Listen here.
Welcome to
Devotions for Worship where we meditate on the appointed Scripture readings for
the upcoming Sunday. I am Pastor Eric Tritten from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
in Hudson, OH.
Thank you for
being with me today.
This Saturday we
enter into a New Season of the Church Year, the Epiphany Season. Saturday
itself is the Feast of Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the magi, or the
wise men, to Jesus when he was a little boy (probably between 1 and 2 years
old). The word “epiphany” literally means, “to shine upon,” and a good synonym
for it is “revelation.” This season shines a spot light on Jesus and reveals
Him as the Savior. Across the season we will read of Jesus being baptized,
calling His disciples, beginning His ministry, casting our demons, healing the
sick, and preaching the Gospel. The season ends with Jesus’ Transfiguration,
revealing His glory to three of his disciples.
You will notice
that the color of the paraments changes from Christmas’s white to Epiphany’s
green – a color symbolizing life and growth.
This First Sunday
after Epiphany is designated to remember the Baptism of Our Lord. Today we read
Mark’s account of that event.
The Reading:
Mark 1:4-11
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness
and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5
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. 6
Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist
and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 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. 8 I have baptized you with
water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 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. 11 And a voice came from
heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Mk.
1:4-11 ESV)
You may have
noticed that we read part of that reading just a few weeks ago. We read the
first half of this reading on the Second Sunday of Advent introducing John the
Baptist. Here we meet him again, and we see him perform the task he was sent to
do – to be Jesus’ witness.
So what was it
that John saw that made him aware that Jesus was the One who was mightier than
himself, the strap of whose sandals he was not worthy to stoop down and untie?
When John baptized Jesus it says that he saw the heavens being torn open and
the Spirit descending on him like a dove. John witnessed these things. He heard
the voice that said to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well
pleased.”
John’s mission
was to prepare the way for Jesus. He did this by preaching repentance –
particularly a baptism of repentance. When Jesus came, He was baptized into
that baptism of repentance, and in so doing He stood shoulder to shoulder with
us. He who had not sin to repent of fully embraced humanity in this baptism
showing that He had come for sinners by his actions, to represent us and to
repent for our sins, and, eventually, to pay the penalty for our sins so that
He might save us all.
As you go through
the day, remember that Jesus was not just baptized as a random act. He was
baptized for you – to know that He stands with you, and that He has borne your
sin and this pleased God the Father, for His desire is to save us.
Prayers
Let’s pray the
Collect for The Baptism of Our Lord from Concordia Publishing House’s hymnal,
Lutheran Worship.
Father in heaven,
as at the baptism in the Jordan river you once proclaimed Jesus you beloved Son
and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit, grant that all who are baptized in His
name may faithfully keep the covenant into which they have been called, boldly
confess their Savior, and with Him be heirs of life eternal; through Jesus
Christ, who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
Memory Verse:
Romans 6:4
We were buried
therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness
of life.
Thank you so much
for using Devotions for Worship, I pray that our time together has blessed you
and given you something to meditate on – some reminder of God’s grace to rattle
around in your brain – for the rest of the day.
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favor? If you got something out of this devotional time, would you like and/or
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God bless you!
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