Who This Jesus Is – 23 January 2022

The meaning of the word Epiphany, the season in which the church now finds itself, is manifestation—revealing, showing. . . God is showing us a little bit more of who this Jesus is. And God shows us these things, not for our personal edification, but for the improvement of the world. –– Jennifer E. Copeland

Luke 4:14–21

On the Sabbath, in his hometown synagogue, Jesus stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me with the commission to announce good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” Jesus understood that this is what God sent him to do—and as the story unfolds, this is what Jesus does. He brings hope to those who have been ground down by life. He sets people free from demonic possession. He heals a paralyzed man. He sets Zacchaeus the tax collector free from the grip of his own greed.

And Jesus continues on his way—through the villages and towns and cities of his homeland, through betrayal and suffering and death and being raised to new life. And he isn’t finished yet. Jesus’ work continues. Today he is still bringing good news to the poor and proclaiming release to the captives, giving sight to the blind and letting the oppressed go free. I’ve seen it.

I have a friend named Gail. As a teenager, her family labeled her “the bad girl.” They decided she was a failure. And she lived up to all of their expectations. But after being married and divorced four times to abusive, alcoholic men, she came to church looking for help. In Jesus’ love, she discovered she wasn’t worthless. In Jesus’ words of forgiveness, she found the beginning of a new life. It hasn’t been easy. She’s fought what those labels have done to her. But she will tell you—Jesus has given her back her life. –– Aaron J. Couch

Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10

In the Nehemiah passage, why is the Law important to the Israelites’ settling in their towns in the seventh month? Why is understanding connected to hearing when Nehemiah writes, “Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding”? What is being emphasized when he separates men and women from all who could hear and understand? How does this passage resemble your faith community when you gather? –– Virginia S. Wendel

1 Corinthians 12:12–31a

Paul operated with a somewhat jaundiced view of human society. He saw it as a series of camps whose members were often in competition with each other: Jews and people of ‘‘the nations,’’ slave and free, male and female (see Gal 3:8). The church, Paul told the Corinthians, should not be like that, because the church is Christ and lives by the Spirit of unity (see 1 Cor 12:1–11). Therefore Christ—that is, the church (v 12)—is a unity like the human body. –– Gordon E. Truitt

Jennifer Copeland, a United Methodist ordained minister, served for 16 years as chaplain at Duke University and as director of the Duke Wesley Fellowship. She is currently executive director at North Carolina Council of Churches in Raleigh-Durham.

Aaron Couch is a co-pastor of First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon.

Virginia S. Wendel is the Health Care Coodinator for the Cenacle Sisters, Chicago, Illinois.

Gordon E. Truitt, Roman Catholic, holds a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Homily Service 43, no. 1 (2009): 115–123.

David Turnbloom