3 Epiphany - Sunday

posted

Isaiah 61:1-6 – The Spirit of the Lord;
Psalm 113 – Helper of the Humble;
I Corinthians 12:12-21, 26-27 – Body and Members;
Luke 4:14-21 – The Spirit of the Lord;

Isaiah:

God has anointed his servant with the Spirit of the Lord so that the servant can proclaim good news to the poor and afflicted. The Lord's servant has been sent to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, to release those who are bound, to announce the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of God's vengeance. To those who mourn in Zion, he gives them a garland (of celebration) instead of ashes (of sorrow), the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the  cloak of praise, instead of a faint spirit. They shall be called the planting of the Lord, oaks of righteousness, so that God will be glorified. They will rebuild ancient ruins and restore what had formerly been destroyed. The ruins of cities and devastations of many generations they will repair.

Foreigners will be the servants who feed Israel's flocks, plow their fields and dress their vines, But Israel will be priests of the Lord. People will acknowledge them as ministers of the Lord God. They will feast on the wealth of nations and will exalt in their riches.

Psalm:

Let us praise the Lord all his servants! Let us praise the name (the character and person) of the Lord!

From now on for all eternity may we bless his name! Let his name be praised from sunrise to sunset! The greatness of the Lord is above all nations, and his glory (honor; his goodness and righteousness) is higher than the heavens!

Who can compare to the Lord our God? He is enthroned on high above heaven, but he sees far down to earth. He lifts the poor and needy from the dust and from the ash heap and makes them sit among princes of the people. To the barren woman he gives a home and children, so that she can rejoice in them! Praise the Lord!

1 Corinthians:

Paul uses the analogy of the human body to describe the relationship of the Church and its members. Just as a human body, though composed of many members is one unified body. So it is with Christ. We are all baptized into Christ by one Spirit into one body, both Jew and Greek, slave and free, and we all participate in the one Spirit.

The body doesn't consist of a single member, but many. The members have different functions, but one member cannot deny its part in the body just because it doesn't have a certain gift. The body needs the participation of every member to function properly. As God has designed the various members of a physical body work together, so it is in the Church. Neither can the body decide that it has no need for a certain member. The suffering of one member is shared by all, and all rejoice when one is honored.

The Church is the body of Christ, and believers are individual members of it.

Luke:

After Jesus had been tempted in the wilderness, he returned to Galilee, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. He went throughout Galilee teaching in synagogues, and was held in honor by all.

In Nazareth, where he had grown up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath, as had been his custom. He stood up to read the Scripture, and the book (scroll) of Isaiah was given to him. He opened it to the passage in Isaiah 61:1-6, and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). 

Closing the book, Jesus sat back down, and every person in the synagogue was looking at him. Jesus began to speak, saying that they had just witnessed the fulfillment of this text.

Commentary:

This text in Isaiah is believed to have been written around 530-510 B.C. Babylon had been conquered in 539 B.C. by Cyrus of Persia, who allowed the Exiles to return to their Promised Land during the following generation. God had promised that the Exiles would return after seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), which is counted from the destruction of the temple in 587 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon until dedication of the rebuilt temple in 517 B.C..

Isaiah was a fulfillment of the Lord's servant, who by the Holy Spirit announced good tidings of release for the Exiles and the “year” of the Lord's favor, compared to the “day” of God's vengeance. He changed their mourning to gladness and praise. They would rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem and the temple.

Before the coming of Jesus Christ, only a few people at any time who were called by the Lord to be his prophets were “anointed” with the Holy Spirit. God had established a concept of “anointing” prophets, priests and kings with olive oil as a symbol of God's selection and approval. Anointing of kings was tantamount to coronation. Anointing with oil was also used for healing, and for a sign of hospitality and celebration. The “anointing” of the Holy Spirit is characterized as the “oil of gladness.”

Jesus came to make it possible for all of God's people to be “anointed” with the Holy Spirit (Numbers 11:25-29;  John 7:37-39; 14:15-17). Jesus is the only one who “baptizes” (“anoints”) with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and be baptized with water as spiritual cleansing, by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, to prepare them to receive Jesus in the “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God; the Spirit of Christ; Romans 8:9). The “anointing” with the Holy Spirit began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church (Acts 2:1-13).

God's Word is eternally true, and is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and then are guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to be carried out only after they had received the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Each “born-again” Christian is a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the Lord's Spirit-filled servant. Each one is called to be a minister of the Lord.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Jesus is the Messiah, (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively) The Gospels testify that Jesus was doing the things foretold by Isaiah of the Lord's servant. When John the baptizer had been imprisoned, he sent his disciples to Jesus, seeking reassurance that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus told them to report to John what they had seen Jesus doing that very hour: the blind, the deaf, the lame, and lepers are healed, and the poor hear good news,  the Gospel of forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal condemnation, and restoration of fellowship with God which was broken by sin, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Matthew 11:2-5).

Jesus promises his disciples, his servants, that he will give them the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit if they will keep his commandments (John 14:15-17). But he wants to be sure that we're committed, before he does, because it is unrepeatable (Hebrews 6:4-6).

By the indwelling Holy Spirit we personally experience the love and joy of the Lord's presence. We become one body in Christ by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides and empowers each member individually so that together our work fulfills Christ's mission of forgiveness and salvation.

I attend a “mega-church,” where I only participate in worship, because my internet requires my full time. I'm delighted to see how what I'm doing online and what my pastor preaches are so in agreement, but I realize that we are each led independently by the one and the same Holy Spirit.

John was given a visible sign to reveal who the Messiah was, and John testified that he had seen the sign of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descend and stay upon Jesus.
So John was able to point people to Jesus as the Messiah, who “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34).

Jesus was going from synagogue to synagogue in Galilee and his teaching was highly regarded by the people, except in Nazareth where Jesus grew up. They thought they knew so much about Jesus (Luke 4:22b) that they couldn't accept him as the Messiah. Jesus gently confronted them with their spiritual problem, but they got so angry they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff, since the town was built on a hill (Luke 4:23-30).

Jesus came to show us how to be servants of the Lord. That is what God's people are called to be. The people of Nazareth thought Jesus was making himself appear to be better than they. We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually “unborn” and this lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life. Otherwise we will die eternally in hell with all evil.

Jesus was speaking the truth in love. The way he said it wasn't combative, but the Nazarenes weren't willing to be confronted with the truth. They rejected the only one who could heal their spiritual need and give them eternal life.

There is a day coming when we will all be accountable to Jesus for what we have done in this lifetime. In that day Jesus will command, and we will have no choice but to obey. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord will have been spiritually “born-again” in this lifetime and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven, a New Creation restored to paradise before the corruption of sin. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or simply failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

3 Epiphany - Monday (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany 

Psalm 71:1-6, 15-17

I take refuge in the Lord; he will never let me be put to shame. He will rescue and deliver me because of his righteousness. He will hear my cry and save me. The Lord is my rock of refuge; a strong fortress to save me.

The Lord will rescue me from the wicked; from the grasp of the unjust and cruel he will save me. I have depended upon the Lord from my birth. It is the Lord who brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will praise him continually.

I will declare the Lord's righteous acts, his deeds of salvation all day long. They are more than I can count. By the power of the Lord I will declare his righteousness, his alone.

From my youth the Lord has taught me, and I will continue to proclaim his great deeds.

Commentary:

When I've had tribulations, I've turned to the Psalms. For new believers they are the testimonies of mature believers who have experienced God's help and faithfulness. The Lord wants us to claim the promises of his Word for ourselves so that we can learn by personal experience his power and faithfulness to save and deliver us from adversity. Then we can add our own testimony to that of the Psalmists.

The Lord wants us to seek him and his Word. When we do so with our whole heart, he will reveal himself to us (Deuteronomy 4:29 RSV). The Lord has given us his Word and his plan for Creation in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus is the “picture” of God's plan for Creation. Jesus came to show us what it is like to be in human flesh but filled, guided and empowered with the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to be the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for forgiveness of our sin and cleansing so that we could be temples of the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to demonstrate that there is existence after physical death, and that he can raise us up from death to eternal life.

God has a plan for each of us, which he wants to reveal to us, but not if we're just “window-shopping.” We must be willing to trust and obey the Lord without reservation. The place to begin is to read the entire Bible. God reveals his plan for us in his Word, and he wants us to seek it one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). We can't expect the Lord to hear and answer prayer if we're not willing to hear, trust and obey his Word.

The Lord brought us forth in physical birth into this world, whether we realize and acknowledge that or not. He intends for us to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually during our lifetime in this Creation.

We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word; (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation from eternal death, restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and rebirth to eternal life (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top right).

Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator, and the only way to be reborn to eternal life by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:6). Only Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The indwelling Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and recall all Jesus' teachings to us (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of (divine) truth (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit gives Jesus’ disciples what to say at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can praise the Lord and declare his righteousness. We cannot carry on Christ's mission to bring forgiveness and salvation to the world except by the power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

3 Epiphany - Tuesday (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany

Jeremiah 1:4-10 – Jeremiah's Call;

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah saying that he had known Jeremiah before Jeremiah's conception and had consecrated Jeremiah before he was born. The Lord had appointed him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah replied that he was just a youth and not a public speaker. But the Lord told Jeremiah not to let his youth bother him. Jeremiah was to go to wherever God would send him and say whatever God commanded. Jeremiah was not to fear those to whom he was sent, because God promised to be with Jeremiah to deliver Jeremiah. Then God touched Jeremiah's mouth and said that he had put God's words in his mouth. God told Jeremiah that God had given him authority over nations and kingdoms, “to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10).

Commentary:

Prophecy is not like fortune-telling. Prophecy is declaring God's Word; the fact that it is God's Word is why it is always fulfilled (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word contains both great promises and ominous warnings. We can either trust and obey God's Word and receive the promises, or disregard it and receive the penalties the warnings were intended to help us avoid. Unlike fortune-telling, we determine the outcome ourselves by our response to God's Word.

Worldly fortune-tellers are demonic counterfeits. It is tempting to some to consult such sources because it is easy. There are astrology charts in every newspaper and many internet portals, but God forbids his people to consult “mediums” and astrologers and such (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). God wants us to be led by his Holy Spirit, not by those who are demonic.

Before Jesus came, only a few chosen people, called to be God's prophets, like Jeremiah, had a personal relationship with God. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross made it possible for God's people to be cleansed and consecrated and filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Numbers 11:25-29), to be guided and empowered to declare God's Word to all the nations and peoples of the world. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) began the fulfillment of Numbers 11:29: “Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them.”

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ who have been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 11:26; John 3:3, 5-8). Only Jesus gives the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only upon his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, to go into the World to make disciples of Jesus Christ in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (note the Trinity), and teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches, and promising to be with them always to the close of the age (the end of time; this world). Note carefully that Jesus also commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit before going into the world with the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Every truly “born-again” Christian is the heir to the call of Jeremiah. The Lord has promised to put his Word in our mouths by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us. We are to go wherever he leads us and say what he commands, because the Holy Spirit will speak through us (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12).

In many instances the nominal Church is not following the Great Commission, and not teaching its members to wait for the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. Some mainline denominations are teaching that the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred with water baptism. This is not only not helping their members, but actually doing spiritual harm, because the teaching actually discourages and prevents the members from seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see False Teachings, Spiritual Rebirth, sidebar top right).

Many of these same nominal Churches also teach “Cheap Grace,”* the doctrine that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift, which is true), without the obligation of discipleship and obedient trust (which is not true; see False Teachings, “Cheap Grace,”sidebar, top right).

The only way to protect oneself from false teachers and false teachings is to read the entire Bible for oneself. An average reader can easily read the entire Bible in one year. There are several 1-year Bible reading plans available. I prefer one that includes both Old Testament and New Testament readings each day (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6

3 Epiphany - Wednesday (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Paul had just described the Church in an analogy of a human body, a body composed of various members with different abilities that work together. He lists various examples of abilities (gifts given by the Holy Spirit) in descending order: First, apostles (messengers; of the Gospel); second, prophets; third, teachers; then miracle-workers, healers, helpers (like deacons), administrators (such as bishops), then speakers of various tongues. The members of the Church don't each possess all the spiritual abilities (including interpreters of various tongues). But we should all earnestly desire the higher gifts (like prophecy).

But these gifts must be used with love to be effective. If we have the ability to speak earthly or spiritual languages our ability is no more useful than the gongs and cymbals (that characterize pagan worship). If we have great prophetic powers, understand all mysteries, have all knowledge, and have great, mountain-moving faith (Matthew 17:20b), but without love, we are nothing. The greatest acts of charity and self-sacrifice are for nothing if not done in love.

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

The spiritual gifts we are given will not endure forever, because our knowledge and prophecy are imperfect. Our spiritual development is similar to our physical development. When we were children we talked, thought, and reasoned like children. But when we became adults no longer used childish ways because we had matured and learned adult ways. In this lifetime we see spiritual things dimly, as though reflected in a shiny metal surface. But in the world to come in eternity we will see face to face. Now we only have partial knowledge but in the hereafter we will understand fully as God understands us now (better than we understand ourselves).  

Commentary:

Spiritual rebirth is a growth process. New believers should be discipled by mature, “born-again” disciples until the new believers are “born-again.” Then the new disciples should be taught to set aside a time each day to read the Bible, meditate, and pray. First one should read the entire Bible, and I recommend that each daily reading should include Old Testament and New Testament portions. There are several One-Year Bible reading plans available (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right.

When the new believer has been “born-again” he is discipled further by the Holy Spirit within him. After  reading the entire Bible, the new believer should carry on the daily “quiet time” (personal devotions), using a devotional schedule, perhaps a quarterly booklet of devotions published by their church denomination, or some other devotional like this “My Daily Walk.”

New disciples need to learn to be led by the daily devotional text and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Lord will emphasize a portion of the text or commentary. When the disciple thinks the Lord is showing him something in the text,   he should pray it back to see if he's understood.  Remember that God will never tell us anything contrary to the Bible, nor anything which will harm ourselves or others. 

The Lord wants us to seek and be guided by his will one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). As we begin to be led by God's Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we will grow in faith (obedient trust) as we experience personally the truth and reliability of God's Word and the Holy Spirit.

Instead of trying to identify our spiritual gift after we have been “born-again” we need to learn to recognize the still, small inner voice of the Lord. We need to seek God's will, and God's will for us is going to change as we grow spiritually. When we know the will and call of God, we can be sure that he will provide the spiritual gifts we need to accomplish that call. As we begin to walk in obedience to that call he will reveal and supply the gifts we need.

Perhaps God's will for us is first as students in small group Bible Study and Adult Sunday School, as was my own experience. The Lord began showing me things in scripture as I prepared for weekly Bible Study and Adult Sunday School, so that I was able to make a spiritually useful contribution and I grew in faith.

As I grew spiritually, the Lord led me to chair the Social Ministry Committee, and later I chaired the Evangelism Committee. Through those calls, the Lord began to lead me outside of Church and into the world. I had numerous opportunities for spiritual growth. The latest example is my internet ministry, “My Daily Walk.”

In my growing devotional life, the Lord led me to the devotional lectionary (schedule of Bible readings) which became the first, two-year Bible study I published on “My Daily Walk.” I had been growing spiritually for about twenty-five years, and I was only then just ready to attempt it, and only by the help of the Lord which I relied upon and experienced daily. 

Using the gifts of the Holy Spirit must be done in love, the love of God, not what the world falsely calls love, not carnal love or romantic love. We experience the love of God through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and because he first loved us, we love him, and want to please him by keeping his commandments (John 14:15)

It is important to note that what is done in love is not always perceived as love by others. Jesus loved the world so much that he gave is life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17), so that we could receive forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), salvation from eternal death and condemnation (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23), fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and eternal life in God's kingdom in Heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). The response of worldly, ungodly people was to crucify him.

The preaching of John the Baptizer was done in love for God and for God's people, but the religious leaders refused to accept John's preaching (Matthew 3:7-9). Let us ask ourselves if we would be more willing to hear that message today. The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) prophesied that the time was coming when people would not endure sound teaching, and would get teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That day has certainly come.

Paul is intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul loved his fellow Jews and mourned for them because they refused to listen to Paul's preaching of the Gospel and accept Jesus as their promised Messiah. Paul endured great suffering from persecution by the Jews (Acts 9:17-25; 13:45-47; 21:27-36; 2 Corinthians 11:24-25).

Worldly people persecuted Jesus and his disciples, including Paul. Worldly people hate the Gospel of Jesus Christ today and increasingly so in America.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

3 Epiphany - Thursday (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany

Luke 4:21-32 – Rejected in Nazareth;

Jesus attended the synagogue in Nazareth at the beginning of his public ministry, and was asked to read from the book (scroll) of Isaiah. He chose to read Isaiah 61:1-2;  the prophecy of the Messiah, the Lord's servant, anointed with the Holy Spirit to preach the “good news” (the Gospel) to the poor, to free the imprisoned, to heal the blind,  to restore the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Everyone in the synagogue waited for Jesus to say something, and Jesus began, saying that this prophecy of Isaiah had been filled that day in their hearing. Everyone thought that Jesus' words were gracious, and they said “is this not Joseph's son” (Luke 4:22b)? Jesus told them that they would probably quote the proverb “Physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23); that Jesus should do in his hometown the miracles he had done in Capernaum. Jesus said that “no prophet is acceptable in his own country” (Luke 4:24). Jesus said that in the time of Elijah, when there was a drought for three and a half years, and a severe famine, there were many widows in the land of Israel but Elijah was sent to none of them, but to a widow in Sidon, in Phoenicia (north of Galilee; 1 Kings 17 :1, 8-16; 18:1). So, also, there were many lepers in Israel when Elisha was a prophet, and only Naaman, the Syrian, was cleansed (2 Kings 5:1-14).

When the people of the synagogue heard what Jesus was saying, they were furious, and they seized Jesus, carried him outside the city and took him to the brow of the hill on which Nazareth was built, intending to throw Jesus over the cliff, but Jesus passed through them and went away.
 
Commentary:

The people of Nazareth could not accept Jesus because they had known him growing up among them. They knew his family, and they thought they knew that Joseph was his father. They knew that Jesus had no formal training (Mark 6:2b, 3a) At first they were willing to “indulge” him a little; they weren't expecting too much. It wasn't like he was a formally trained Biblical expert from Jerusalem. When they heard Jesus' message they grew furious.

The Jews regarded themselves as God's “chosen” people, and they regarded themselves as “righteous” (doing what was good, right and true) according to the Law of Moses. They didn't recognize their spiritual famine and sickness.

Leprosy was a disease which was visible and which marked the leper as a social and spiritual outcast, cut off from the religious community. We are all living in a time of spiritual famine. People are seeking spiritual fulfillment, but in all the wrong places. The Bible is the last place they are willing to look for spiritual sustenance. We are all spiritual lepers, because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). We are all cut off from God because of sin, and as sinners are all under condemnation of eternal death in God's judgment.

Jesus, the promised “Messiah” (“Christ;” God's “anointed”), the eternal Savior came to Israel, but they refused to acknowledge and accept him as their Messiah, their Savior and eternal King. Gentiles accepted and received Jesus and received spiritual feeding and healing, but the Jews did not.

No place in Israel was more in need of Jesus' message than Nazareth that day. Jesus' words were gracious (Luke 4:22) and loving, not angry and intentionally hurtful. The people reacted to Jesus' words in anger because they were unrepentant sinners. As a result, they lost the spiritual feeding and healing that Jesus did in other places in Israel, such as Capernaum, and for Gentiles.

The basis for receiving the forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal destruction, which only Jesus can give (Acts 4:12), is by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:6). Salvation is not by being born into and attending church, nor by being a “good” person, nor by believing “hard enough” that when we die we will go to a “better place.”

There are many people in our world today, in our societies, and even in our (nominal) Churches, who get angry when the Gospel is proclaimed, and blame their anger on the messenger. It is not loving to know the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not share it in a loving way with people who are perishing.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

3 Epiphany - Friday (Variable)

To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany

Romans 13:8-10 -- Commandment of Love;

Paul was “discipling” new believers, urging them to not become obligated to anyone except to love one another. If we truly love our neighbor we have fulfilled the obligations of the law (of Moses; the Ten Commandments). The Commandments to refrain from adultery, murder, stealing, and covetousness are fulfilled by loving our neighbor. So love is the fulfillment of the law.

Commentary:

Jesus taught his disciples that the entire law can be fulfilled by loving God and loving our neighbor (Mark 12:29-31).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can also be. Paul was as much a disciple and apostle as the original Twelve. In fact I believe that Paul was the one chosen by God to take the place of Judas, the betrayer.

Jesus told the Eleven remaining disciples to stay in Jerusalem (the modern equivalent is the Church) awaiting the fulfillment of the promised “baptism” (“anointing;” “infilling;” “gift”) of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), before fulfilling the “Great Commission” which Jesus gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) to go into the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While the disciples were awaiting the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, they decided to choose, from the wider followers of Jesus, someone to  take the place of Judas, and they chose Matthias by lot (by chance). They didn't yet have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them. Matthias is never mentioned again, but from the time of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22) most of the rest of the New Testament is written by or about Paul.

The Great Commission was Jesus' command to his disciples to go into the world to make “born-again” disciples, teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches. Paul is the intended demonstration of the fulfillment of that command. Paul was discipled by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (note that Ananias had a personal relationship with the Lord; Acts 9:10), until Paul was “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then Paul immediately began to make disciples and teach them to trust and obey Jesus' teachings, as this text shows.

The only remarkable thing about Paul's conversion was its rapidity. But remember that Paul was already formally educated in Judaism. All he needed was to be pointed toward Jesus, the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek respectively). Remember that the other Eleven were with Jesus “twenty-four/seven” for about three years, and still were not ready to go into the world until they had been “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit. We cannot expect to be ready in less time.

Paul's discipling is exemplified in Timothy. Timothy was already a believer (2 Timothy 1:5), but Paul discipled him until Timothy was “born-again” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Paul told Timothy to repeat the process of discipling with other people who would be faithful in repeating the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

Note that Jesus never baptized anyone with water; only his disciples did (John 4:2). Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer. John's ministry was to call people to repent and be baptized with water for the forgiveness and remission of sin (disobedience of God's Word) in preparation to receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing event, as Paul says (Acts 19:2).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?