| 01.08.12 Grant Us an Epiphany |
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Grant Us an Epiphany Epiphany January 8, 2012
Scriptures: Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4–11 (NLT)
Why was Jesus baptized? How do we explain this?
"It was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
He chose to identify himself with us.
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
"I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished!" Luke 12:50 NLT
What tough issues are you confronted with this morning? The God of Creation, the God who became flesh, the God who raised Jesus from the dead is the One who steps into the water with you and identifies with you.
Just as Christ identifies with us, we are to identify with Him; we are to take our stand by His side.
The early church ended its first worship service with the sacrament of baptism.
Christ asks you to publicly identify with Him. |
