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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
--BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The season of Epiphany is filled with vision, mission, and anticipation. Increasingly our vision of Jesus becomes clearer as our passages in Mark 1 illustrate. But with vision comes mission. The magi’s star is an outreach star; through the second lessons we also observe Paul’s mission to the Gentiles. Vision leads to mission and creates anticipation. The lessons of epiphany help us to aware of the many ways that God’s past actions suggest an unfolding of divine plans in the present and future. May God grant great insight during this season that is filled with vision, mission, and anticipation. Enjoy!

Genesis 1:1-5-Creator and Created Order

"In the beginning . . ." is perhaps the most familiar opening lines words English literature. The first verse sounds the summary statement that God is the Creator of all things material/immaterial, the earth and the layers of space that surround the earth. This lesson will also include the first specific creative act: the introduction of light vis-à-vis darkness. Thus, day and night begin a fascinating and imaginative vision of the Creator and the created order.

Acts 19:1-7-Paul and Twelve Candidates for Baptism

This passage holds up an early Christian baptism narrative. We see once more accentuated the demarcation between two baptisms: that of John and that of Holy Spirit. Paul updates fellow Jews whom he has met among the Diaspora. Been down to the river and been baptized they had, but based on the knowledge of John’s baptism of metanoia. Discovering from Paul about the baptism that happened on the Day of Pentecost to the 120 disciples of Jesus who had gathered in the upper room, they take on the Spirit’s baptism.

Mark 1:4-11-Been to the River and Been Baptized

The two baptisms that we’ve just considered in Acts 19 we meet once again in the gospel lesson. This short passage has John conducting a baptismal service -a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins-but also predicting a future and very different kind of baptism-that of a baptism into/with the Holy Spirit. The lesson closes with an actual baptism-Jesus is baptized and sees heaven being ripped open and the Spirit descending upon him accompanied by a very personal word from above: you are my Son . . ."