Pericope Study

Epiphany 1A / Baptism of our Lord

Presented by Richard M Burgess

Introduction

This is a pericope study presented in an effort to assist in studying the lectionary as part of sermon preparation. Therefore, while I am responsible for the content, it does not necessarily directly reflect my opinions or theology, though it might. My intention is to provide some information and direction in your attempt to hear God’s Word and sense the Spirit’s movement.

Ecumenical Lectionary Concerns:

     RCL           Baptism of Lord     Is 42.1-9          Ps 29                           Ac 10.34-43    Mt 3.13-17

     ELCA RCL Baptism of Lord     Is 42.1-9          Ps 29                           Ac 10.34-43    Mt 3.13-17

     LBW          Baptism of Lord     Is 42.1-7          Ps 45.7-9                     Ac 10.34-38    Mt 3.13-17

     BCP           Baptism of Lord     Is 42.1-9          Ps 89.(1-19), 20-29      Ac 10.34-38    Mt 3.13-17

     Catholic    Baptism of Lord     Is 42.1-4, 6-7   Ps 29.1-10                   Ac 10.34-38    Mt 3.13-17

*or 1^st Sunday after Epiphany; **or 1^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Collect / Prayer of the Day

Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with him of everlasting life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (11)

Lesson I: Isaiah 42.1-9 [NRSV]

[1] Here is my servant,

whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

[2] He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

[3] a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

[4] He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

[5] Thus says God, the LORD,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

[6] I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

[7] to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

[8] I am the LORD, that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to idols.

[9] See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

I tell you of them.

Outline / Structure:

42.1-4 Servant Song

42.1a         YHWH’s chosen, delights in him

42.1b        has the YHWH’s spirit to bring justice to the nations

42.2-3       peaceful and gentle

42.4          yet strong & persistent in bringing justice in the earth

42.5-9 Oracle in Response to Servant Song

42.5a         Thus says the YHWH

42.5b              who created the earth and humans

42.6-7       What YHWH has done for his people: called, saved, covenanted with, enlightened

42.8          Plug for monotheism

42.9          YHWH brings forth new things and tells of them in advance

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

Why does this pericope end with 42.9? Why does it not go on to tell of the new things that will replace “the former things” (42.9a)?

42.1-5 These verses are one of the 4 “Servant Songs”, the other 3 being: 49.1-6; 50.4-11; and 52.13-53.12.

42.3-4 The servant will be peaceful and nonviolent, but is no wimp and will not relent until justice is established.

42.6b covenant to the people, a light to the nations Ie, a covenant reaching beyond Israel with the Servant as the mediator of the covenant.

42.9 A new age is about to begin, with the Servant as the agent of change.

The “servant” has been taken to be an individual by some and the nation of Israel by others. What are the consequences of each approach? What difference might it make to preach one way or the other?

Compare the “servant” here with the ideal king in Isaiah 11.1-5:

[11.1] A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

[2] The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

[3] His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide by what his ears hear;

[4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

[5] Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

and faithfulness the belt around his loins. (Isaiah 11.1-5; NRSV)

Psalm: Psalm 29 [NRSV]

A Psalm of David.

[1] Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

[2] Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;

worship the LORD in holy splendor.

[3] The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over mighty waters.

[4] The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

[5] The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

[6] He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

[7] The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

[8] The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

[9] The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl,

and strips the forest bare;

and in his temple all say, "Glory!"

[10] The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

[11] May the LORD give strength to his people!

May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Outline / Structure:

29.1-2       introductory praise of YHWH

29.3-9a      YHWH’s power as seen in a thunderstorm

29.9b        those in the temple: “Glory!”

29.10-11   YHWH is in control and will give his people strength and peace

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

This psalm is in response to a thunderstorm. How might be a used in dealing with the tsunami in the Indian Ocean last week?

Factoid: Luther decided to become a monk because of his experience of God in a thunderstorm. Any sermon material in that?

29.6 Sirion The Phoenician name for Mt Herman.

29.9b in his temple all say “Glory!” The pivot of the psalm where attention is moved from tumult on earth to the heavenly realms where it is recognized as a sign of God’s glory.

29.10 enthroned over the flood Ie, God is in control of the chaos, as in the creation he brought order to the primordial chaos of the waters.

29.11 May the LORD give strength to his people! . . . bless his people with peace! This is paraphrased in Acts 10.36. Is this the reason that psalm was chosen for this week? What is the significance of this link?

Lesson II: Acts 10.34-43 [NRSV]

[34] Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, [35] but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. [36] You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. [37] That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; [40] but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, [41] not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. [43] All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Outline / Structure:

10.34-35   God accepts all people who fear and obey him

10.36              You know the message: he is Lord of all

10.37-38               The message spread of Jesus doing mighty works

10.39-41               ”We are witnesses . . . who were chosen by God” to the death and resurrection

10.42              He commanded us to witness to God as judge of all

10.43        The prophets testify that all who believe are forgiven their sins

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

Note that the central works and message of Jesus and the apostles are bookended by universality: anyone who . .. He is Lord of all and judge of (all) . . . everyone who believes.

Luke begins Acts with Pentecost, when Jews received the Holy Spirit. Now Acts 10 he goes further with non-Jews receiving the Spirit and this passages’ declaration of universalism.

10.36 the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all A paraphrase of Ps 29.11.

10.37b-38a the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power Compare to Mt 3.16-17. Note that neither Matthew nor any of the other 3 gospels refers to “power” at Jesus’ baptism, though all 4 refer to the a dove, the Holy Spirit, and some kind of divine voice / word. How are a dove, the Holy Spirit, God’s Word, and power related, especially in the person of Jesus?

Gospel: Matthew 3.13-17 [NRSV]

[13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" [15] But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Outline / Structure:

3.13          Setting: Jesus goes to John to be baptized at the Jordan river

3.14-15     Who should baptize whom?

3.14                John: Jesus should baptize him, not vice versa

3.15                Jesus: It is proper in order to “fulfill all righteousness”

3.16-17     Heavenly response to the baptism

3.16                Heavens op and Spirit of God descend upon Jesus as a dove

3.17                Voice from heaven: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

John’s baptism was for repentance and forgiveness of sins (Mt 3.1-12). Assuming Jesus was without sin, how might his baptism still be considered an act of solidarity with sinners, the marginalized, and/or the world?

3.13 What is the significance of the Jordan River as the site of Jesus’ baptism? Is there a connection to other references to the Jordan river in scripture? Here are a few OT passages in which the Jordan River figures prominently. Why do you think Isaiah 41.1-9 was chosen to go with Jesus’ baptism rather than any of these passages?

     Gen 32            Jacob, after a troubled dream, is renamed “Israel” and crosses the Jordan to reunite with his estranged brother Esau.

     Josh 3.1-17      End of the Exodus: God’s people carry the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan into the promised land.

     2Kg 2.1-12      Elijah crosses the Jordan shortly before being taken up into heaven.

     2Kg 5.1-19      Naaman is cured of leprosy when Elisha commands him to wash 7 times in the Jordan.

3.15 What does it mean that Jesus’ baptism was “proper to fulfill all righteousness”? Why was God “pleased with him” after the baptism?

3.16-17 Compare the heavenly response to Jesus’ baptism with the heavenly responses to his birth in Lk 2.8-20 (angel of the Lord, multitude of the heavenly host, Gloria in Excelsis) and Mt 2.1-15 (star in the east, dream to wise men, angel of the Lord). How public or private were each of these responses to Jesus’ birth and/or baptism?

3.16-17 See notes on Acts 10.37b-38a on the dove, the Holy Spirit, the voice, and “power”.

3.17 a voice from heaven Is this the voice of God? If so, why is it not identified as such? Circumlocution? Holy Spirit rather than “God” the Father?

3.17 my Son, the Beloved What does it mean for Jesus to be God’s “Son, the Beloved”? Compare to Psalm 2.7b: Psalm 2:7 “(The Lord) said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you,’” where a king was anointed and from that point on was viewed as “God’s Son”. How did Jesus’ status as the Son of God change (or not change) at this moment?

3.17 This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Compare this with Isaiah 42.1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” What is the significance of the parallels? How is Jesus’ name, “he saves” connected with Isaiah 42.1?

*I do not necessarily advocate using these as titles for real sermons, but rather present them in the hope that you might stumble over them and fall upon some useful ideas. Enjoy.

Recommended Resources:

Epiphany 1A / Baptism of Our Lord

Burgess, Richard Pericope Study for Sunday 1/9/5 (this document)

http://www.geocities.com/richardmburgess/pericope-study-ep1a.htm

Woodard, Jenee The Text This Week

http://www.textweek.com/yeara/baptisma.htm

Nelson, Dan Text Studies

http://sio.midco.net/danelson9/yeara/epiphany1a.htm

Nuechterlein, Paul Girardian Reflections

http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/epiphany1a.htm

Matthew 3.13-17

Aland, Kurt Synopsis of the Four Gospels: English Edition United Bible Societies 1982.

Stoffregen, Brian Exegetical Notes.

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt3x13.htm

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Copyright © 2004 by Richard M Burgess                                                 latest revision: December 31, 2004