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Between Sundays for the Week of January 19, 2026

The opening verses of John’s gospel introduce us to John, the testifier; and Jesus, God’s Word made flesh, the light who shines in the darkness.

In John 1:29-42, we see John living up to this title – testifier. There he is continually pointing to Jesus, reminding us to never lose sight of Jesus and his message of liberation or be misdirected from his way of love. When Jesus appears, John immediately testifies, “Here is the Lamb of God . . . the Chosen One.” Through his words, John redirects the focus of his disciples toward Jesus. Upon meeting these new disciples, Jesus issues his invitation: come and see. Come and see where he will dwell and shine his light.

As the disciples follow Jesus in John’s gospel, he will bring his liberating light those tho have turned in on themselves and turned away from God. He will bring it to those who have been ostracized and separated from community and those who have been stigmatized because of their beliefs. He will bring it to those who are hungry and thirsty. In his final act of self-giving love, he will spread wide his arms as he his lifted on the cross and offer his life so that all the world can be restored to relationship with God and live in God’s light for eternity. In every instance, he will show his disciples what it means that he is one who comes to bring light.

Jesus is still inviting us to come and see! Come and see the neighborhoods where he still dwells today. Come and see the places where people are longing for his liberating power. Come and see where people fear for their safety. Come and see the places where people seek to protect loved ones. Come and see where daily bread and clean water are not guaranteed. Come and see the places where oppression and power and bullying, even when done in his name, casts a shadow on this world.

Jesus still invites us to come and see where he dwells and to remain with him in every place he goes in order to reflect his light for all to see.

P.S. Share in Bethlehem’s celebration of the Baptism of our Lord in worship from Sunday here (the gospel reading begins at 15:46). Links to previous worship videos on Facebook and YouTube are always available on our website.

Faith Connection at Home

During the season of Epiphany we talk about being a “light” to others and to the world. This directly relates to last week’s text (Isaiah 42: 1-9), which calls us to be a light to the nations and to shine in darkness.

Jesus brings God’s light to everyone in the world. No matter what you’re feeling, we can remember Jesus’ light is shining in our lives. It’s there when we celebrate, and it’s there when we need comfort.  

Here is an activity you can do as a family as a way to lift up Jesus’ light in our world. You will need a flashlight for this activity and several cut out “people” shapes (you could use a cookie cutter shaped as a gingerbread man/woman or draw the cutouts freehand). Use plain white copy paper and make sure there is one for each member of your family. After you have gathered these items, gather your family together for a time of reflection. 
Start by asking, “who do you know who needs a little extra light in their lives?” You can discuss everyone’s answers or let each person reflect on their own quietly. Next, have each family member write a name or concern on a cutout. After everyone has finished writing, take turns holding up their cutout “person” and pray for them as you shine the flashlight against the wall to see their shadows. Continue praying for the people on your cutouts this week. 
End your time of reflection with this closing prayer: God, as we go out into our world, help us find a way to bring a little light to people we meet. Amen.

Ponderings

Frederick Buechner reflected on “Light” in his book Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC.

We can’t see light itself. We can only see what light lights up, like the circle of night where the candle flickers—a sheen of mahogany, a wineglass, a face leaning toward us out of the shadows.

When Jesus says that his is the Light of the World (John 8:12), maybe something like that is part of what he is saying. He himself is beyond our seeing, but in the darkness where we stand, we see, thanks to him, something of the path that stretches out from the door, something of whatever it is that keeps us trying more or less to follow the path even when we can hardly believe that it goes anywhere worth going or that we have what it takes to go there, something of whoever it is that every once in a while seems to lean toward us out of the shadows.