Jesus Calls His Disciples

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Again we hear the proclamation of Jesus' ministry on earth in today's lesson: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” This is the message of Jesus in a nutshell, proclaimed then to the Jews and the would-be disciples, and still to us today. Repent, turn away from your sins, because the reign of God is drawing near to you. And indeed, the reign of God has come near, and is here among us.

There is a split in the understanding of Jesus' statement, often expressed as “now, but not yet.” Two thousand years ago, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the kingdom of heaven had come. The reign of God stood upon that bank, in the person of Jesus, as He proclaimed salvation to all the people of Israel. The kingdom of God drew near to Andrew and Simon that day as they were drawing their nets, and as they heeded the call and left their nets in the boat and became fishers of men.

The Boundary of History

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Twice in today's Gospel lesson, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. The first time is to the Jews, and the second to John's disciples. But what does it mean that John repeatedly identifies Jesus with this title? What does it signify that John points to Jesus with this particular phrase, over and over again?

In this lesson, we see a condensed version of all of sacred history. Our lesson today picks up mid-conversation, as John the Baptist is speaking to the Jews about the coming Messiah. Just as the last and greatest prophet is declaring the Word of the Lord to the people of God, the Word of God Incarnate appears in their midst. This is the first day of history.

Then, the next day, John identifies Jesus in the same way to his disciples. John points to the One whom He had said would be greater than he. This is the second day of history.

Finally, on the third day of sacred history, John is not there to point to Jesus, but there is no need, for the whole world sees Jesus high and lifted up upon the cross. This is the third day, the rest of history.

You Are Those Who ARE Baptized!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Why did Jesus come into the flesh? Why did Jesus come to the Jordan? Why did Jesus come to John to be baptized? He had no sin of His own. He is the perfect, holy, spotless, innocent Son of God. So why did he need the ritual confession of sins and washing of forgiveness?

Why did Jesus do anything that He did? He did all that was necessary to fulfill all righteousness, as Matthew records. Jesus came to earth and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was made man in the Virgin's womb to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was circumcised, named, and presented in the temple according to the precepts of the Law, to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was brought to the temple for His first Passover, and there questioned the teachers of the Law, to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus came to the Jordan and was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus went to Calvary, was crucified, died, and was buried to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus rose triumphant from the grave, ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father to fulfill all righteousness.