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Epiphany 2 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
January 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Cor. 1:1-9, John 1:29-42a

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            On that fateful Thursday, eating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after He departs. John 15:26 (ESV) 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” 

            Jesus tells them He must go away and they will have sorrow because of it.  John 16:7 (ESV) 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” 

            The Holy Spirit will come to the disciples only after Jesus departs.  Why is that? What is going on with the Holy Spirit? Why will He only come after Jesus leaves?

            We get insight into this by going back to the beginning of the Gospel of John when Jesus arrives at the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist.  John 1:29 (ESV) 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

            This is truly an astonishing title for someone.  “The Lamb of God.”  This brings up remembrance of the lambs whose blood was painted over the doors in Egypt to protect the children of Israel from the plague of the death of the first born.  It brings to mind the lambs sacrificed at the Tabernacle and the Temple to purify these places of worship before God’s presence entered in.  It reminds us of the lambs sacrificed at the Temple as sin offerings to God.  “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  Jesus is a sacrificial Lamb like no other.  He is the perfect final offering as we read in…  Hebrews 10:10 (ESV) 10 …we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” 

            Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is confirmed for John the Baptist because he was told by God that… John 1:33b (ESV) 33…‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

            Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — and He baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 

            After His crucifixion and burial and resurrection, on the evening His resurrection day, He comes and stands among the disciples in a locked room and shows them His hands and His side and says to them… John 20:21–23 (ESV) 21 … “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

            Jesus sends the disciples to continue what He began and He gives them the Holy Spirit by breathing on them.  The words for spirit in Hebrew and Greek also mean breath or wind. The Spirit is the breath of God.  As God breathed life into Adam, so Jesus breathes life into the disciples with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus sends them out with authority to forgive and retain sins by the power of the Spirit.  This is a private, preliminary bestowal of the Spirit, commissioning the disciples as apostles; sent ones, to bring the Good News of forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Lamb to the whole world.  The powerful, public bestowal of the spirit comes 50 days later.  Acts 2:1–6 (ESV) 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.” 

            The sound of this powerful bestowal of the Holy Spirit draws a crowd of thousands to hear the Word of God preached by the disciples who are empowered to speak many languages.  Peter preaches a sermon which he concludes with this convicting statement. Acts 2:36 (ESV) 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

            The crowd responds to Peter’s sermon.  Acts 2:37–39 (ESV) 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 

            The apostles of Jesus have the Holy Spirit and the Spirit spreads to others.  How does the Spirit spread?  Through the Word of God and baptism.  Repent, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The forgiveness of the Lamb of God is delivered to you in baptism and hearing the Good News.  You are cleansed of your sin.  Like the Tabernacle and the Temple purified by burnt offerings, your body is purified by the blood of the Lamb in order to receive the presence of God — the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 

As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, in baptism you are born from above by water and the spirit.  As Jesus taught at the last supper, the Spirit will bear witness about Jesus.  He points you to Jesus and gives you faith. As we read in… 1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) 3 …no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

The Spirit is a bit of a mystery because the Spirit does not amplify Himself. As Jesus teaches… John 16:13 (ESV) 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”  The Spirit is not about self-promotion; rather He points you to Jesus. 

            You are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God who washes away all your sin.  Jesus fills you with the Holy Spirit to make you holy and keep you in true faith unto eternal life.  The Holy Spirit’s presence sanctifies you.  He makes you pure and holy — righteous, innocent and blessed.  God dwells in your purified body.  The Spirit also sanctifies you each day to resist sin and temptation, to grow in faith and live a holy life according to God’s will. The Spirit fills you so the evil one cannot take up residence in you — he can only tempt you from outside.  Resist the devil, the world and your own sinful nature and live as one enlivened by the Spirit.  As Paul writes in… Ephesians 4:30–32 (ESV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

            The Lamb of God was sacrificed on the altar of the cross to take away all your sin.  Jesus transforms the Passover into the Lord’s Supper where He delivers to you the Body and Blood of the Lamb to continue to cleanse you of your sins and strengthen and preserve you in true faith.  You live in the Kingdom of God under the New Testament, the New Covenant, in the blood of Jesus.  You are, right now, a holy saint of God purified by the blood of the Lamb with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Like those in the church of Corinth in our Epistle reading, Paul could address you… 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV) 2 To the church of God that is in [Hamilton], to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” 

            What a great blessing to live with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in this time between Jesus’ ascension and His return in glory.  The Spirit is God’s deposit, His seal on you; guaranteeing you a place in the Heavenly City. The Spirit comforts you and guides you.  He reveals and upholds the truth.  The Spirit makes you a child of God and gives you wisdom. 

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — and who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. You have been purified by the blood of the Lamb and born again in water and the Spirit.  Amen.