Worship Helps for Epiphany 1

Artwork: The Baptism of Jesus

Artist: Melanie Schuette

Worship Theme: Jesus appears as the Christ, the Anointed One. The titles “Christ” and “Messiah” both mean “The Anointed One,” and they describe how God prepared Jesus for his mission. Since the days of Othniel (Judges 3:10), the Spirit of the Lord empowered God’s heroes to do his saving work. At his baptism, God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power and declared this son of Mary to be the Son of God—the one anointed to be the Savior of mankind.

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-7

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. ² He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. ³ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope." ⁵ This is what God the LORD says-- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: ⁶ I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, ⁷ to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

1. Who is the “servant of the Lord” being spoken about in these verses?

2. What kind of person would he be?

3. What job would the Lord give to him?

Epistle: Acts 10:34-38

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

4. What realization did Peter finally have about God?

5. What did Jesus receive in his baptism? (verse 38)

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" ¹⁵ Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. ¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

6. How did John react when Jesus came to be baptized?

7. Why did Jesus get baptized?

8. What three persons were present at Jesus’ baptism?

Answers:

1. Jesus.

2. Through the prophet we hear that this servant would be quiet (verse 2), gentle (verse 3), faithful and just (verses 3-4).

3. Isaiah says that Jesus would be a “light for the Gentiles” (verse 6) in words that are similar to Simeon’s (Luke 2:29-32).

4. Peter now realized that God didn’t show favoritism toward his Old Testament people, the Jews.  Jesus was the Savior of all people.  God wants that truth shared with all nations.

5. Peter says that he received a special measure of the Holy Spirit and power.  In Jesus’ baptism, God the Father was preparing his Son for the tough road ahead.  He assured him of his faithful love and guidance.

6. He refused because he knew that Jesus was not a sinner himself.

7. What kind of God gets baptized? The Baptist’s question confronts every Christian reading this account, and we join in John’s incredulity at Jesus’ intended condescension. Though John objected, Jesus encouraged him to allow this concession in order to fulfill their purpose there together. Their joint purpose was to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus would do that by being the Messiah and standing in the place of sinful man—first at the font and ultimately at the cross. John would play his part by fulfilling his role as forerunner: baptizing with water that the Messiah might be revealed (John 1:31). When John consented and baptized Jesus, the Spirit fulfilled the promises of Isaiah (First Lesson), and Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (Second Lesson). In this inauguration into his office as the Christ, God prepared the Messiah for his mission with an unlimited outpouring of the Spirit (John 3:34). In the very next verse, empowered and led by the Spirit, the hero of God immediately goes out to war against Satan on behalf of mankind (Matthew 4:1ff), fulfilling all righteousness and bringing us peace.

8. The three persons of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) were present at Jesus’ baptism.  In the same way, the Holy Trinity was present at our baptisms, as we are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

A reading from the Book of Concord for the First Sunday after Epiphany

God the Father has given His Spirit to Christ, His beloved Son, according to the received humanity. (Because of this He is called also Messiah; i.e., the Anointed.) He has not received His gifts with limits as other saints. For on Christ the Lord, according to His received human nature, rests "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge ‹and the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). (According to His divinity, He is of one essence with the Holy Spirit.) This not in such a way that, as a man, He knew and could do only some things, like other saints know and can do things by God's Spirit, who works in them only created gifts. According to His divinity, Christ is the Second Person in the Holy Trinity. And from Him, as also from the Father, the Holy Spirit proceeds. So the Spirit is and remains Christ's and the Father's own Spirit to all eternity, not separated from God's Son. Therefore, as the Church Fathers say, the entire fullness of the Spirit has been communicated by the personal union to Christ according to the flesh, which is personally united with God's Son. This voluntarily manifests and shows itself with all its power ‹in, with, and through Christ's human nature›… Now ‹according to the received human nature›, He knows and can do all things. For on Him the Father poured the Spirit of wisdom and power without measure. – Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VIII, Person of Christ (paragraphs 72-74)