Breaking Open the Word

 
Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34
 
This week we hear the second of the four passages or poems that are called the Servant Songs. What we actually hear starts out in verse 3, but miss out on two important verses in verses 1&2, is the Servant reflecting on his call from the Lord.
 
As usual the scholars make interesting points for us to reflect on, such as who this directed to, who the Servant actually is, individual or Israel, and how we are to put this all in perspective.
 
Verses 1&2 sound like passages we hear from other prophets, like Jeremiah’s call in Jeremiah 1:5. Specifically, here in the 2 ^nd line of verse 1 where it says “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” This really sounds like an individual who has heard the call to be a servant for the Lord. It goes on in verse 2 to describe some of the attributes the Lord has given him to use in his ministry.
 
When we come to verse 3, we hear the passage that identifies the servant as Israel specifically who will show the world His glory. By the time we get to verses 5&6, we are back to hearing the Servant himself being identified as the one whom the Lord will make glorious and that God will be his strength.
 
An important concept in verse 6 is the line where it says “…I will make you a light to the nations…” The Lord has always been concerned about the salvation of His creation and here He wants His Servant to be the one who is the example for all to see that salvation come through the Lord. That Servant is the one whom we should be viewing with an eye to imitate in action and words.
 
This concept of setting one aside to be our example is nothing new for the Lord to do. We hear a very similar passage in Acts of the Apostles in chapter 13 verse 47 when we hear “.. a light to the Gentiles…”  We also hear in Jeremiah 1:5, that he was appointed “…a prophet to the nations.” There are other passages in scripture where we see the concept being repeated, if not the same exact words. The Lord really wants us to be that beacon of light that people can turn to in times of need.
 
We have heard before how Paul opens his letters to the communities he is writing to in a very specific way, a common practice with ancient letters of the time. He introduces himself and any companions who are with him. In this letter to the Corinthians, he introduces Sosthenes as co-author, senders of the letter. 
 
Since Sosthenes was a common name in that era, we really cannot be specific to his identity or his role except that Paul calls him a brother. It appears that he was well known to the community at Corinth.
 
In Paul’s letters he identifies himself as an apostle called by Jesus Himself to be an instrument to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ because it is God’s will. This commission he receives is not one where he acts on his own authority, but he has the authority and backing of the all of the Apostles in Jerusalem.
 
Part of all of his greetings, in his letters to all the communities he writes to, involves his greeting of grace and peace through Jesus Christ. He wants them to understand that this is a gift from God given through Jesus Himself. It is a reminder of their call to holiness that has been given to those believers who believe in Jesus.
 
Last week, in the Gospel of Matthew, we heard the passages about the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John. This week we switch to the Gospel of John to the section called “The Book of Signs.” What is critical in this opening section is that John the Baptist sees Jesus and calls Him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He also tells us that he did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, even though his call was to baptize and point to the one who was to come.
 
John says that the one who sent him to point he way and to baptize others with water, would recognize the Messiah when he sees the Spirit of the Lord descend on Him and that He would be the one to baptize in the Holy Spirit. John’s confession that Jesus is the Son of God is significant as he begins to pull away, to decrease so that Jesus can increase.
 
John has one other encounter with Jesus before we hear him being arrested and finally being beheaded. From this point on we focus on Jesus and His ministry. The prologue is complete and we move on to His ministry among the people, calling them and us to holiness and repentance as we are invited to enter the Kingdom of God.