Daily Readings January 15-21, 2012

Daily Lectionary for January 15-21, 2012

Sunday                         Genesis 31:1-55, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalms 9:13-20

Monday                Genesis 32:1-33:20, Matthew 12:22-45, Proverbs 2:1-11

Tuesday            Genesis 34:1-35:29, Matthew 12:46-13:17, Psalms 10:1-11

Wednesday          Genesis 36:1-37:36, Matthew 13:18-35, Psalms 10:12-18

Thursday                 Genesis 38:1-39:23, Matthew 13:36-58, Psalms 11:1-7

Friday                   Genesis 40:1-41:40, Matthew 14:1-21, Proverbs 2:12-22

Saturday                                                        Looking Ahead to Epiphany 3

                                     2 Kings 5:1–15a, Romans 1:8–17, Matthew 8:1–13

CALENDAR

Saturday     January 14                 5:30 pm                            Divine Service

Sunday       January 15                 9:00 am                                  Bible Class

                                                   10:00 am                            Divine Service

                                                     3:00 pm             Adult Information Class

Tuesday      January 17                 8:30 am                                       NMMA

                                                     5:00 pm                                 Unity BOD

Wednesday January 18                 5:00 pm                              Confirmation

                                                     7:30 pm                                              AA

Thursday    January 19                 7:30 am                         Virden Chamber

Saturday     January 21                 5:00 pm                            Divine Service

Look forward to the Third Sunday after Epiphany

2 Kings 5:1–15a, Romans 1:8–17, Matthew 8:1–13

Jesus Came for Gentiles, Too

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile (Rom. 1:8–17). Even in the Old Testament, the Gentiles were beneficiaries of God’s saving power. Though unimpressed at first with the Word of God, a Syrian commander is persuaded to receive that Word, and in the water he is cleansed and brought to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1–15a). Evil is overcome by good (Rom 12:16–21). So also in the New Testament, a Roman centurion demonstrates great and humble faith in the Lord (Matt. 8:1–13). All he needs is the Word of Christ, for he trusts that Jesus’ Word of healing has authority to accomplish what it says. And indeed it does. The centurion’s faith is praised by our Lord above that of any Israelite. For the last shall be first, and the first last. Apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation—not even for a Jew­—but only weeping and gnashing of teeth.

SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—The Wedding in Cana of Galilee

The first miracle that Jesus performed was turning water into wine. Many might think of this miracle as an insignificant event. Not so! John writes: "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him." What did the disciples learn to believe about the Messiah from this "sign"? They learned that God had not abandoned the sinful human race, but had come to rescue it as the heavenly bridegroom who had come for His bride the church. Just as sin came into the world within the institution of marriage by the transgression of the first man, Adam, and thereby infected the entire human race, so God "manifested His glory" through the second Adam, Jesus, who would reverse the effects of the fall and save mankind, marriage, and family from destruction. God had not abandoned the people He created or the institutions of marriage and family, but has come to redeem them. He is now the true Man and the true Bridegroom. In His body the Church He creates an eternal family of love in the forgiveness of sins.