This Is the One!
By James Wiese on January 8, 2022
First Sunday after Epiphany January 9, 2022
Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 CW- Three Year Series C 22:2296
Theme: This Is the One! (Note the parallels with Christ and yourself.)
Who of you are the youngest in your families? I was in mine. I have two older brothers. If you are the last born, you know that it is not always easy to be the youngest. Well into my 40s, my mother still introduced me as “the baby of the family.” It’s not always easy being the youngest. Ah, yes, you oldest and middle-born children might say the same thing, but for different reasons.
There are so many interesting things that older brothers and sisters can do. But if you are the youngest, you can’t join with them. First, because you are not old enough, wise enough, or able enough yet to do the same things. Secondly, because the older ones don’t want the youngest one tagging along with them. At least, that’s how it was for me. “You’re too young! You can’t do it! You’re not big enough,” is what I often heard. Besides that, others always compare the youngest one to the older brothers.
He was the youngest of 8 sons in his family. David was not as tall and stalwart as his oldest brother Eliab, not as impressive as Abinadab, not as able as some of the other boys. Mostly he was just too young. So, he was given the menial task of caring for the family’s sheep.
Someone had to look after them. David knew that. Most of all, he was willing. Taking care of his father’s business by watching over his sheep was important work, even if it was not always readily acknowledged by others.
It was lonely up there in the hills by oneself with only sheep for company. Lots of time to think and pray and write hymns to God’s praise. He didn’t waste time grumbling about his lot in life. Indeed, he was thankful, knowing God was watching him, taking care of him, planning out his life’s work. And because he trusted his heavenly Father, he knew his time would come someday.
Every child of God can be sure of these same things, too, as one looks to God for his life. The psalmist sang, “Oh, rest in the LORD; wait patiently for Him, and He will give thee the desires of thy heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light. Wait for the LORD” (Ps.37:5-7,34).
David’s life wasn’t always a tranquil life. There were stirring moments when a bear or lion would sneak quietly into the flock and try to snatch a helpless lamb or an older sheep. David was so sure of God’s care for him that he never stopped to be afraid. Whispering a prayer to his heavenly Father, he confronted the wild animal, and with the Lord upholding him, he caught hold of the lion and struck him down.
And so, David sat on the hillside above Bethlehem, guarding the sheep, singing God’s praises, waiting for God’s time for him to fully come so that he could carry out God’s plan for him. He was, as the Bible says, “a man after God’s own heart.” There were few in Israel who had confidence in their heavenly Father like he did. King Saul was one of those who didn’t.
He was Israel’s first king, but he sat in his palace brooding. He knew that he had been a failure as king of God’s people. Instead of that knowledge turning him to the Lord for help, it filled him with a wild fury that caused him to fly into violent rages.
It was all quite different from the way Saul had started out. When God’s prophet Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king some 40 years before this, Saul was recognized by all as brave and worthy of being king. He was a head taller than all the men in Israel. When Samuel anointed him, God sent an extra measure of the Holy Spirit upon him. But along the way Saul rejected God’s gift. He hardened himself against God leading him. Time and time again he disobeyed God for his own personal gains.
So it was that the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul and evil spirits tormented him (16:14). They filled his heart with anger, hatred, suspicion, and cruelty. The Scriptures admonish, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (Ja.4:7f). Saul refused to do it.
Even the great prophet, Samuel, who had judged God’s people so many years, sat at home waiting for Saul to change. He grieved over Saul and was so immersed in his grief that Samuel was not alert to what the Lord would have him do next in carrying out God’s will for His people. But God never stops working for the good of His people. He admonished Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I see a king for Myself among his sons.”
God is always working for the good of His people. While you and I sit, like Samuel, in sorrow, anger, or listlessness, God shows the way. “Come, get up and go, there is work to be done for my people and my heavenly Kingdom.”
Samuel replied: “How can I go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
This was the great prophet and judge Samuel speaking. He had trusted and served God all his life, ever since his mother, Hannah, had taken him as a young boy and left him at the tabernacle to serve in God’s House. Never suppose that it is only young people who need to learn the lessons of faith. We adults must also go on learning all our lives long while we are here until God takes us to Himself. “Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be faithful unto death, and He will give you the crown of life” (2Pt.3:18; Rv.2:10).
Samuel went to Bethlehem. He invited all the town folk to a sacrifice and feast to God. One by one seven sons of Jesse stepped forward with their father. Samuel saw Eliab, the eldest and most impressive son, and thought, “Surely, he is the one God has chosen as His anointed one.” But God said, “No. Do not look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at things the way man does. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Next came Abinadab. No, the Lord had not chosen him either. Then Shammah. No. Then the other sons, down to the seventh. No. “Are these all of them?” Samuel asked. “The LORD has not chosen any of these. “There is still the youngest,” Jesse said. “He is tending the sheep.” “Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he comes,” Samuel replied. At last David arrived. God said, “Anoint Him! He Is the One.” Samuel took his horn, full of oil and poured it out abundantly on David’s head. And even as he made this outward, visible sign of God’s calling, the Holy Spirit rushed on David with power from that day forward.
So, what parallels do you see with David, Christ, and also you? To begin with, consider what we, as human beings, see.
Our sight tends to be the sense we trust most. We even have a saying about it: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That’s almost exactly what the disciple Thomas said following the news of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. “I’ll believe it when I see it and touch the nail marks in His hands and the gash of the spear in His side. Then I will believe it.” That was not faith but unbelief. Such an approach presents a problem when it comes to the works of God.
What our eyes see, often differs from what God decrees:
– a young boy David, last born and least impressive in his family, is anointed by God to be the leader of God’s people, and more, to establish the family from which the Savior would be born. “This Is the One I have chosen,” God said. And God’s Spirit rushed upon him, filling David with needed gifts to serve God;
– an unknown man, supposedly a carpenter’s son, whom His hometown people saw as no different from them, humbly submits and enters the Jordan River to be baptized when He does not need it for Himself, for He has no sin of His own. This Is the One who is greater than the prophet John. This is God’s Anointed One, the Christ who will give His life to save the world lost in sin. With Him God is most pleased. And the Holy Spirit fills Him for the work of salvation that lies ahead;
– a little water poured upon your head, accompanied with the Word and promises of God, is filled with the righteousness of God because of Jesus entered the Jordan River to be baptized. The baptism washed away your sin and made you an heir of heaven as God said, “Here Is One I have chosen for my Kingdom. And the Holy Spirit rushed into your life.
Who of us weak, sinful creatures could see any of it? What our eyes see, often differs from what God decrees. Yet, for the eyes of faith, God uncovers His saving truths for us. He sent His beloved Son and gives the Holy Spirit for us to believe and receive eternal blessings. God grant us faith from above that uncovers for us in Christ what our eyes cannot always see; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield
(A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)
Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244
www.zionluthchurch.com email: revelehmann@gmail.com
You can also find us on Facebook
The First Sunday after Epiphany: Our Lord’s Baptism January 9, 2022
“The Holy Spirit descended on Him…And a voice came from heaven:
“You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with You.” Luke 3:22
F o r O u r V i s i t o r s
The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e
“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble against the LORD and against His Anointed One. But He who sits in heaven said to Me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten You.’” (Psalm 2).
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
Uncovered as Set Apart by God. During Epiphany (“appearing”) the Scriptures reveal how God uncovered and set apart His Son as the Savior. The first of such revelations took place on the occasion of Jesus’ baptism. Heaven was opened. The Father bore witness to His Son as the Christ, the Son received His witness, and the Holy Spirit confirmed it.
Christ means Anointed One. It refers to one whom God set apart as His representative for divine purposes. In the Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings were anointed for their work. Jesus is the embodiment of all three on the highest level as He sets about His task redeeming us to God. His baptism marks the uncovering and beginning of that work as He sanctifies our baptisms with His righteousness.
To that end we pray: Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus, You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Keep us who are baptized into Christ faithful in our callings and make us heirs with Him of everlasting life; for Jesus’ sake we pray. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
The Old Testament Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
In the eyes of his family and Samuel, the young man David was not the best choice to be king. Yet, he was God’s choice, later described as a man after God’s heart. The Lord sent the prophet Samuel to set David apart through anointing as Israel’s king to guide the people back to God.
The Epistle Lesson: Titus 3:4-7
When the kindness and love of God appeared, He saved us because of His mercy. He saved us through the merits of Christ Jesus whom He set apart as the Savior. In baptism we are renewed and reunited with God through Jesus’ saving work and are set apart in our lives as His heirs.
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:15-17,21,22
To many John the Baptist looked like he could be the Messiah. But John pointed the people to a greater One than he. That One who was coming would be set apart by God to redeem sinners to God. At Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit and the Father confirmed Jesus as the greater One.
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The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
What the Eye Sees Differs From What God Decrees
Our sight tends to be the sense we trust most. We say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That presents a problem when it comes to the work of God. So often what our eye sees differs from what God decrees. This is true of the life of Jesus. In the eyes of the world, He was nothing special. This is also true in the life of the Christian. To the world, the believer does not look more blessed than the unbeliever. Indeed, the opposite is often true as the devil and his allies attempt to destroy him. To assure His children, God connects His grace, power, and blessing to something we can see and hear – His Word and Sacraments.
Point to Ponder: “At His baptism Christ was entering our stead, indeed, our person, taking upon Himself the sins which He had not committed and drowning them in His holy baptism. First, He, the One more powerful, must sanctify baptism through His own body and thereby take away the sin, in order that afterwards those who believe in Him may have the forgiveness of sins.” — adapted from sermons by Martin Luther
Outline of Our Worship
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
Opening Hymn: #80
Order of Worship Hymnal page 38, “Service of the Word”
The Ministry of the Word
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm of the Day: #2 Hymnal page 65
Titus 3:4-7
God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
Luke 3:15-17,21-22
The Hymn: #89
Sermon Text: Luke 3:15-17,21,22 This Is the One!
Our Response to the Word
The Offering
Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer. pg.43
Hymn: #470
The Lord Blesses Us
Closing Prayer & Blessing: Hymnal pages 43-44
Silent Prayer
First Sunday after the Epiphany: Baptism of Our Lord – Series C
Old Testament Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 – David Anointed King
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I see a king for myself among his sons.” 2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the person that I point out to you.”
4So Samuel did what the Lord had told him to do and went to Bethlehem. Trembling with fear, the elders of the city came to meet him. They said, “Do you come in peace?”5He said, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they had come, he looked at Eliab and said, “Certainly this is the Lord’s anointed.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at how tall he is, because I have rejected him. For the Lord does not look at things the way man does. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9Then Jesse had Shammah pass by. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11Samuel said to Jesse, “Is that all of the young men?” Jesse said, “There still is the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him, for we cannot sit down to eat until he comes.”
12He sent for him and brought him in. David had red hair and striking eyes and was good-looking. The Lord said, “Get up! Anoint him, because this is the one.” 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord rushed on David with power from that day forward. After that Samuel set out and returned to Ramah.
Epistle Lesson: Titus 3:4-7 – He Saved Us
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, 5he saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs in keeping with the hope of eternal life.
Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:15-17,21,22 – John Baptizes Jesus
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But someone mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. While he was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project.
C a l e n d a r & A n n o u n c e m e n t s f o r Z i o n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h
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Midweek Bible Study 4:30 pm Confirmation Class Choir
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Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion online – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study Epiphany 2 |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
“Why did Jesus need to be baptized? I thought baptism was for sinners?” It seems strange that our Savior, who was sinless, would need to be baptized, and yet He was. Why? Because Jesus had come to be our perfect Savior, and He is revealed as such in His baptism. God laid on Him the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). Even from birth He endured the effects of our sin. Though Jesus wasn’t a sinner himself, He was carrying our sin, pain and sorrow (Is 53:4), making Him seem an unlikely Savior. But by taking our sin and suffering on Himself, Jesus actually became our unlikely, yet perfect Savior (Heb 2:10; 5:7-9).
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:15-17,21,22 (answers are found on the back side)
- What was the purpose of the baptism given by John?
- If Jesus was sinless, why was He baptized?
- Which three special persons were present at the baptism of Jesus?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; Norine Richardson; Jodi Milam; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Dave Ballou; Lois Wiese; Barbara Long; John Workentine, Schulz’s brother-in-law; Brandon Schulz with spinal injuries; Khendra Murdoch; Paul & Patsy Michelson; Kevin & Tom Jaster, Laurie Moon’s brother and nephew, with Covid; Gary Sellin; the family of Clyde Johnson whom the Lord took to eternal life this past week.
2022 Offering Envelopes are in your mailboxes or fellowship hall where you may pick up your new set for the year ahead.
New Hymnals Zion’s copies of Christian Worship – 21 and its accompanying volumes arrived last week. They can be found in the fellowship hall, if you would like to see them. It may be a while before we make full use of them as we first wish to familiarize ourselves with their content. It will help if you have the time to look at them over the next few weeks. There are materials found in this hymnbook that will also be an aid to family devotions at home.
Thank You for your kind holiday greetings and gifts by which you have remembered our family this Christmas. Your expressions of thoughtfulness mean a lot. We are happy to say with Paul: “I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way.” May the Lord bless your families with a rich measure of grace in the days of the New Year that lie ahead. A blessed New Year to you in Christ. – The Lehmann family
No Face Mask Regulations Facemasks are not required in a church setting in Springfield. If you feel more comfortable wearing a face mask, you may certainly do so. Masks and sanitizer are in the narthex and the fellowship hall for your use.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 16 – Annual Voters and Women Working for Christ Meetings
The Week in Review
Last Sunday: ; Communed: ;Bible Class: ; Midweek Bible Class: no class – snow; Sunday Offering: $698.
Next Sunday’s Lessons: Uncovered. God Delivers More than We Ask, not Less.
Epiphany 2 – Isaiah 62:1-5; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 2:1-11 (CW-21, 3-Year Series C)
Answers to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:
- The purpose was the same as the baptism we have today: it’s “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”
- Though Jesus did not have any sin of His own, in His role as the Savior he was carrying the sins of the world. He stood in our place (Is 53:6; Jn 1:29; 2 Co 5:21) and filled the waters of baptism with God’s blessing of forgiveness.
- The Holy Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) were present at Jesus’ baptism. In the same way, the Holy Trinity was present at our baptisms, as we are baptized “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).
This week I am praying for……