Worship Helps for Epiphany 2

Artwork: The Lamb on His Throne

Artist: Melanie Schuette

This is a glimpse into the Lamb on His throne that will be in one of our End Times paintings in October.

Worship Theme: This Lamb would take away the sins of the world and bring both Israel and the Gentile nations into the kingdom of God. The hearts that see this Savior in faith cannot help but take news of this salvation to the ends of the earth.

Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. ² He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. ³ He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." ⁴ But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." ⁵ And now the LORD says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength-- ⁶ he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." ⁷ This is what the LORD says-- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel-- to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

1. Which person of the Trinity is speaking through the prophet Isaiah in these verses?

2. What job was given to this “servant” in verse 5?

3. What additional job was mentioned in verse 6?

4. What added dimension does this reading have with verse 7?

Epistle: Acts 13:38--49

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: ⁴¹ "'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'" ⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" ⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

5. How was Jesus both the fulfillment and replacement of the sacrificial system given by God through Moses?

Gospel: John 1:29-41

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." ³² Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹ "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).

6. What did John mean when he called Jesus “The Lamb of God”?

7. How did John know that Jesus was who he said he was?

8. What was the first thing Andrew did after he realized that Jesus was the Messiah? (verse 41)

Answers:

1. Jesus.

2. To “bring Jacob back to (God) and gather Israel.”  In other words, Jesus was sent specifically to win the Jews to faith (Mt 15:24).

3. To be a light to the Gentiles.  While Jesus was sent specifically to the Jews, he also realized that the Gentiles were meant to be brought to faith as well (Jn 10:16).

Listen to the message meant for all nations: The Messiah is a weapon in the hand of God. God concealed him like an arrow in a quiver: the Messiah would come with his glory hidden in flesh. That meant the Servant would suffer, but in that suffering God would display his splendor. Jesus struggled with the cup he was to drink, but trusted in God’s promised reward (v 4). God would use the Servant to restore Israel and shine the light of his love on all the Gentiles, too. The salvation won by the Lamb would be brought to the ends of the earth. When Simeon laid eyes on the Christ-child, he remembered these words and could depart in peace, because he knew that God had now kept his promise.

4. The addition of verse 7 features the LORD himself speaking and ratifying the Servant’s words. He promises that though his Servant will suffer and be despised, the LORD will not forget him, but will ensure his glory and honor. To that promise he adds a pledge on his name as the Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. Though Christ would be the Lamb of God who would suffer and die to bear our sins, though he would be rejected and despised, God promised to glorify him again. He promised that every eye will see him—even those who pierced him—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

5. In Pisidian Antioch, Paul preached the message of the Lamb of God: the sacrifices in the Law of Moses could not justify; only the Lamb sacrificed for sin could. The Gospel resulted in faith in some Jewish hearts and rejection in others. In the face of opposition, Paul and Barnabas fulfilled the promises of God in Isaiah and made Christ a light to Gentiles and brought salvation to the ends of the earth.

6. As the last and greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist rightly summarizes the totality of God’s plan of salvation by pointing to Jesus and calling him the Lamb of God. Though not an Old Testament title, John’s name for Christ is the perfect sum of the sacrificial system. Christ is the fulfillment of all the sacrificial victims of the Old Testament, from Yom Kippur’s goat to the Passover Lamb and every sin and guilt offering in between. They are all fulfilled in the Son of God made flesh that he might stand in our place, that he might take the burden of sins off the world and onto his shoulders, and that he might die in our stead. Seeing the Lamb of God leads believers like John and Andrew to bring his salvation to the ends of the earth.

7. He had seen the Holy Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

8. He went and told his brother Peter, a wonderful model of the joy Christians feel when their spiritual eyes are opened to the truth of God’s Word.  That joy automatically leads to action: go and tell others!

Putting your faith into action

The word “Epiphany” means “revealed.” John the Baptist reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God—the one that the Passover sacrifice was foreshadowing. Just like the blood of that lamb saved the Israelites from the angel of death at the first Passover, so also the blood of the perfect Lamb of God saves us from eternal death. Both John the Baptist and the Apostle Andrew were eager to lead other people to their Savior. We live in a world where precious few know Jesus. Many who do know his name don’t know who he really is. Look for opportunities to continue the Epiphany today and point people to Jesus as their Savior.

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

The elect are described as follows: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life” (John 10:27–28).  “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).  They hear the Gospel, believe in Christ, pray, give thanks, are sanctified in love, have hope, patience, and comfort under the cross.  Although weak in them, they hunger and thirst for righteousness.

 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.… The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:16–26).

Holy Scripture also testifies that God, who has called us, is faithful.  So when He has begun the good work in us, He will also preserve it to the end and perfect it, if we ourselves do not turn from Him, but firmly hold on to the work begun to the end.  He has promised His grace for this very purpose. (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We should concern ourselves with this revealed will of God.  We should diligently think about it.  Through the Word, by which He calls us, the Holy Spirit bestows grace, power, and ability for this purpose. – Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI, God’s Eternal Foreknowledge (paragraphs 30-33)