Weekly Message & Bulletin

Part of our Lenten preparation revolves around repentance. In fact, we stress the twofold nature of repentance for Christians: turning from sin and turning to Jesus as our Savior from sin. 

Certainly, that first “part” of repentance, or turning from sin, means we all must recognize our sin. It’s convenient to give lip service to our sins because it’s easier to deny their seriousness or point the fingers at other “worst” sinners. Yet, we must see our sins and realize that none of us is worthy of heaven. Even Jesus’ disciples James and John had their “self-righteous” moments as reflected in their unrighteous anger (Luke 9:54) and prominence seeking request. 

But when we see our sins, we see our need for our Savior. That’s the core, fundamental point of Lent. We need a savior; Jesus is that Savior. The gospel assures Jesus came to pay for our sins so “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). 

As we noted two Sundays ago, during the Season of Lent we omit the singing of the Alleluias.  Why?  It reinforces the somber tone of the season, reminding us of our Savior’s Passion History, what He endured to save us from our sins. We won’t joyfully sing Alleluia again until Easter Sunday morning, when we rejoice that our Savior’s suffering is over and His rising from the dead demonstrates He is victorious over sin and death. 

In our Old Testament reading the LORD admonished the apostate people of Israel for their self-imposed spiritual blindness and warned them of His coming judgment. In His loving faithfulness, however, He promised to turn the darkness of sin into light of salvation through the coming Savior. In our Epistle lesson, Paul reminded Christians of the darkness of their former sinful way of life and the fruitless deeds it produced. Since Christ has shined on them with the light of the gospel, Paul urged them to “walk as children of light.” The gospel records how Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees condemned Jesus showing their spiritual blindness.   

As we continue to journey with our Savior to Calvary’s cross and Easter’s empty tomb, our Old Testament reading paints a picture of faith’s meaning in the nuts and bolts of Abram’s everyday life.  Abram’s life could breathe confidence and trust because he believed in God’s promise to send him a Savior…the Savior for all.   

In the epistle lesson, Paul ties his discussion of righteousness by faith to father Abraham—in the flesh the father of the Jews; by his faith…the father of all believers who put their faith in Jesus.   

The gospel speaks of our Savor’s “evangelism” conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.  In short, the Scripture lessons indicate why God sent Jesus into the world: to save sinners who put their faith in what Jesus did.  

Greetings in Jesus, our Saving Light of this sin-darkened world!  As we continue in these Sundays after the Epiphany, God’s word continues to reveal the light of His absolute truth to us. Today’s three lessons constitute a strong reminder that God makes Himself and His perfect will known to us in His word of truth. In His authoritative word, God’s law reveals our sin; it shows how we have fallen short of perfectly keeping His will and our need for the Savior. The gospel proclaims how God in His unfathomable love solved our sin problem by sending Jesus to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 5:17-18) and die as our sin Substitute. 

As faithful Christians, we want to live for God and “let our lights shine” (Matthew 5:16). As grateful Christians, we understand that we cannot remain faithful to God and His will without the antidote of His word in our lives. God’s word shows our continual need for the Savior (law), assures God loves and proclaims how He saved us through Jesus (gospel). God’s word is the pathway to remain in that truth faith…the law guiding Christians in God-pleasing living.   

As begun last week, the gospel lesson for the next several Sundays will provide portions of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus proclaimed these Beatitudes (“Blessed are…”), in part, to guide our Christian living. 

Certainly, as Christians we already know the way to heaven.  Jesus alone remains that “way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  Truly, as Christians we realize that we can’t live the perfect lives God demands.  If so, then why would we need a Savior from sin?  Therefore, Jesus lived that perfection and died for our sins as our Substitute (Matthew 5:17-18).   

Nevertheless, as faithful Christians we follow God’s word to guide us in pleasing Him—our way of saying “Thank You” for His gift of salvation.  By the Holy Spirit’s power in the word, Christians receive God-power to “let their lights shine.”  What’s the purpose?  Jesus says “…that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 

Sometimes we hear of people suffering from an identity crisis.  Such sufferers claim they are unsure of their role in life; they don’t know “who” they are.  Often, such individuals form their self-image on the basis of how others view them or their personal perceived value of worth in the opinions of others. 

As Christians, God has demonstrated how much value He has for us.  John records the Savior’s loving assurance, which even a little child can comprehend: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).   In short, “Jesus loves me [and died on the cross for me] this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Truly, God in Christ has made us His “new creation” that we “should no longer live for [ourselves] but for him who died for [us] and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:17, 15). 

Jesus’ purpose for coming into this world as the “Light of life” (John 8:12) was to save people from their sins.  Through the Holy Spirit’s work, St. Peter piles on four descriptive truths about WHO we are because of WHAT God has done for us in Jesus…as well as our Christian purpose when he writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, EHV^TM).  To God alone be the all the glory for making us His people and binding us all together in glorifying and sharing Him with all!   

Belonging to Jesus means, then, we will not allow our light of faith grow dim. Rather, we will adhere to the ways and words of this only saving light (Old Testament), not allow sinful squabbles to ruin our unity in Jesus (Epistle), and we will “fish” for Him by witnessing His saving light to all (Gospel). 

As mentioned last week, January 6 marked the official date for Epiphany (again…stressing that Jesus is the saving Light of the world for Jews and Gentiles alike).  Since Epiphany officially comes on a fixed date (January 6) and Easter is a moveable festival, the Epiphany season will be longer or shorter depending upon the date of Easter. It is possible to have nine Sundays after the Epiphany or as few as five Sundays. 

The Epiphany season serves as a bridge between the Christmas and Lenten seasons. The truth emphasized at this time is that Jesus, who came into this world in the form of a servant (today’s Old Testament), still at times lets His glory shine as true God (today’s Gospel). To some degree, all the Scripture readings during this season present Jesus’ deity as “shining forth,” although He often cloaked it during His state of humiliation. Yet, Jesus revealed His divine nature through His miracles and in His authoritative preaching. Instead of merely proclaiming, “This is what the LORD says,” Jesus proclaimed about Himself, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:14-21). 

The final Sunday of the Epiphany season comes on Transfiguration Sunday. On that Sunday, Scripture previews the divine glory of the Savior hidden beneath the form of a servant; Jesus especially gives this glimpse of His divine glory before His final act of humility on Good Friday. 

Blessed Gentile Christmas! The official date of Epiphany falls on January 6 and several subsequent Sundays are named the Sundays after the Epiphany. Epiphany emphasizes that Jesus is the “Light of the world” (John 8:12) who came to be the Savior of all people, not just the Jewish race. That’s why Epiphany marks the Gentile Christmas.
As part of His saving work, the gospel lesson relays the baptism of Jesus. Jesus didn’t need to be baptized to wash away any sins; He was born without sin and never sinned. Nevertheless, submitting to baptism served as part of Jesus’ saving work to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 5:17-18). Moreover, Jesus’ baptism served as His inauguration into His ministry. At Jesus’ baptism we witness divine approval by the heavenly Father as well as the Holy Spirit by lighting upon Jesus in the dove.
Certainly, Jesus’ baptism reminds us of how the heavenly Father commissioned Him to complete His saving work that “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It further reminds us of how the Holy Spirit came to us in baptism, bringing us to faith and applying to us the benefit of Jesus’ redeeming work. That same Spirit continues to come to us to strengthen our faith through God’s word and the sacrament of Holy Communion.