Dear Visitor,
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
In the Epiphany season, Christ’s Church ponders the mystery of the Word made flesh, God’s Son Jesus, the Light of the world. Ancient Israelcalled the Torah (the five books of Moses) the light of the world. By keeping Torah, God’s people were to bring light to the world as a kind of lifestyle evangelism. John’s Gospel declares that Jesus is the Living Torah that sin, death, and evil itself cannot master or even comprehend.
On the first Sunday after Epiphany, Christians celebrate the Baptism of our Lord (Mark 1:4-11). This event marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. It is a Trinitarian moment when the Spirit descends and the Father speaks: “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Father’s message combines Psalm 2:7 (a royal psalm) with Isaiah 42:1 (a servant song). God’s Son Jesus is not only the anointed King from David’s family (2 Samuel 7); He comes as the perfect Servant who will suffer and die for the sin of the world (see Isaiah 53).
Jesus’ Baptism becomes the prototype of Christian Baptism enacted on and after the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Baptized with water into Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians receive the Holy Spirit and are called into lives of humble service without limit (see Philippians 2:5-11). The Church is called to be Christ’s living Body in the world.
During the weeks before Ash Wednesday, the Church hears the call to follow Jesus, the Living Torah, that sin, death, and evil itself cannot master or comprehend. And what a significant difference that call is from the narcissistic resolutions many are making in the world around us! Immature Christians focus on “the show,” the three things they can do this week to have better lives, and, of course, being part of the crowd. Those grasped by God’s Son Jesus die to themselves with Him and follow Him in lives of limitless service. Sin, death, and evil itself will never, never overcome or even understand the Light that gives glory to the Father in heaven!
If you want to be challenged to grow deeper as a disciple of Jesus, then join us this week for holy worship that doesn’t have a good beat you can dance to.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pastor Sam Zumwalt, STS
szumwalt@bellsouth.net
www.societyholytrinity.org
910-791-4582 x200
