 3:19

ὁ δὲ Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετραάρχης, ἐλεγχόμενος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ περὶ Ἡρῳδιάδος τῆς γυναικὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν πονηρῶν ὁ Ἡρῴδης,

But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,

Luke 3:20

προσέθηκεν καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, καὶ κατέκλεισεν τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐν φυλακῇ.

added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Luke 3:21

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ βαπτισθῆναι ἅπαντα τὸν λαὸν καὶ Ἰησοῦ βαπτισθέντος καὶ προσευχομένου ἀνεῳχθῆναι τὸν οὐρανὸν

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,

Luke 3:22

καὶ καταβῆναι τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον σωματικῷ εἴδει ὡς περιστερὰν ἐπ’ αὐτόν, καὶ φωνὴν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ γενέσθαι• Σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα.

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”[b]

a. Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

b. Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you

-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Baptism of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2019 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Time in the Word - Epiphany 1

Time in the Word – Epiphany 1

The Baptism of our Lord

January 3-8, 2022

The Epiphany season begins each church year with the Baptism of our Lord. At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation; God entering time and space to be our Savior. We see what it will take for Jesus to become the world’s Redeemer as He enters the Jordan river to be baptized by John. Jesus’ work will conclude with his death on the cross on Good Friday. Already He is planning your salvation as He becomes you substitute. He will live the perfect life for you. He will be tempted as you are. He will carry your sin so that in your baptism you may receive His perfection, obedience, and grace.

Anointed with the Spirit is the theme for this coming Sunday. Christmas is officially over for the year and a new season is upon us. Epiphany literally means “I see it!” or “Now I understand!” or “I’ve got it!” In Epiphany this infant whom we have worshiped at the manger we now see as God’s chosen One. Hence the antiphon for the Introit will be taken from Isaiah’s prophecy—Jesus is the Father’s chosen one, the one in whom He delights. Jesus begins His public ministry at His baptism. Now we see Him as He is. Now we understand what He will do. In the Old Testament lesson God’s Servant is anointed with the Spirit to bring Justice. In the Gospel lesson Jesus is anointed with the Spirit as God’s Son at His Baptism. Paul in the Epistle reminds his readers, that through our own incorporation into Christ we are to be regarded as dead to sin and alive in Christ. The Hymn of the Day recounts Christ’s own baptism and calls for us to live our lives anew to Him who has redeemed us.

A prayer for newness of life in Christ – Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of life, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in the last day, when He shall come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal.

Collect for 2nd Sunday after Christmas – O God, our Maker and Redeemer, who wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature, grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Collect for the Epiphany or our Lord – O God, by the leading of a star You once made known to all nations Your only-begotten Son; now lead us, who know You by faith, to know in heaven the fullness of Your divine goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Collect for Epiphany 1 –Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

Collect for the likeness of Christ—O God, by the patient suffering of Your only-begotten Son, You have beaten down the pride of the old enemy. Now help us, we humbly pray, rightly to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has of His goodness born for our sake that after His example we may bear with patience all that is adverse to us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Monday, 3 January 2022 Psalm 2:7-11, 12c antiphon, Isa, 42:1a -"Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights." When the matador enters the ring, when your favorite teams enters the court, there is a thunder of applause from the adoring crowd. This is the Father’s response not only to His own Son Jesus but also with you. By grace through faith you have been incorporated into God’s family. At the celebration of the baptism of our Lord, we also remember our own baptism. This is your new status as one of Christ’s redeemed

Tuesday, 4 January 2022 Psalm 29 (antiphon; v.3) -"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." This week’s Psalm is a hymn of praise to the King of creation whose majesty and power are trumpeted by the thunderbolts of the rainstorm – as the storm rose above the Mediterranean swept across the Lebanon range and rolled over the wilds of Kadesh. The key verse is the believer’s response we are to worship the Lord “in the splendor of His holiness.”

Wednesday, 5 January 2022 Isaiah 43:1-7 -God’s servant is anointed with the Spirit to bring justice. This is a servant song about Israel as God’s servant who will be anointed with the Spirit to bring justice and light to the nations. We can see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus, and then the church as God’s servant carrying on the work of Jesus in the world.

Here is a much needed conception of the church as God’s servant. To be this, the church needs to be anointed by the Spirit (verse 1). As servant, the church will not use force but the compassion of life to attain her goals (verses 2, 3). She will not be discouraged in her work – in spite of setbacks in a hostile world (verse 4).

Thursday, 6 January 2022 Romans 6:1-11 -Your baptism is a birth certificate; your baptism is a death certificate. In baptism you died to sin and became alive to God. When we come to the Father in repentance and faith, our old Adam, that is, our old sinful nature is drowned and killed while a new man becomes alive in us to live before God in righteousness and purity. Each day is a death to self and a new life to God. The words of John the Baptist are a fitting refrain, “He must increase I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Friday 7, January 2022 Luke 3:15-22 - How many baptisms are there? Luke emphasizes the anointing of the Spirit in connection with baptism. The Holy Spirit comes to us in and through our baptism. In the Gospel lesson “water baptism” and “spirit baptism” are mentioned. In verse 16 John the Baptizer says he baptizes with water but a greater than he will baptize with the Spirit and fire. Water and Spirit baptism are one and the same. The Spirit comes with the Word manifested by the sign of water. Baptism is essentially a spiritual matter, a covenant between God and the believer. It is not a mere external matter of applying water to a person. You are a true and complete Christian by virtue of your baptism. This is your birthright, where faith is born. Its purpose and power cannot be taken away from you.

Saturday 8, January 2022 Luke 3:21-22 This week’s hymn of the week, “To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord”. Written by Martin Luther tells the story of salvation. The hymn recounts Christ’s own baptism and the new life He offers to us. As you meditate upon this wonderful hymn, resolve to daily walk with Him who has promised to order your days and direct you path.

Sources:

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Epiphany 1 - The Baptism of our Lord - Series B

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD - Series B
The First Sunday after the Epiphany
10 January 2021

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make us all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Genesis 1:1–5

Romans 6:1–11

Mark 1:4–11

In Holy Baptism, the Triune God Reveals Himself and Recreates Us in His Image

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then, as “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2), God spoke His Word: “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). In the same way, “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1) brings about the new creation through the waters of Baptism by the same Word and Spirit of God. When John the Baptist came, “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” Jesus also came “and was baptized by John in the Jordan” (Mark 1:4, 9). Although He had no sins of His own, He took His stand with sinners in His Baptism and took the sins and mortality of the world upon Himself. He was baptized into His own death, by which the heavens are opened and the Spirit is given to us. God the Father is well pleased with His beloved Son and raises Him from the dead. As we share His Baptism and are “united with him in a death like his” (Romans 6:5), we also share His resurrection unto “newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Mark 1:4–11

Mark 1:4

ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:5

καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:6

καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσθων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.

Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

Mark 1:7

καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων• Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ•

And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

Mark 1:8

ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

Mark 1:9

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη [i]εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:10

καὶ εὐθὺς ἀναβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος εἶδεν σχιζομένους τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὡς περιστερὰν καταβαῖνον εἰς αὐτόν•

And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Mark 1:11

αὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν• Σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”