Lectionary for Epiphany 1

Lectionary for Epiphany 1 (The Baptism of the Lord)

When Jesus was baptised, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove; and a voice from heaven said: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’    Matthew 3:16-17

Collect. 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading. Isaiah 42:1-9. In this “Servant Song” we recognise a description that fits perfectly the person and ministry of Jesus the Saviour of the world. However Isaiah received this prophecy long before Jesus was born and in its time this prophecy along with many others began a theological debate among the Rabbis whether the servant was a single person or the nation itself. Whatever the truth of the matter God is saying through the prophet that the people should pay close attention. The setting for this prophecy is that Isaiah in the previous chapter has been reminding the nation of their idolatry and the closing verse sums it up well, “No, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their images are empty wind” Isaiah 41:29. Thus his conclusion is that following an idol is futile. An idol cannot give any direction because an idol is both dumb and blind, therefore it does not know the future, that knowledge belongs to God alone. Therefore Isaiah’s message to the nation is that they must follow God and they do that by paying attention to His Servant.

Isaiah begins by reminding the people that God has chosen his servant, just as in their history God chose Abraham to establish the nation. Furthermore God will uphold the servant, so the servant has at his disposal the power and the resources that God supplies.

The servant’s role was to bring forth justice, a commodity that was in short supply due to the godless leadership that came from the series of kings who reigned during Isaiah’s life. Unlike the kings, God’s servant will rely on God’s power to achieve the outcomes that are best for the people. Finally Isaiah rounds out the prophecy by declaring that through his servant God will put aside the past and give his people a future. As we commence another year it is this sense of hope that is very important to hear, just as it would have been to Isaiah’s hearers.

As we noted at the beginning, this picture of God’s servant fits perfectly with the ministry of Jesus and so it is a current message for us. We cannot underestimate the importance of the prophetic nature of Jesus’ ministry. His ministry is so intertwined with the prophetic disclosures from thousands of years ago that we can be sure that he is God’s universal salvation, bringing to fruition God’s love and mercy.

Jesus as God’s chosen servant is leading us on into a New Year; giving us a future filled with hope. He is the promised bearer of the covenant. (Verse 6.) It is Jesus the Servant who links us in relationship with God and brings to bear on our behalf all the resources that we will need for living in the way that God requires. Following Jesus we are to put aside our idols and trust in God alone for he is the one who knows the future and from him comes the all the blessing that we will require. Because of Jesus we give God all thanks and praise for in him our future is secure.

Prayer. Holy Lord, you are Sovereign over all creation: All things come to us from your hand alone. We thank and praise you that you sent Jesus to minister among us; bring to us your word of grace and love. Calling us to turn away from false gods and look to you alone; increase in us the knowledge that in you is the way to eternal life. By your mercy strengthen us for the journey as we begin a New Year in your Name. Grant that we may be obedient to your calling; always following in the footsteps of Jesus. Loving and serving through the power and presence of your Holy Spirit and giving honour and glory to your Name. May our hearts keep before us the truth of all that Jesus has won on our behalf and may our lives express our thanks and praise. This we ask through Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Reading. Matthew 3:13-17. In this week’s passage from Matthew we are remembering the baptism of Jesus as he commenced his ministry in God’s Name. Before we begin to consider the significance of his baptism we need to remember the context into which Matthew places this event. Matthew has reminded us of the baptism that John was conducting for it was a unique action that had never before been envisaged. It was a normal Jewish practise to baptise non Jewish converts into Judaism but the practise of baptising the ancestors of Abraham was unknown. Baptising Jews was simply not done and yet here we see John baptising Jews, even Pharisees and Sadducees.(verse 7.) This is then a completely new practise. Matthew has given us a clue when he warns that the axe is about to cut down the tree; that is the tree that represents the tribe of Israel under the old covenant. In Matthew’s description God is ending the old order in order to begin a new and obedient Israel. John’s baptism was making way for something completely new.

Matthew describes Jesus coming to be baptised using a link word in my version, ‘Then’. In other words, with John’s baptism in mind, Jesus presented himself to be baptised. John is reluctant to baptise Jesus, a true son of Israel, but Jesus insists in order to fulfil “all righteousness”. Through his baptism Jesus stands in solidarity with the new and obedient Israel; the true people of God. It is after his baptism that Jesus’ ministry begins for we remember that the moment the Spirit anoints him Jesus is lead into a time of severe testing; the time we have called “the temptations”. Thus we see that Jesus’ baptism is a key step in his ministry of salvation.

John’s baptism also signalled another issue and that was his baptism drew together a people prepared to receive their Messiah: Rather than looking back to the old way this baptism prepared them for the new thing that God was doing through Jesus. We recognize that Matthew is writing from a Jewish perspective and so the message to the Jews was not to rely on their tradition or their genealogical heritage but to rely on Jesus, the one who was prepared to stand in solidarity with them. Additionally for those of us who lay no claim to an ancestral link with the sons of Abraham, Matthew’s text reminds us afresh that we too need to be prepared by relying only on who Jesus is and what he has done.

Prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, on the day of your baptism you took the hand of God and walked the way of the cross. Your courage and your obedience amaze us. We can only bow in praise and adoration at all that you did in order to win to yourself those who were longing to know and love God. Keep our love for you strong and keep our hearts and minds set on serving you. You Lord, have reached out to humanity with loving hands. As we face the pain of all that is happening in the world at the moment, we thank you that you stand with us to bring comfort and hope. Lead us through each event of life that we may never lose hope nor stray away from the path that you have chosen for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Collect. Jesus, gracious Saviour, in the waters of the Jordan you become one with sinners, that we may be one with you. Wash us clean, open our eyes, that we may share your Spirit now and forever. Amen.