Epiphany Testimpny
Isaiah 9:1-4 Common English Bible
9 [a] Nonetheless, those who were in distress won’t be exhausted. At an earlier time, God cursed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but later he glorified the way of the sea, the far side of the Jordan, and the Galilee of the nations.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned.
3 You have made the nation great;
you have increased its joy.
They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest,
as those who divide plunder rejoice.
4 As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them,
the staff on their shoulders,
and the rod of their oppressor.
Matthew 4:12-23 Common English Bible
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was arrested, he went to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
alongside the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16 the people who lived in the dark have seen a great light,
and a light has come upon those who lived in the region and in shadow of death.[a]
17 From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”
18 As Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 20 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 21 Continuing on, he saw another set of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father repairing their nets. Jesus called them and 22 immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues. He announced the good news of the kingdom and healed every disease and sickness among the people.
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Greetings all,
Have you all ever heard of the cows of Bashan. (Amos 4:1-3)? I remember a preaching commentary talking about this group once. It was trying to imagine a little bit of what they might have been like. A little tongue-in-cheek, the commentary described them as, functionally, not much different than a polite church group. The line I especially remember, “they could have even had a ‘Cows of Bashan Newsletter’ to talk about their social events.”
Of course, the very real commentary and prophetic message for the congregation was to be aware of the neighbors and needs right outside the narthex. What I don’t remember: did the commentary hammer the point that this was a harsh critique of that group because of how they lost track of the needs of their neighbors? I also don’t remember if the commentary made the point that the Bashan crew had actually been more responsible for the suffering. Did the commentary try to make the point that the cows directly benefited from or contributed the suffering? Or both?
Here’s my point, I don’t remember because I wouldn’t have cared to make that point at that moment in my preaching career. I need to own that. I confess to you all that, in the pendulum swing of my own theology and experience with theophany, I was so committed to the gospel value of changing hearts that I had neglected the additional and true gospel value of justice.
We may well notice that history is filled with churches and communities that prioritize one over the other. The Epiphany texts for this week ask us to remember both. Won’t you join in worship this Sunday as we invite the Holy Spirit to remind us of both as we meditate on Isaiah 9:1-4 and Matthew 4:12-23.
Peace,
Zach