1. Ministry in Nazareth

Jesus started his ministry in Galilee. Then, after touring surrounding cities, he came back to his home town Nazareth. News about Jesus’ preachings and healing acts had spread throughout regions, including Nazareth. So numerous persons had come to the Synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus gave a lecture there. When Jesus entered into it , the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. In that era, it was custom of Jewish people to go synagogue the Sabbath day. They read Hebrew Bible, or Five books of Moses, listened to teachings and prayed together there. (³¤­…)

1. Water turned into wine

Today’s lecturing part is the episode of the wedding in Cana. The scene is situated in a small village in Galilee near to Nazareth, Jesus’ home town.

Jesus mother Mary was serving guests at a wedding party. The host family might be one of her relatives. She seemed taking care of foods and drinks. It is said that Jewish wedding party of the time continued for a week. The ordinary people then were very poor and sometimes lucked of daily bread. So being invited to a wedding party was an excellent occasion to appreciate good cooking and wine in abundance. Therefore it became a great matter if the quantity of served wine was not enough. And it happened ; - When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” (John 2:3) (³¤­…)

1. Baptism, beginning of Jesus’ ministry

After Christmas and the New Year’s Day we now focus on the future through this year. It is the time of departure and we contemplate how and what we should act on. Today’s lecturing portion, the event of Jesus’ baptizement, is a very appropriate passage to the occasion. Though short, the reading part contains many important messages. (³¤­…)

1. Isaiah, the herald of Epiphany

For the church, Christmas time continues till the day of Epiphany, the 6th January, or 12 days after the Nativity. Matthew tells us about the event ; - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)
We read the passage above in parallel to Isaiah 60. The chapter contains the verse ” Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” which we understand it as a prediction of the day of Epiphany. (³¤­…)