Musings for August 14

Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lectionary 20
Proper 15
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah we hear that God's house shall be a house of prayer for all people and that God will gather the outcasts of Israel. The Canaanite woman in today's gospel is a Gentile, an outsider, who is unflinching in her request that Jesus heal her daughter. As Jesus commends her bold faith, how might our church extend its mission to those on the margins of society? In our gathering around word and meal we receive strength to be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need.

Maximilian Kolbe, died 1941; Kaj Munk, died 1944; martyrs
Father Kolbe was a Franciscan priest arrested by the Nazis and confined in Auschwitz. Kolbe gave generously of his meager resources, and finally volunteered to be starved to death in place of another man. A Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright, Munk strongly denounced the Nazis who occupied Denmark in the Second World War. His sermons and articles helped to show the anti-Christian nature of the movement.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you.
Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy,
that your name may be known throughout the earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 56:1, 6–8

The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God's imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.

Thus says the LORD:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
⁶And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant —
⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
⁸Thus says the Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.

Psalm 67

Let all the peoples praise you, O God. (Ps. 67:3)

¹May God be merciful to ^| us and bless us;

may the light of God's face ^| shine upon us.

²Let your way be known ^| upon earth,

your saving health a- ^| mong all nations.

³Let the peoples praise ^| you, O God;

let all the ^| peoples praise you.

⁴Let the nations be glad and ^| sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide all the na- ^| tions on earth. R

⁵Let the peoples praise ^| you, O God;

let all the ^| peoples praise you.

⁶The earth has brought ^| forth its increase;

God, our own ^| God, has blessed us.

⁷May God ^| give us blessing,

and may all the ends of the earth ^| stand in awe. R

Second reading Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32

God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable, so that while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ²God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. ²⁹for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. ³²For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Gospel

Matthew 15:[10–20] 21–28

Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be pagan and unclean approaches him for help.

¹⁰Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: ¹¹it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." ¹²Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" ¹³He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." ¹⁵But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." ¹⁶Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
²¹Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²²Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." ²³But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." ²⁴He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." ²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." ²⁶He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." ²⁷She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflection

My brother sent me the address of a YouTube video and asked me what I thought of it. It is by a fellow named Carl Medearis and is titled, "How to read the Bible". I've never heard of the guy, but he makes some compelling points that I've applied to this week's gospel reading. I share it with you so that you can see and hear my source material for this reflection. http://www.youtube.com/carlmedearis#p/a/u/1/ldKn_gBx1yk

Carl says that reading the Bible is more of a conversation with God than a constitution (a rule book on how to live) from God. His summary is "try reading the scriptures again … think of it as a conversation between you and God. Imagine yourself sitting down and having God speak to you."

So as I re-read verses 17 to 20 of this week's gospel, I see that these verses can be thought of as rules on how to live. It says literally that it's not what enters the mouth that defiles us, but rather what comes out of it. God has my attention; let's talk. So watching violence on TV or the movies does not defile us, but rather it is the acting out of this violence in our lives that defiles us. (pause) Were going to have a long and perhaps heated discussion on whether or not watching violence makes people violent or whether violent people already have an inner craving for violence that leads to the behavior of watching such things on TV or the movies. As my conversation with God continues, I yield that outcomes are important. But the more we view violent behavior, the more we think that it is an acceptable course of action. So does violence only occur if a person has an inner craving for violence? I'm not sure because I haven't yet finished my conversation with God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to separate the metaphor from the literal. Help us to listen to your voice. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Epiphany 3

Sunday, January 23, 2011
Third Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 3

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come near. We who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. We see this light most profoundly in the cross—as God suffers with us and all who are oppressed by sickness, sin, or evil. Light dawns for us as we gather around the word, the font, and the holy table. We are then sent to share the good news that others may be "caught" in the net of God's grace and mercy.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Lord God,
your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us.
Summon us into your light,
and direct our steps in the ways of goodness
that come through the cross of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 9:1–4 NRSV p 665

The northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali experienced defeat, but they are assured that their condition will be reversed when God makes a light-filled appearance. The joy they will experience will resemble celebrations of great harvests, because God will deliver them from everything that diminishes or oppresses them. The people in the northern parts of Israel have experienced "gloom" and "darkness" because of the destruction wrought by Assyrian military forces. To these people, the prophet announces the shining of a great light of salvation.

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
²The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness —
on them light has shined.
³You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
⁴For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 27:1, 4–9

The LORD is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)

¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then ^| shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I ^| be afraid?

⁴One thing I ask of the LORD; one ^| thing I seek;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek God ^| in the temple.

⁵For in the day of trouble God will ^| give me shelter,

hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high up- ^| on a rock.

⁶Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies ^| who surround me.

Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music ^| to the LORD. R

⁷Hear my voice, O LORD, ^| when I call;

have mercy on me and ^| answer me.

⁸My heart speaks your message— ^| "Seek my face."

Your face, O LORD, ^| I will seek.

⁹Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- ^| vant in anger.

Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of ^| my salvation. R

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10–18 NRSV p 1038

Paul calls on the Corinthians to end their dissensions and share the unified outlook of the gospel. Discord arises when we forget that we belong not to human leaders or institutions but to Christ who was crucified for us. Indeed, the unifying word of the cross of Christ is the center of the gospel and the power of God's salvation.

¹⁰Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. ¹¹For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. ¹²What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." ¹³Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
¹⁸For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Gospel

Matthew 4:12–23 NRSV p 966

Jesus begins his public ministry shortly after John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod. He proclaims the nearness of God's reign and calls four fishermen to be his first disciples.

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
¹⁵"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles —
¹⁶the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned."
¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Reflection

Light - what a wonderful metaphor for Christ. In our first reading Isaiah prophesizes that with the coming Messiah, "people walking in darkness have seen a great light". Light is an integral part of essentially every level of our understanding of science. It plays an important role in almost everything that touches our lives. So what better way to describe Christ? This metaphor appears many times in scripture. John the apostle says of Jesus, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4-5) Later in the same chapter he quotes John the Baptist saying that he "came that He might bear witness of the light . . . the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man (John 1:8-9). And our gospel reading for today says, "the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."

As an object is illuminated with light, we begin to fully know and understand it. At low levels of light we can only start to make out its shape. With more light, we begin to see the details of the object and then we begin to see hue and the intensity of its color. Of course we use our other senses to understand the world around us, but seeing light is so essential to understanding. What's more, as an object in the dark is exposed to light, it absorbs and reflects that light. The more it is exposed, the more it absorbs and the more it radiates and reflects light for others to see. Light - what a wonderful metaphor for Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time you have been and are the light of the world. Help us to understand that our light is a reflection of you. Give us more of your light so that we may absorb more and radiate more. We pray for wisdom to understand your scriptures. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Reformation Reflections

Sunday, October 31, 2010
Reformation Day

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
On this day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ—the good news—that makes us free! We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to unite the church today in its proclamation and witness to the world. In the waters of baptism we are made one body; we pray for the day that all Christians will also be one at the Lord's table.

Reformation Day
By the end of the seventeenth century, many Lutheran churches celebrated a festival commemorating Martin Luther's posting of the Ninety-five Theses, a summary of abuses in the church of his time. At the heart of the reform movement was the gospel, the good news that it is by grace through faith that we are justified and set free.

Prayer of the Day (ELW) (Alternate)

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Jeremiah 31:31–34

The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.

31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 46

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)
1God is our ref- | uge and strength,
a very present | help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the | earth be moved,
and though the mountains shake in the depths | of the sea;
3though its waters | rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble | with its tumult.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- | y of God,
the holy habitation of | the Most High.
5God is in the midst of the city; it shall | not be shaken;
God shall help it at the | break of day.
6The nations rage, and the | kingdoms shake;
God speaks, and the earth | melts away. R
7The LORD of | hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
8Come now, regard the works | of the LORD,
what desolations God has brought up- | on the earth;
9behold the one who makes war to cease in | all the world;
who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the | shields with fire.
10"Be still, then, and know that | I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted | in the earth."
11The LORD of | hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold. R

Second Reading

Romans 3:19–28

Paul's words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ's death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Gospel

John 8:31–36

Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"
34Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Reflection
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free", is certainly one of the more recognizable statements of Jesus and yet it is seldom attributed to Him or even to the bible. I remember seeing it chiseled in a marble over an archway at a college I once visited. It was implying that this college will teach you the truth and as a result you will be free. I've heard it used in the context of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Print the truth or speak the truth and you will be free. This isn't what Jesus had in mind. Jesus is speaking about the slavery of sin (v 34) and that He offers freedom from the bondage of sin (v 36). This is good news, but there are a couple conditions to be met before we come to the freedom from sin part. We must know the truth. And to know the truth, we must become Christ's disciples. And we become His disciples when we embrace His teaching. Embracing Christ's teaching is more than just studying and learning, it is doing and being. Christianity is a life style and therein we find the freedom.

Prayer
Dear Jesus, help us to know the Truth, to be your disciples, to live in you and in your Word. Help us not to just listen to the Word, but to live the Word. Lord, we ask you to set us free, to live in your Truth.

Baptism of Our Lord

Sunday, January 10, 2010
Baptism of Our Lord

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
The Baptism of Our Lord cannot help but recall our own and all baptismal blessings. We recall and celebrate our adoption as daughters and sons, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promised company of almighty God when we "pass through the waters ... the rivers ... fire." On this day the heavens open again, for this assembly, and we receive the gift of the beloved Son of God in bread and wine

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Almighty God, you anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and revealed him as your beloved Son. Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit faithful in your service, that we may rejoice to be called children of God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Isaiah 43:1–7

Near the end of Israel's exile in Babylon, God promises to bring them home. They need no longer be afraid, because the one who formed, created, and called them by name now redeems them from all their enemies. God declares them precious and honored, and God loves them.

But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
³For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
⁴Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
⁵Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
⁶I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth —
⁷everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 29

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters. (Ps. 29:3)

¹Ascribe to the ^| LORD, you gods,

ascribe to the LORD glo- ^| ry and strength.

²Ascribe to the LORD the glory ^| due God's name;

worship the LORD in the beau- ^| ty of holiness.

³The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of ^| glory thunders;

the LORD is upon the ^| mighty waters.

⁴The voice of the LORD is a pow- ^| erful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a ^| voice of splendor.

⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the ^| cedar trees;

the LORD breaks the ce- ^| dars of Lebanon;

⁶the LORD makes Lebanon skip ^| like a calf,

and Mount Hermon like a ^| young wild ox.

⁷The voice ^| of the LORD

bursts forth in ^| lightning flashes.

⁸The voice of the LORD ^| shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilder- ^| ness of Kadesh.

⁹The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the ^| forests bare.

And in the temple of the LORD all are ^| crying, "Glory!"

¹⁰The LORD sits enthroned a- ^| bove the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king for- ^| evermore.

¹¹O LORD, give strength ^| to your people;

give them, O LORD, the bless- ^| ings of peace.

Second Reading

Acts 8:14–17

Peter and John are sent to support the new Christians in Samaria, a group that was recently baptized after hearing the good news of Christ through the preaching of Philip. Here the Samaritans receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the laying on of hands.

¹⁴Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ¹⁶(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). ¹⁷Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Gospel

Luke 3:15–17, 21–22

The reading opens with questions about the identity of the Messiah. John the Baptist insists that he is not the Messiah; instead he points ahead to one who is coming. And whether the voice of God was heard by all or only by Jesus, God settles the matter: Jesus is God's beloved Son.

¹⁵As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, ¹⁶John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
²¹Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, ²²and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Reflection

Oh, such a short reading on the baptism of Jesus. It was a significant event, it was recorded by all four gospel writers, but Luke covers it in less than one verse! Why was he so brief? Early in his gospel (Luke 1:3), he says that he has carefully investigated everything from the beginning. His account is exact in historical detail, yet so many details are left out of this event. Perhaps for Luke, the fact that Jesus was baptized is more important than the detail surrounding why he was baptized or of how he was baptized. Luke goes on to say that once the baptism had occurred, heaven was opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, and God identified Jesus as his son and told him that he was pleased with him. For me, that makes the baptism of Jesus a significant event more than the fact that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all recorded it. For in this short verse, Luke gives us a glimpse of the Trinity. All three members are present at the same time and interacting with one another. Oh, how I wish Luke had spent a little more ink and parchment on this event.

Prayer

We believe in one God, the Father, the maker of all that is, both seen and unseen.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

Quote

… wherever anybody is being baptized according to Christ’s command we should be confidently convinced that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is present there, and that there is pure delight, pleasure, and joy in heaven over the fact that sin is forgiven, the heavens opened forever, and that now there is no more wrath but only grace unalloyed. Martin Luther, vol. 51