Fifth Week in Epiphany – Tuesday
A note to our readers: the original author of these devotions wrote only four weeks of Epiphany season devotions. This year, according to the church calendar, we have five weeks before we move into the pre-Lenten and Lenten season and conclude with Easter Sunday on April 20th. Instead of the usual devotions, we will provide a few more bible narratives, absent of any commentary or application, that will show the personal efforts of individuals who helped make our Savior known to others, individuals who were grateful for the knowledge unto salvation and were then motivated by that wonderful news shared it with others. Luke 1:68-70; Luke 1:77
Forbid Them Not!
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16
I. THE NATURE OF BAPTISM
What is Baptism? Baptism is not simple water
only, but it is the water comprehended in
God’s command and connected with God’s
word.
Which is that word of God? Christ, our Lord,
says in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost.
II. THE BLESSINGS OF BAPTISM
What does Baptism give or profit? It works
forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and
the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all
who believe this, as the words and promises of
God declare.
Which are such words and promises of God?
Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of
Mark: He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
251. How do you prove that infants, too, are to be
baptized?
Infants, too, are to be baptized —
A. Because they are included in the words “all nations”;
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you and to your children.
B. Because Holy Baptism is the only means whereby
infants, who, too, must be born again, can ordinarily be
regenerated and brought to faith;
Mark 10:13-15 They brought young children to Him that He
should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought
them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased and said
unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid
them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you,
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child,
he shall not enter therein.
John 3:5-6 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God; that which is born of the flesh
is flesh.
C. Because infants, too, can believe.
Matthew 18:6 Whose shall offend one of these little ones which
believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Luther’s Small Catechism, CPH 1943
If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked
With the Judgement’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.
TLH Hymn 496, v. 2