THIS IS JESUS, GOD’S SON
A Service for the Feast of Epiphany (January 6) and the Season After Epiphany
As we gather this morning, let us consider Jesus, God’s Son, remembering his life here on earth.
Let’s read this portion of Psalm 72, responsively:
LEADER:
Give the king your justice, O God,
CONGREGATION:
and your righteousness to the royal son!
LEADER:
May he judge your people with righteousness,
CONGREGATION:
and your poor with justice!
LEADER:
Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
CONGREGATION:
and the hills, in righteousness!
LEADER:
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy,
CONGREGATION:
and crush the oppressor!
LEADER:
For he delivers the needy when he calls,
CONGREGATION:
the poor and him who has no helper.
LEADER:
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
CONGREGATION:
and saves the lives of the needy.
LEADER:
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
CONGREGATION:
and precious is their blood in his sight.
(verses 1–4, 12–14)
Living Waters
Words and Music by Kristyn Getty and Ed Cash
© 2016 Getty Music Publishing and Alletrop Music
Are you thirsty? Are you empty?
Come and drink these living waters
Time unbroken, peace unspoken
Rest beside these living waters
Christ is calling, find refreshing
At the cross of living waters
Lay your life down on thee, all come
Rise up in these living waters
There's a river that flows
With mercy and love
Bringing joy to the city of our God
There our hope is secure
Do not fear anymore
Praise the Lord of living waters
Spirit moving
Mercy washing
Healing in these living waters
Lead your children
To the shore line
Life is in these living waters
There's a river that flows
With mercy and love
Bringing joy to the city of our God
There our hope is secure
Do not fear anymore
Praise the Lord of living waters
Are you thirsty? Are you empty?
Come and drink these living waters
Love forgiveness vast and boundless
Christ, He is our living waters
Prayer
Jesus, you invited all who are weary and heavy-laden to come to you, and that you would give them rest. You said that your yoke is easy, and that your burden is light. You said that whoever drinks of the water that you give them will never thirst again, that in fact the water you give us becomes a spring of water welling up to eternal life. You promised us the Holy Spirit, to teach us and to guide us, you promised to never leave us, and that you would come again. And because you are trustworthy, we have someone to place our hope in. God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace this morning as we worship you, so that we can overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Jesus was in his hometown of Nazareth, and standing up in the synagogue that he had been attending for 30 years, he stunned all the worshippers by taking the Isaiah scroll and opened up to a passage that predicted his ministry. He began to read:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:18-20
Our God
Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman
© 2010 Atlas Mountain Songs, sixsteps Music, ThankYou Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com songs
Water you turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like you, none like You
Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like you, none like You
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God you are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power our God, our God
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against
Jesus made the following promise, a call that was open to all to respond:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-29
We are invited to walk, no, run to Jesus. He can turn anything in our lives from the most difficult situation, into something that’s glorious . . . if we listen, and respond, to his call.
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Words by Horatius Bonar (1846); Tune: KINGSFOLD
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
And He has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk,
Till traveling days are done.
Offering Prayer
Offertory:
All the Way My Savior Leads Me (instrumental)
Words by Fanny Crosby (1875); Tune by Robert Lowry
Prayer of Illumination
Blessed are you, Lord God, King of all creation: You have taught us by your Word. Open our
hearts to your Spirit, and lead us on the paths of Christ, your Son. All praise and glory be yours forever. Amen.
Sermon
The Lord's Supper
[instrumental music played or congregational singing]
The Mystery of the Faith
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!
Christ Our Only Hope In Life and Death
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa
© 2020 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Jordan Kauflin Music, Matthew Merker Music, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Love Your Enemies Publishing
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong.
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes, apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.
What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is his grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?
Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, he lives; Christ, he lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.
Benediction
Go now as a light to the nations; honoring the Lord and proclaiming the risen Christ. And may God strengthen you and bless you with peace; may Jesus bring forth justice for you and among you; and may the Holy Spirit alight on you and affirm you as God’s beloved ones. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.