The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2023

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #649      Jesus Savior Pilot Me                          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne: high and lifted up.

And I heard the voice of a great multitude, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc

The Epistle and Gradual             Romans 12:1-5

Gradual

The Lord sent His Word and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.

V. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness: and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Hallelujah!

The Gospel                                 Luke 2:41-52
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #660    Heaven Is My Home

Early Gospel Ministry of Jesus

The Hymn #652        I Lay My Sins on Jesus

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #651        Be Still My Soul       

Prayers and Announcements

• Hymn suggestions are always welcome.
• Pastor and Mrs. Jim Shrader; Randy Anderson - home from successful surgery; Anita Engleman; Pastor K and Doc Lito Cruz - dealing with diabetes. 
• Our media ministries - Alec Satin, Norma Boeckler. 

                

KJV Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Prayer - Viet Dietrich

Lord God, heavenly Father, who in mercy hast established the Christian home among us: We beseech Thee so to rule and direct our hearts, that we may be good examples to children and servants, and not offend them by word or deed, but faithfully teach them to love Thy Church and hear Thy blessed word. Give them Thy Spirit and grace, that this seed may bring forth good fruit, so that our homelife may conduce to Thy glory, honor and praise, to our own improvement and welfare, and give offense to no one; through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Sermon on Jesus in the Temple

The Two Natures in Christ, means He possessed divinity from conception, even though most saw Him at first as simply human. This mystery of His human-divine nature is revealed only through the Holy Spirit in the Word. Many rely on Dame Hulda, their human reason, and claim, "If it is beyond my experience and human reason, it is impossible." These slaves of their own philosophy first eliminate certain miracles which are beneath them. Later, they eliminate all miracles and His divinity. Once He is down to their size, they promote a religion without faith and without the fruits of faith.

They remind me of the girl who said in our college class, "Dr. Levin, I don't understand this." He gulped and said, "What don't you understand?" She said, "ALL of it." Once faith in Christ is turned into a weakness or problem, the entire message is lost, no matter how much they dig for new, exciting, and dramatic insights. The old errors are repeated endlessly. They still are.

In contrast, we have in this story a insight into the Person, the God-man Jesus Christ. Although He appeared to be only a boy, Jesus's divinity came through in His discussions in the Temple. He did not need to be taught. Instead, He was teaching them. 

"47 And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." Considering seniority at the Temple, it is a wonder that any scholar paid attention to a boy. But His divine wisdom could not be hidden. 

Early Gospel Ministry of Jesus

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

The marvel of Luke is including so much information and teaching not found in Matthew. Every verse in the Four Gospels matters because the Holy Spirit is so stingy with words. That also means that we learn so much in each verse. For example, the Holy Family came to the Passover each year, a long march uphill.

Consider the lesson being taught us. The Passover and the Exodus are the prequels to the ministry of Christ, just as the Gospel of John is a commentary on the Books of Moses.

1. Jesus is the Passover Lamb.
2. Jesus was without guilt.
3. Jesus performed miracles, not unlike the Exodus.
4. Jesus provided food miraculously. John 6. Exodus 16.
5. Jesus spoke of Himself as Living Water. John 4. Exodus 17.
6. Jesus referred to bronze serpent lifted up. Numbers 21. John 3.
7. Exodus 3 is Trinitarian and the Angel of the Lord reveals His Name as I AM. Throughout John and also in Mark.

Joseph and Mary brought the chosen Messiah to His official Temple each year, and yet they were peeved beyond measure that He stayed to consult with His subordinates.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

Galilee is downhill from Jerusalem, so a day's journey meant going back, trudging uphill with their gear, stopping along the way to search for Him. This by itself is a great lesson. We are prone to leave the Gospel behind when we are engaged in our routine duties. They were being normal parents while He was subtly revealing Himself.

The miraculous signs were many that prepared Israel for their Promised Messiah:

• The Angelic announcement to the Shepherds
• The Star of Bethlehem, David's city.
• The circumcision of Jesus.
• Jesus in the Temple as a boy, talking to the leaders.
• John the Baptist quoting Isaiah 40.
• The Baptism of Jesus by John.

Therefore, the people were well prepared for the ministry of Jesus. Likewise, the persecution of Christians by the Church of Rome sparked the Reformation - and even more persecution.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 

Every couple that has had a lost or wayward child can identify with the anxious, even furious mother and father. They had to search for three days. How could they even sleep?

Jesus was sitting in the temple area, listening to and asking the scholars questions. Could this small amount of leaven lead to Nicodemus in John 3?

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The mission of Jesus was far beyond human understanding. How could the parents not know His two natures and His future work? That should not shock us, because almost every portrayal of Jesus is only about His human nature. And the members are not told to start with the Scriptures but with the current programs.

Mary treasured everything in her heart and was there at the cross and with the early Apostles.