February 15, 2010 - Monday of Quinquagesima

Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Daily Lectionary: Job 11:1-20; John 5:19-29

So Jesse sent and brought David in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" (1 Samuel 16:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How do we know David is the one? The one who will be King? Because God says so. But how can we be sure God says so? Because He was anointed by the Lord's prophet, Samuel. When the oil was poured on David's head, everyone knew: David was the one the Lord had chosen.

Jesus was the One chosen by the Father to be our Savior. The Promise of His coming was given in the Scriptures and His birth from the Virgin was foretold by the prophets.

At His birth, He was proclaimed Savior by the angels and King by the wise men. At His circumcision He was named “The Lord Saves” and at His presentation He was sung of as the Savior. When He was a boy, He was marveled at in the Temple.

At His Baptism, Jesus was proclaimed the Lamb of God by John and the Father said that He was His Beloved Son. In His miracles and teaching, Jesus showed that He is indeed the Son of God. On the mountain of Transfiguration, the Father once again pointed out that He was the One.

Then on the cross, with a sign that proclaimed He was King and a crown of thorns and nail holes to mark Him as the Suffering Servant, Jesus, for all the world to see, was seen as Savior. Hated, mocked and scorned, He hung there doing what He had been chosen by the Father to do.

Finally, His resurrection points to Him as the One who has conquered sin and death. His Ascension declares that He is the One who will return in glory.

Now your Baptism declares that in Him, you are also the Lord's. Absolution says you are the holy one. The body and blood of the Chosen Jesus mean you are the Lord's. Christ was anointed, chosen, selected to be our Savior because He is true God and true Man. Only He could do it. David was anointed King. Jesus is anointed King of Kings. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown. O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. (LSB 450:1)


Reflections for the Epiphany and Pre-Lent Seasons are written by the Rev. Mark Buetow, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, IL and the Higher Things Internet Services Executive and Reflections Editor. Comments may be sent to the author at the following address: buetowmt@higherthings.org

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.




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