Friday, January 6, 2023 Epiphany
Reader: “Jesus Christ . . . ”
Response: “the Light of the world.”
Scripture: John 2:1-12
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
Some thoughts:
We began the advent season with the theme of the Second Coming and Jesus’ Return to institute a New Creation making all things new. Epiphany is the shedding of new light or revealing of something previously unseen or unknown. There are three themes that emerge in Epiphany, the visit of the magi, the baptism of Jesus, and Jesus’ changing of water to wine. This first of seven miracles in John’s gospel, inaugurates his public ministry and begins to reveal his identity as the Son of God.
A little geographical background may be helpful. Cana, the site of the wedding, was three to four miles northeast of Nazareth and about ten miles southwest of Capernum, the home of Simon Peter, on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. There are all kinds of specific things we could say about this passage, but one phrase stands out, a phrase that Jesus often repeats in this gospel. The phrase? “My time has not yet come.” Jesus was always tuned to the timing of his Father in heaven. Not even his mother could coerce him to change his Father’s schedule.
The result of this miracle? His recently called disciples believed him, but apparently not his brothers at this point. It was only after the resurrection that they recognized him as the Messiah. But nothing ever deterred Jesus. He never got pushed off the course of his mission. What other people perceived as urgent matters, did not cause Jesus to change his priorities. (E.g. Lazarus) Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus showed us how to live. In the coming year, may there be an abundance of epiphanies as you walk with the Lord.
I wish you Godspeed.
Music: “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” St.Paul Lutheran Church, Austin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOwiBa4EVdI (This hymn touches on all three themes of Epiphany.)
Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.
Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, Wedding-guest,
In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.
Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word;
Grace to imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou
That we might become like Thee
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.
by Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885
Prayer:
Go forth into the world in peace;
Be of good courage, hold fast that which is good,
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted,
Support the weak,
Help the afflicted,
Honor all persons.
Love and serve the Lord,
Rejoicing in the power of the Spirit,
And the blessing of God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
Be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, 1928
Postscript
Thank you all for joining us these past forty-one days as we’ve journeyed throughout the Scriptures seeking to know our Savior better and better. It’s our prayer that we develop a daily life practice of encountering the Lord in his Word each day as we learn to draw close to him and hear his voice. Paul gives us a beautiful model in his letter to the
Philippians. (2:5-11) The Lord be with you.
You must have the same attitude
that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
© Daniel Sharp 2022 Dan’s email at: dansharp9@gmail.com
Advent Music 2022
Nov. 27 “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Voces8
Nov. 28 “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Joshua Aaron
Nov.29 “Rejoice Greatly” from Messiah Jeanine De Bique BBC Proms glorious!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHQpeGzio4k
Nov. 30 “The King Shall Come” Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Dec. 1 “Is Not His Word Like A Fire?” Will Liverman from Elijah
Dec.2 “Long Ago, Prophets Knew” Chet Valley Churches
Dec.3 “Change My Heart O God” African Music Experience An oldie from 40 years ago
Dec.4 “Once in Royal David’s City” Libera DO NOT MISS THIS
Dec.5 “Come Thou Long-expected Jesus” Meredith Andrews
Dec.6 “Wake, Awake for Night is Flying” Luther College Nordic Choir
Dec.7 “Song of Zechariah: Benedictus Dominus Deus Choirs of All Saints Church, Beverly Hills, CA. (7:25) The text of Lk. 1:68-79 plus Glory Be to the Father
Bonus:“Benedictus Dominus Deus” Christmas Carol Service at St Matthew’s, Bethnal Green, London (3:07) setting with English text.
Dec.8 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” Caitelen
Dec.9 “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” Chet Valley Churches
Dec.10 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Voctave Go see and hear them whenever you can!
Dec.11 from “Messiah”, #2,3,4,9,20 and Brahms Requiem #2.
#2 “Comfort Ye” v.1-3 #2 & #3 together (6:30)
#3 “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted” v.4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pz9BCMFoP8
#4 “And the Glory of the Lord” v.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRq9EkDTdxs Voces 8 (2:54) Glorious!
#9 “O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings of Zion” v.9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIqDNTnOCks (5:46) Sasha & Mormon Tabernacle Choir
#20 “He Shall Feed His Flock” v. 20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-bAXm-A3Ls&list=RDl-bAXm-A3Ls&start_radio=1 (6:16) Barbara Bonney
Brahms #2 “Behold All Flesh is As the Grass” v.6-8 Herbert Von Karajan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2jc13Q1wX4 (15:18) English Subtitles
SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!
Dec.12 “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” Westminster Choir
Dec. 13 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” The ChurchFolk
Dec.14 “What Child Is This” Sissel
Dec. 15 “Joy to the World” The Spirituals Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGyYAzrctzk traditional Soundiva Classical Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDmIddF7DfQ Celtic Women (A production!)
Dec. 16 “Lo, How A Rose” Pacific Chorale
Dec. 17 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” arr. Dan Forrest Jamaica Youth Chorale
Dec. 18 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Wheaton College Choir and Symphony Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmtKlOB-0-I Spirituals Choir
Dec. 19 “For Ages Women Hoped and Prayed” Wheaton Bible Church
“Angels We Have Heard on High” Home Free (Could not leave this out!)
Dec. 20 “The Hands that First Held Mary’s Child” Arman Ferrer with Kilyawan Consortium of Voices
Dec. 21 “Magnificat” J S Bach Nikolaus Harnoncourt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YML7uc9sdl8 3:15 for the first movement, you can listen to more!
Dec. 22 “Behold the Lamb of God” from Messiah. Gramophone Chorus of Ghana
Dec.23 “O Magnum Mysterium” Morton Lauridsen Los Angeles Master Chorale
Dec. 24 “And the Glory” from Messiah Voces8 (The best version I’ve heard!)
“O Holy Night”
Fabulous Bonus: “O Holy Night” Voctave! (Two of the best a cappella groups, classical & pop)
Dec. 25 “Messiah” Handel Voces8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFjQ77ol2DI&t=2035s 1:35:19
Bonus: “The Shepherd” from “The Chosen” Short film.
Dec.26 “Good King Wenceslas” A story of a paige and the king’s generosity on the Feast of St. Stephen
Dec. 27 “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning” Keith, Kristyn Getty & Ricky Scaggs
Dec. 28 “Coventry Carol” Ashley Serena Choices today!
“Coventry Carol” Vox One Jazz
“Coventry Carol” Gjeilo CORO Vocal Artists
Dec. 29 “Kings of the Orient” Robert Shaw Chorale
Dec. 30 “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” Slavic Chorale
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0 Casting Crowns (original version)
Dec.31 “Joy to the World” Voctave Don’t miss this!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nziWgvOPj4
Jan. 1 “At the Name of Jesus” First Plymouth Church Lincoln, NE
Jan. 2 “I Wonder as I Wander” Simon Khorolskiy Terrific!
Jan. 3 “Nunc Dimittis” Gretchaninoff National Lutheran Choir (English translation)
“Nunc Dimittis” Paul Smith Voces8 The text in Latin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEHufcT3jmw Robert Shaw Festival Singers
“Nyne Otpushchayeshi” The text in Russian from Rachmaninoff’s “Vespers”
Jan. 4 “Go Tell It on the Mountain” Home Free and Texas Hill
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” Josh Turner
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” Melvin Crispell III & Chandler Moore, Maverick City Music
Jan. 5 “Good Christian Men Rejoice” Robert Shaw Chamber Singers
Jan.6 “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” St.Paul Lutheran Church, Austin
Advent Scriptures 2022
2 Samuel 7:25-26 12/4/22
Psalm 27:1-6 12/5/22
Psalm 27:7-14 12/6/22
Isaiah 9:2-7 12/24/22
Isaiah 35:5-6 12/13/22
Isaiah 40:1-11 12/11/22
Jeremiah 1:4-10 12/2/22
Ezekiel 36:24-28 12/3/22
Hosea 6:1-6 12/1/22
Micah 4:1-5 11/28/22
Micah 4: 6-13 11/29/22
Habakkuk 2:1-5 12/8/22
Habakkuk 3:2-6 12/9/22
Habakkuk 3:13-19 12/10/22
Malachi 3:16-4:6 12/14/22
Matthew 1:18-25 12/23/22
Matthew 2:1-2, 7-12 12/27/22
Matthew 2:16-18 12/28/22
Luke 1:5-17 12/7/22
Luke 1:26-38 12/19/22
Luke 1:46-55 12/21/22
Luke 2:1-5 12/24/22
Luke 2:1-20 12/25/22
Luke 2:21 1/1/23
Luke 2: 22-28a (1/2/23)
Luke 2:28-32 1/3/23
Luke 2:33-35 1/4/23
Luke 2:36-38 1/5/23
Luke 7:18-23 12/13/22
Luke 21:25-36 11/27/22
John 1:1-14 12/23/22
John 2:1-12 1/6/23
John 1:6-8, 19-28 12/12/22
Acts 6:8-15 12/26/22
Acts 7:59-60 12/26/22
Philippians 2:6-8 12/31/22
Hebrews 1:1-3 12/15/22
2 Peter 3:1-18 11/30/22Revelation 22:12-16 12/4/22