New Years Week – Friday

Follow me.– John 1:43.

On the next day John was standing, and two of his disciples with him.  And Jesus walked by. And again John said: “Behold the Lamb of God.”  And the two disciples followed Jesus.  It was four o’clock in the afternoon.  Jesus turned and asked them: “What seek ye?”  They said: “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?”  He said: “Come and see.”  And they went with Jesus and abode with Him that day.  It was Andrew and John.  Andrew found his brother Simon, and said to him: “We have found the Messiah.”  And he brought him to Jesus.  And Jesus surnamed him Cephas, or Peter, that is “rocklike man.”  The day following, Jesus found Philip, who, like the four just mentioned, was of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him: “Follow me.”  And Philip, in turn, found Nathanael and said to him: “We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  Philip said: “Come and see.”  When Jesus saw Nathanael, He said: “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.”  Nathanael saith unto Him: “When knowest Thou me?” Jesus answered: “Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Nathanael answered and said to Him: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel.”  Jesus said: “Because I said unto thee, ‘I saw thee under the fig tree,’ believest thou? Thou shall see greater things than these” (John 1:35-51).  To you also does the Gospel of Jesus say: “Behold the Lamb of God.”  To you, too, does Jesus say: “Follow me.”  Learn to know Jesus better and better in His Word, which tells you of Him, and follow Him in His Word.  Share Jesus in your words and in your actions.  Do your part in witnessing to and in bringing others to say to Jesus: “Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the Lamb of God, who has taken away my sins and the sins of the whole world.  I will now follow Thee!”

PRAYER. – Lord Jesus, Thou art indeed the Son of God, the Lamb of God, who has taken away my sins and the sins of the whole world.  Because of all that Thou hast done for me, I will follow Thee as Thou leadest me through Thy Word.  With Thee alone do I find life and salvation.  Draw me more and more to Thee in saving faith built up and strengthened through Thy Word.  Fill my heart more and more with fervent love for Thee and for those who do not yet know Thee.  Open my lips more and more to a faithful confession of Thy sweet name, Jesus!  O Jesus, Jesus, through Thy Word, preserve me in the saving faith, ever following Thee until I leave this earthly life and join Thee in paradise. Amen.

Savior, I follow on, guided by Thee;

seeing not yet the hand that leadeth me;

hushed be my heart and still, fear I no further ill;

only to meet Thy will, my will shall be.

Savior, I long to walk, closer with Thee;

led by Thy guiding hand, ever to be,

constantly near Thy side, quickened and purified,

living for Him who died, freely for me.

Hymn 422, 1 and 4 (TLH)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:1-17

Weekly Theme: The Prophetic Office of Christ

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare oursicknesses.