Epiphany 1 (2)
Notes
Transcript
4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The election for the office of the President of the United States was held the first Tuesday in November in 2020. It was a close election and the outcome was not confirmed until just this past week. Depending on whom you listen to, you may or may not accept the results of the election but the legal system has determined that former Vice President Joe Biden has been elected as our next president. But he is not our president yet. When does a newly elected president assume the office of the presidency? It is at his inauguration which is schedule for January 20th, 2021.
Our nation’s chosen method of officially marking the beginning of the leadership position of the nation is inauguration during which the man elected by the nation will publicly swear to uphold the constitution of the United Sates and to conduct himself accordingly. It is a watershed event that marks a starting point. Depending on your current age, you may have witnessed over 20 or more such events in your lifetime as this generally happens once every four years.
Here is a story about an inauguration which happened way before our lifetimes.
When newly elected President William Harrison came to Washington, he wanted to show that he was still the steadfast hero of Tippecanoe and that he was a better educated and more thoughtful man than the backwoods caricature portrayed in the campaign. He took the oath of office on Thursday, March 4, 1841, a cold and wet day.[101] He braved the cold weather and chose not to wear an overcoat or a hat, rode on horseback to the ceremony rather than in the closed carriage that had been offered him, and delivered the longest inaugural address in American history[101] at 8,445 words. It took him nearly two hours to read, although his friend and fellow Whig Daniel Webster had edited it for length. He rode through the streets in the inaugural parade[102] and attended three inaugural balls that evening,[103] including one at Carusi's Saloon entitled the "Tippecanoe" ball with 1,000 guests who had paid $10 per person (equal to $297 in 2020).[104]
32 days later he died of pneumonia. He was unable to do the things that he had outlined in his speech.
The practice of having an official start of a leadership positions finds its origins in antiquity. We may be familiar with how kings and queens are crowned at their coronation. As those familiar with the Bible, we recognize that those chosen by God to be prophets, priests, and kings were often placed into those positions in formal ways — especially kings and priest. (See example of anointing).
At times there would be a difference between the Lord sending a prophet to anoint the next king and when the king was publicly anointed as that king. We may recall how the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to the home of Jesse to anoint David as Saul’s successor but how David did not become king until many years later — first of Judah and then of Israel uniting them as one nation.
God would use this official start for his own Son which would mark the beginning of his public ministry.
Who chose Jesus to be our prophet, priest, and king? (See passages that demonstrated it was God who chose him before eternity.)
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Was his work dependent on how people responded? Was he elected by the Jewish people for example and what kind of an approval rating did he have?
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Most of the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus because they could not perceive a Messiah who would suffer. He was supposed to defeat their enemies, not be crucified. Key Verse: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
The choosing of Jesus and the type of support he receives can be compared to how we choose and support the President of the United States.
Our President is chosen by election. In some cases the elected President is unable to complete his term of office due to illness, assassination, or resignation. Often during the term, we are reminded by the media of their “Approval rating” which is a poll of how people think he is doing his job. Many times a man is able to be reelected such as with Presidents Reagan, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama. But not always. And although Presidents will have many staunch supporters, the same men may have many sworn enemies. It must be very difficult to be the President and to stick to your policies without wavering especially if you submit to public opinion and approval ratings.
What about Jesus?
As we have seen, it was God the Father who chose him to be the one who would be anointed into the offices of prophet, priest, and king.
The start of Jesus’ public ministry began without a public event such as a coronation, anointing in the temple, or an inauguration. His start was witnessed by only a handful of people. But it was witnessed.
29 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.”
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Acts 10:34–38 (NIV84)
34 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.
As noted above, Jesus was not always well received as he carried out his work. We should not be surprised. The Bible contains many accounts of how God’s chosen people resisted him and the people who he sent on his behalf to guide them. Earlier we had referenced Harrison’s inaugural speech which was given at the beginning of his short lived presidency. We could also reference farewell speeches. In the book of Acts is the farewell speech of Stephen, the first martyr. It is a summary of this history of Israel. This is how he concludes it. Acts 7:51–53 (NIV84)
51 “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”
If the position of Jesus as our prophet, priest, and king depended on people’s approval rating, PAUSE. He would have soon been forgotten by history.
But his position does not depend on what people think of Jesus. It depends on what God the Father thinks of him. And what did God say at Jesus’ anointing? HINT. It was very short and to the point unlike many speeches we hear today.
11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
As further confirmation that God approved of Jesus is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The passage “He was raised again for our justification” means that the resurrection of Jesus is the confirmation of God that he accepted Jesus and his work. And after his resurrection, God exalted Jesus to his right hand.
St. Paul writes extensively about this in Colossians and appeals to us to respond to Jesus as our head for whom we live.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Hail, O once despised Jesus!
Hail, O Galilean King!
You have suffered to release us,
Hope to give and peace to bring.
Hail, O universal Savior,
Bearer of our sin and shame;
By your merits we find favor;
Life is given through your name.
Worship honor, pow’r, and blessing
You are worthy to receive;
Loudest praises, without ceasing,
Right it is for us to give.
Help, O bright angelic spirits,
All you noblest anthems raise;
Help to sing our Savior’s merits;
Help to chant Emmanuel's praise.
We honor Jesus as the head of his body, the church, who rules all things for us regardless of whom our earthly leaders are.