Lectionary lessons for January 19th

Isaiah 49:1–7:  Israel's mission as God's servant people is further elaborated in another of the four Servant Songs found in the latter part of Book of Isaiah. Here the mission is not only to return the Israelites to their homeland after two generations in exile in Babylon, but to bring the good news of God's redemption to the world. The once humiliated and enslaved people are not only to be restored but specially chosen for this divine mission.

Psalm 40:1–11 (UMH 774): The psalmist rejoices and thanks God for recovery from a serious illness. Rather than making a ritual sacrifice or a special offering, telling others in the congregation of his deliverance will be his way of expressing gratitude.

1 Corinthians 1:1–9:  Paul's first letter to the Corinthians begins in the normal fashion for correspondence of that time. Sosthenes may have been the scribe to whom Paul dictated the letter. Scholars debate whether he had also been the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth during Paul's ministry there  (Acts 18:17).  In his opening prayer Paul thanks God for the faith of the Corinthians. They have been greatly enriched spiritually and strengthened to live Christ's way until he comes again. Their reward for faithfulness is a life of fellowship with Christ.

John 1:29–42:  This little vignette differs from the baptism narratives found in the other gospels.  John recognized Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." This is a statement of faith rooted in the ancient Jewish ritual of sacrifice which the church later adopted as a part of the order of worship for holy communion.  Note that this gospel never states that John baptized Jesus. Two kinds of baptism are described. John says that while he baptized with water, Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. It is also John, not Jesus, who saw the Spirit descending as a dove.