Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Epiphany 2, Series A January 16, 2011

Lessons for the Second Sunday After the Epiphany

Isaiah 49:1-7 ~ The Servant of the Lord is a light of salvation for all people.
Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ~ All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus are kept holy in Him.
John 1:29-42 ~ Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for all the world!

GATHERING THE TEXTS: Chosen for a Greater Task
In the second of Isaiah’s “servant songs” we learn that the Lord’s servant was hidden away within Israel for the special mission of bringing God’s chosen people back to Him; but God would use Him for a greater task than that. His light gathers people from all nations! The Lord’s chosen servant was revealed by John at the Jordan, where he proclaimed: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Now all who call on the name of the Lord are chosen for the great work of pointing out to the nations the Lamb who has brought salvation for all the world.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: How wonderful is your love, Lord, that you should send your own Son to be my servant and give his life as the Lamb of God to take away my sins! Help me, in thanksgiving for your gifts, to be a good witness to your forgiving love until the day of Christ's return. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: Just like John, we are to use all of our resources and energies to point out to the world that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who came to rescue us from our sin.

OFFERING PRAYER: Jesus Christ, O Lamb of God, the light
of Your eternal grace has pierced the night!
You draw all people to Yourself. Now send
us out to use these offerings to that end.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: We can celebrate Jesus as the promised servant, chosen by the Father to be a light to the nations of the world, but it is in those dismal times, when we recognize with Israel that “we have labored in vain and spent our strength for nothing,’ that we call out to Him who is the Lamb of God, set aside to take our place for all the suffering of our sins. Then we give thanks to God that He has gathered us from the nations and will sustain us guiltless until the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ!