Upcoming Sunday Scriptures Commentary - January 12

January 12 Sermon – “Who Am I?”

Isaiah 42:1-9

Our reading is one of four Servant Songs in the Book of Isaiah. These are poems about God’s special messenger who will fulfill his purpose for the people of God. Though innocent, he will suffer for his people. The church views this servant role as fulfilled through the life and ministry of Jesus.

The Servant has been interpreted as Israel as a whole and as an individual person as well.

The Servant will…

V. 1 – Have the Spirit of God

V. 2 – Be quiet

V. 4 – Won’t fail or be discouraged.

V. 5 – Continue to do what God has so faithfully done in the past.

V. 6 – Be a light to the nations and set people free.

Matthew 3:13-17

In our Gospel reading, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. This marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

Jesus was baptized because he was identifying himself with the mission of righteousness for which he had been sent. In addition, baptism is God’s affirmation that we belong to God.

V. 16 – Notice how the Spirit came upon Jesus at his baptism, fulfilling the Isaiah passage above where it speaks of the servant having the Spirit of God.

VV. 16-17 – The presence of the Trinity (Jesus, the Spirit, and the Voice from heaven (the Father.)

Discussion Questions

1.     Like us, Jesus needed to begin his public faith journey with the affirmation of God and of God’s Spirit. This is how we will remember who we are as we live out our faith. How has your baptism helped you through your faith journey?

2.     Jesus was the Messiah, but didn’t do what the people of his day were hoping he would do as the Messiah (ie. Defeat the Romans and restore political freedom to Israel.) Instead, Jesus defeated the enemy of sin and freed us from sin and death. How can we stay faithful to who Jesus is rather than on who we think he should be?

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]