Epiphany Week 2

Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11 

Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7 

Gospel: John 1:29-42 

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Today we are still in the time of Epiphany and our New Testament reading celebrates that. But first let us look at the Old Testament passages and see how they speak to this theme. The season of Epiphany is a time when we celebrate the revelation of who God is revealed in Jesus. But it is also a time when we are reminded that we are to reveal God to the nations.  It is this idea that the Psalmist celebrates; he writes that the faithfulness of God to rescue him will cause many to see and trust in the Lord (vs. 1-3). He also writes that he has not hidden the Lord’s righteousness and lovingkindness, but has proclaimed it to the people (vs. 9-10).  The second half of the Psalm, which isn’t assigned, is a cry to the Lord to again rescue the writer. He recognizes that the Lord is the one who can deliver him, like he has done in the past, and a natural response is to tell others what the Lord has done.

Isaiah looks forward to the work of Jesus.  Isaiah 49 is one of the Servant Songs in Isaiah about the coming Messiah.  The Lord will show his glory in his Servant.  Jesus will be “light of the nations” so that the Lord’s salvation will reach the whole earth. (6)

As we move into the New Testament, we start with the testimony of John the Baptist.  He sees Jesus and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (29) Jesus’ true nature is revealed to John by the Holy Spirit and, in turn, John reveals it to others.  The place is actually the only time the phrase “Lamb of God” appears in the Bible, although the imagery is found throughout the Bible.  Lamb of God brings back so many images from the Old Testament like the Passover lamb in Egypt and the temple sacrificial system.  The image is picked up in the New Testament here, and in other places, like Revelation Ch. 5, for instance, where Jesus is viewed as the ultimate sacrifice.  Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God who will end the need for any other sacrifices to occur.  Thus, John says he is the one who will take away the sins of the world.

The Epiphany of John however isn’t the only epiphany in this chapter.  One of John’s disciples, Andrew, also recognizes who Jesus is based first on John’s testimony and then when he meets Jesus face-to-face.  This is pattern is repeated when his brother, Simon Peter, also decides to follow Jesus.  John’s gospel is unique in that from the very beginning the disciples are well aware that Jesus is the Messiah.  They follow him because of who he is, not only because of the miracles and teaching he is doing.  But for our purposes in focusing on Epiphany, each character in this story recognizes who Jesus is and then shares it with others.

1 Corinthians as a letter reveals this aspect.  Paul had to recognize who Jesus is and then share it for those in Corinth to receive it as well.  But Paul writes about yet another dimension of the Epiphany season, that time when Jesus will be revealed to all when he comes again.  We wait and pray that we will “keep firm to the end,” when Jesus is revealed as King and God to all.

The last couple weeks I have been writing that our main task and application to Epiphany is that we are to bring Christ to the world.  God has chosen to use us as his tools to reach those in need of him.  This week I think we get a little insight into how that occurs.  In these verses in Corinthians, the Church is made up of the saints, but they are also encouraged to remain faithful and blameless until Christ returns.  We are able to accomplish God’s plan for our lives and our churches when we remain in him.  God is faithful, as Paul writes, and as we remain faithful to him, then he will be able to work through us.  Without Christ in our lives, our work truly is for not, and we will be unable to reveal Christ to a world that so desperately needs him.

So again, our task is to open ourselves up so that God can use us to bring Christ to the world.  We are to be like John the Baptist, Andrew, Peter, and Paul who realized who Jesus was and couldn’t help but share the Good News so that others could have their own epiphanies as well.  Let us seek Christ and his sanctifying presence.

Grace and Peace.