This week we read familiar words from Isaiah. This text is a part of the same text often read at Christmas. And we also have a text from early in Jesus' ministry from the Gospel of Matthew. Yet again, the Gospel writer points us back to Isaiah as a way of telling us who Jesus is and what he has come to do. (see Isaiah 9:1-4 and Matthew 4:12-23)
As we continue to play with the concept of light this week, the Isaiah text brings to mind a Longest Night service (sometimes called a Blue Christmas service). Services like this are a way to recognize that not everyone is filled with joy as we enter the Christmas season. For some people, loss, anxiety, and other painful feelings overwhelm the happiness and joy we are bombarded with both in church and in our culture.
In the northern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the darkest days of the year. Coming only a few days after the Winter solstice, when the hours of darkness are at their longest, those of us in the northern hemisphere are literally living in the longest darkness of the year as we approach the day we are told to be filled with joy. As we consider everything from loss to the more depressed feeling many have due to the extended periods of darkness, it is no wonder many feel overwhelmed this time of year.
And so we offer a way from them to acknowledge their feelings and to bring those feelings to God. We recognize that not everyone is filled with joy, and we remind them that God sits with us even in the lowest periods of our lives.
A Light to the Nations: A Light of Salvation
This week, we continue to explore what it means to be a light to the nations. While not usually considered a season of Epiphany, the period of time from the end of the Christmas season through the beginning of Lent sees similar themes built into the lectionary readings each week. This year, the theme of light flows through many of the readings -- from the light coming into the world at Christmas to the light of the star that makes Christ known to the world to the light of the Transfiguration just before Lent. The light of God has come into the world, and so we spend time exploring what that means for us.
This week, we look to Isaiah 49:1-7 as we continue to understand what Jesus came into the world to do and what, by extension, we are still called to do.
* * *
Throughout this period of ordinary time following the Epiphany, we will continue to look primarily at Isaiah to better understand how the gospel writers understood Jesus’ purpose in the world. As we saw last week, the voice from heaven and the descent of the Spirit mark Jesus and indicate to us that he is here to fulfill the words spoken in Isaiah. Isaiah has been speaking of an idealized version of Israel; he is indicating both what it means to be the people of God as well as how much the nation has fallen short. By pointing us back to Isaiah at Jesus’ baptism, we are told that Jesus is the ideal, that he is the one that will accomplish all the things that Isaiah foretold.
And so now we look back to Isaiah to better understand who Jesus was and to consider what it means to be a light to the nations. In doing so, we not only better understand all that Jesus did through his life, death, and resurrection; we rediscover our own role as members of Christ’s body in the world today.
This week, we look to Isaiah 49:1-7 as we continue to understand what Jesus came into the world to do and what, by extension, we are still called to do.
* * *
Throughout this period of ordinary time following the Epiphany, we will continue to look primarily at Isaiah to better understand how the gospel writers understood Jesus’ purpose in the world. As we saw last week, the voice from heaven and the descent of the Spirit mark Jesus and indicate to us that he is here to fulfill the words spoken in Isaiah. Isaiah has been speaking of an idealized version of Israel; he is indicating both what it means to be the people of God as well as how much the nation has fallen short. By pointing us back to Isaiah at Jesus’ baptism, we are told that Jesus is the ideal, that he is the one that will accomplish all the things that Isaiah foretold.
And so now we look back to Isaiah to better understand who Jesus was and to consider what it means to be a light to the nations. In doing so, we not only better understand all that Jesus did through his life, death, and resurrection; we rediscover our own role as members of Christ’s body in the world today.
A Light to the Nations: Baptized in Light
The week we take a look at the Baptism of Jesus (see Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 3:13-17). In his baptism, the voice from heaven makes it clear exactly who Jesus is and why he is here. The voice from heaven uses the same words as the prophet Isaiah, so we can look to Isaiah as a way of understanding all that is to come.
* * *
On the first Sunday after Epiphany, we typically celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Some undisclosed amount of time after his birth, after the flight to Egypt and eventual return to Israel, after he has spent years growing up, we find Jesus baptized by his cousin John.
As you may recall, John was out in the wilderness preaching repentance and baptizing those who confessed their sins. It is to him that Jesus comes to be baptized. Some other time, perhaps we can debate why Jesus seeks out his cousin to be baptized. What did Jesus have to repent from? What sins did he need to confess?
At any rate, John tries to stop him. Surely Jesus needs to baptize him instead. But Jesus insists. And so John baptizes him in the river. As he comes up from the water, the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends like a dove to rest upon him. Then there is a voice from heaven which proclaims, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him” (Matthew 3:17).
* * *
On the first Sunday after Epiphany, we typically celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Some undisclosed amount of time after his birth, after the flight to Egypt and eventual return to Israel, after he has spent years growing up, we find Jesus baptized by his cousin John.
As you may recall, John was out in the wilderness preaching repentance and baptizing those who confessed their sins. It is to him that Jesus comes to be baptized. Some other time, perhaps we can debate why Jesus seeks out his cousin to be baptized. What did Jesus have to repent from? What sins did he need to confess?
At any rate, John tries to stop him. Surely Jesus needs to baptize him instead. But Jesus insists. And so John baptizes him in the river. As he comes up from the water, the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends like a dove to rest upon him. Then there is a voice from heaven which proclaims, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him” (Matthew 3:17).
A Light to the Nations
This week, we reflect on Epiphany. We recognize that God's glory has come into the world, bringing light to a world in need of light and hope. And we recognize that the light is a light for all people.
Starting with Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12, we hear the familiar story of the Magi, but we focus on the light coming into the world rather than the specific actions in the story.
* * *
“Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, CEB).
One of the key motifs for Epiphany is light. We read Isaiah’s words about the light that has come into the world. We hear of God’s glory shining. We read about radiance in the presence of God. And we have the story of the star which guided the Magi
Starting with Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12, we hear the familiar story of the Magi, but we focus on the light coming into the world rather than the specific actions in the story.
* * *
“Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, CEB).
One of the key motifs for Epiphany is light. We read Isaiah’s words about the light that has come into the world. We hear of God’s glory shining. We read about radiance in the presence of God. And we have the story of the star which guided the Magi
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