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PREFACE:
Moving from an emphasis on
Jesus’ birth during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany to the baptism of an adult
Jesus three Sundays after Christmas always seems to jolt my sensibilities, but
is there any way around it? How might
teachers and preachers smooth the transition? 42:1 In Isaiah’s original context, whom would Isaiah identify as the servant? Was the Spirit put on him because he was already a servant, or did he become a servant because the spirit was put upon him? In light of today’s Gospel Reading, who is the servant, John the Baptizer or Jesus?
42:2 Why does this matter?
42:3 What is a “bruised
reed”? Why would a dimly burning wick be quenched?
42:4 This is the third occurrence
of the word “justice” (see verses 1 and 3).
What is the nature of this justice?
42:5 Now that we have the formulaic
“Thus say God, the LORD”, might we ask who was speaking in verses 1-4? I like the pairing of “breath” and “spirit”. Which
creation account, if either, does Isaiah allude to?
42:6-7 To whom is the LORD
speaking? Does this passage at all inform any doctrine of call? Note the plural
“nations”!
42:8 What is the name of
the LORD?
42:9 Change is
difficult. Are most people in the pews
willing and ready to accept that “former things have come to pass” What the “new things I now declare”?
29:1 Who are the “heavenly beings”? Are there heavenly beings in additional to angels, cherubim and seraphim?
29:2 What is the LORD’s
name (see Isaiah 42:8)? What is “holy splendor”?
29:3 Is the Psalmist
alluding to the first creation account or simply alluding to the attributes and
praise of God of the Storm? Might we
find some some baptismal imagery and language here?
29:4-10 When I have been
backpacking, I have loved loud, crashing thunder and lightning because
wilderness storms remind me of the awesome grandeur of God. What if we baptized from maelstroms rather
than cute, little, calm, manageable fonts?
Perhaps a domesticated God is not worthy of praise.
29:5 What is so special
about the cedars of Lebanon?
29:6 Who or what is “Sirion”?
29:8 What and where is the
wilderness of Kadesh?
29:11 After all the
previous violent storm imagery, how shall we interpret this blessing of peace?
10:34 Who was Peter speaking to? It has been awhile since we have heard from Peter. While it might be true that God shows no partiality, I think we cannot say the same of the institutional church.
10:35 Does “nation” refer
to geographical realities or ethnic and religious groups? Does this verse point
to any sort of universalism? What does it mean to “fear” God? Can someone fear
God and not be a practicing Jew or Christian? How does this verse fly in the
face of justification by faith through grace?
10:36 Why “peace” rather
than salvation?
10:37 Did John practice or
preach baptism? Does this verse justify this Reading being selected for
“Baptism of the Lord”?
10:38 What is the
difference between being anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power? Does
this verse suggest that all illness is a result of oppression by the devil?
10:39 Why a “tree” rather
than a cross?
10:41 How does this verse
impact our theology of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist?
10:42 How does this verse
inform our understanding of ordination?
10:43 “All the
prophets”? Really? I think Peter is prone to a little hyperbole.
3:13 When was “Then”? How will you answer people when they ask “if Jesus was sinless, why did he seek to be baptized?”?
3:14 Was John asking the above question?
3:15 How does Jesus being baptized by
John “fulfill all righteousness”?
3:16 Jesus “saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him,” but did anyone else see it? How
do dove’s descend?
3:17 Whose voice is heard? Who heard this
voice? Might this verse prefigure
anything similar in Matthew?
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