E PIPHANY 1B J ANUARY 11, 2015 Genesis 1:1-5 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 William Laud Archbishop & Martyr

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 Collect for Epiphany 1B Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Collect for Epiphany 1B Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Prayer for Epiphany 1B [Archbishop William Laud] Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, That, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Prayer for Epiphany 1B [Archbishop William Laud] Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, That, like your servant William Laud, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

E PIPHANY 1B: O UR S TORY B EGINS [G ENESIS 1:1-5] Time Stamp: Point Zero! Timeless—without beginning or end-- God wills the world to exist via divine creative power. God's life-giving act complements darkness with light. Cause & Effect: In the Beginning Cause & author: God Effect: Our world Manner: Out of nothing, something When: Beginning of OUR time Out of Chaos, Order Out of Darkness, Light God doesn’t need us; we need Him God Creates/Reshapes Consider Earth “was,” not “became” God reshapes, sets a stage --Not ex nihilo -- But refashioned “ earth” & heavens 1 st Day not creation of Light, but its introduction by a solar source piercing darkness of our specific universe And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

E PIPHANY 1B: A T OUCH OF S PIRIT [A CTS 19:1-7] Time Stamp: AD Paul baptizes new believers in the name of the living Lord Jesus. They are thereby anointed by God himself and they manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Context: Apollos’ well-versed in OT Knew/accepted only John’s baptism Naïve to baptism of Holy Spirit Paul sets them straight/converts them A Different Baptism Indeed Ephesians unaware of enhanced baptism & totality of Paul’s ministry Key question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you were baptized? Paul inserts Christ into Ephesians’ spiritual void; conversion closes that redemptive loop for Apollos’ followers Edifies Christ-sponsored NT salvation Glossolalia alerts Jewish community Apollos’ 12 disciples now possess Gospel privilege St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues & prophesied-- altogether there were about 12 of them.

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. People from the Judean countryside & people of Jerusalem were going out to him & were baptized…in the river Jordan, confessing their sins…He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop & untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." E PIPHANY 1B: A S PECIAL B APTISM [M ARK 1:4-11] Synopsis John baptizes Jesus the Jordan River. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, Jesus hears a heavenly voice proclaim him as God's beloved Son. THE Baptism John’s baptisms pre-Christian events Mark: John’s ministry introduces Jesus’ service phase --Prepare Israel for offered kingdom --Prepare them to receive the Divine Sinless Servant-Savior submits to baptism accorded sinners to identify with them & their need Essence of Jesus’ ministry: seek & save lost souls This baptism was His induction to priestly work ahead St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart & the Spirit descending like a dove on him. A voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."