01/20 – John 1:29-42 – Jesus Ministry Begins
January 20, 2019
Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7
Listen to me, you islands. Pay attention, you people far away. Before I was born, the Lord chose me. While I was in my mother’s womb, he recorded my name. He made my tongue like a sharp sword and hid me in the palm of his hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow and hid me in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant Israel. I will display my glory through you.”
But I said, “I have worked hard for nothing. I have used my strength, but I didn’t accomplish anything. Yet, certainly my case is in the Lord’s hands, and my reward is with my God.”
The Lord formed me in the womb to be his servant in order to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him. (The Lord honors me, and my God has become my strength.)
Now, the Lord says, “You are not just my servant who restores the tribes of Jacob and brings back those in Israel whom I have preserved. I have also made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.”
The Lord is the Redeemer of Israel, its Holy One. This is what the Lord says to the despised one, to the one scorned by the nation, to the slave of rulers: Kings will see you and stand. Princes will see you and bow. The Lord is faithful. The Holy One of Israel has chosen you.
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from Sosthenes {SOS-than-ees}, our brother in the Christian faith.
To God’s Church that was made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God’s holy people in the city of Corinth and to people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Good will and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!
I always give thanks to my God for you because Christ Jesus has shown you God’s good will. Through Christ Jesus you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind. Our message about Christ has been verified among you. Therefore, you don’t lack any gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will continue to give you strength until the end so that no one can accuse you of anything on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God faithfully keeps his promises. He called you to be partners with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel: John 1:29-42
John saw Jesus coming toward him… and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’ I didn’t know who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel.”
John said, “I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven and stay on him. I didn’t know who he was, but God, who sent me to baptize with water had told me, ‘When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, you will know that person is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen this and have declared that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John was standing with two of his disciples. John saw Jesus walk by and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God.” When the two disciples heard John say this, they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means ‘teacher’), “where are you staying?”
Jesus told them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went to see where he was staying and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two disciples who heard John and followed Jesus. He at once found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means ‘Christ’). Andrew brought Simon to Jesus.
Jesus looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon son of John. Your name will be Cephas” (which means ‘Peter’ or ‘Rock’).
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