12.12.14 exegesis advent 3 - is. 40.1-11, 1 cor 4.1-5, mat 11.2-11, ps 85

Advent 3�John the Baptizer Prepares the Way for the Lord

Is. 40:1-8 (9-11); 1 Cor. 4:1-5; Matt. 11:2-10 (11) ; Psalm 85

Exegesis of the LectionaryStudying, expounding, and interpreting the Bible readings through the Church Year

Memorization Verses:

Is. 40:3 A voice cries:[b]

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.1 Cor. 4:1-2 as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God…it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 

Matt. 11:2-10 (11) “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,    who will prepare your way before you.’Psalm 85 Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way.

Prepare

  κατασκευάσει

•How did God use His people to prepare the way for the Messiah?•How did God use people in the Christmas story to welcome Jesus?•How has He used people in your life to prepare your heart for the Spirit?

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray about God’s

messengers. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

…Lord in Your Mercy.…Hear our Prayer. 1 Let us come before the throne of God’s grace and present our petitions with confidence in the Spirit through our Lord Jesus to His heavenly Father, for He is kind and full of compassion. 2 King of Israel, You call us from lives of fear to rest in Your unfailing embrace and be comforted by Your jubilant song. Help all Your baptized people to cast off anxiety and turn to you quickly in prayer for every need, that they might know Your peace. 3 God of Jacob, You sent Your Son into the flesh to gather Your people home to You. Strengthen all pastors and servants of the Church to speak Your mighty Word with clarity and passion, and by Your Spirit open the hearts of all who hear to trust Him who

heals the sick, raises the dead and

proclaims good news to the poor. 4 Ruler of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that fills them, remember in kindness all those called to public service in our nation and in our communities, especially all who serve in our armed forces. Give them wisdom to know what is just and courage to pursue the same, that our nation might be preserved from discord and be mightily protected against all enemies. 5 O Lord, You set the prisoners free. Your Son freed the disciples of St. John the Baptist from their fears and made them witnesses to His mighty deeds by commanding them to go and tell what they had seen and heard. Give to us, Your people, grace in these Advent days to proclaim boldly to all the world the mighty deeds of our Savior.

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray about the last

days. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

6 God of all compassion, You lift up those who are bowed down. Remember in Your boundless love all who take treatments, the hospitalized, the lonely, the ill, and the grieving [especially_______________]. Quiet them with Your love, comfort them with Your presence, let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 7 Faithful One, You keep Your promises and You give to the hungry food. Grant all communicants today to receive in joy and faith the gift of the Savior’s body and blood that they rejoice in the Lord always. 8 O Lord our God, Your Son lightens the darkness of our hearts by His gracious

visitation. We give You thanks for all Your servants who have departed this life in His fear and friendship. We beg You to keep us in communion with them and to strengthen in us the joyful and certain hope of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting as we await our Savior’s glorious appearing. 9 These things and whatever else You know us to need, most Holy Father, grant us for the sake of Him who is the King of Israel, the Lord who is in our midst, and who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C Amen.

LSB 345

1 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding!"Christ is near," we hear it say."Cast away the works of darkness,All you children of the day!"

2 Startled at the solemn warning,Let the earth-bound soul arise;Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling,Shines upon the morning skies.

3 See, the Lamb, so long expected,Comes with pardon down from heav'n.Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,

One and all, to be forgiv'n;

4 So, when next He comes in gloryAnd the world is wrapped in fear,He will shield us with His mercyAnd with words of love draw near.

5 Honor, glory, might, dominionto the Father and the SonWith the ever-living Spirit While eternal ages run!

Learning the Hebrew Alphabethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWEPFcyQXMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzjHjXe-2XU

Meet w/teams3-5 min per box

What are the major points of your text? How does your topic fit the pericope

theme? How does it connect to the other texts?

How is it unique?

Group Time John the Baptizer Prepares the Way for the Lord

Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort for God's People 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your

God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,    and cry to herthat her warfare[a] is ended,    that her iniquity is pardoned,that she has received from the LORD's hand    double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:[b]

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be lifted up,    and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,    and the rough places a plain.5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,    and all flesh shall see it together,    for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The Word of God Stands Forever 6 A voice says, “Cry!”

    And I said,[c] “What shall I cry?”All flesh is grass,    and all its beauty[d] is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flower fades    when the breath of the LORD blows on it;    surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers, the flower fades,    but the word of our God will stand forever.

The Greatness of God 9 Go on up to a high mountain,

    O Zion, herald of good news;[e]

lift up your voice with strength,    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;[f]

    lift it up, fear not;say to the cities of Judah,    “Behold your God!”10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,    and his arm rules for him;behold, his reward is with him,    and his recompense before him.11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;    he will gather the lambs in his arms;he will carry them in his bosom,    and gently lead those that are with young.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5The Ministry of Apostles4 This is how one should

regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against

myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Thereforedo not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes,who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Matthew 11:2-11 2 Now when John heard in prison

about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them,“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the

wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[c] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Psalm 85 Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the

Sons of Korah. 85 LORD, you were favorable to your

land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3 You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger.

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5 Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6 Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7 Show us your steadfast love,

O LORD,    and grant us your salvation.

8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13 Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way.

Share Time: THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT (Gaudete) Isaiah 40:1–8 (9–11)1 Corinthians 4:1–5Matthew 11:2–10 (11)

John the Baptizer Prepares the Way for the Lord The voice of the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord . . .” (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready for the Messiah’s coming through repentance, for “all flesh is grass” (Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, “Are you the one who is to come . . .?” (Matt. 11:2). Jesus’ works bear witness that He is. The sick are made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord’s hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ’s overflowing forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God’s people with the word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces rejoicing among all those who believe.

Sing it!

Fourth S. in Advent (Rorate Coeli)

Deut. 18:15-19Phil. 4:4-7John 1:19-28 or Luke 1:39-

56Psalm 111John the Baptizer Points

Everyone to the Messiah

Next Week…

Deuteronomy 18:15-19A New Prophet like Moses15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a

prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORDmy God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

Philippians 4:4-7English Standard Version (ESV)4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say,

rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 1:19-28The Testimony of John the Baptist19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews

sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him,“Then why are you

baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Luke 1:39-56Mary Visits Elizabeth39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste

into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,    and holy is his name.50 And his mercy is for those who fear him    from generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with his arm;    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;53 he has filled the hungry with good things,    and the rich he has sent away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel,    in remembrance of his mercy,55 as he spoke to our fathers,    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Psalm 111Great Are the LORD's Works111 [a] Praise the LORD!

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.2 Great are the works of the LORD,    studied by all who delight in them.3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,    and his righteousness endures forever.4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;    the LORD is gracious and merciful.5 He provides food for those who fear him;    he remembers his covenant forever.6 He has shown his people the power of his works,    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;    all his precepts are trustworthy;8 they are established forever and ever,    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.9 He sent redemption to his people;    he has commanded his covenant forever.    Holy and awesome is his name!10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;    all those who practice it have a good understanding.    His praise endures forever!