Preparing for Worship - June 4, 2023

The Scriptures for this week teach us many things, but also show us examples of how the one true Triune God is revealed to us in the Bible. This teaching is very important for us always, and is seen in the readings this Trinity Sunday.

The Gospel Lesson, Matthew 28:16-20, gives us words of Jesus just before He ascended into heaven and received again “the glory He had with the Father before the the world existed” (John 17:5). He truly does have “all authority in heaven and on earth” and His disciples are now to “teach” and “baptize” people of “all nations” in His Name, along with “the Father” and “the Holy Spirit.” Yet this is one Name, the Name of the one true Triune God. As God’s Son, Jesus promised to be “with us always, to the end of the age” (along with the Father and the Spirit). He can do so as the Son of God.

In the Epistle lesson, Acts 2:14a, 22-36, we hear Peter preaching about “this Jesus“ being “crucified and killed,” and yet death could not hold Him. “This Jesus God raised up” and “exalted to the right hand of God.” And who was involved in all these mighty works and deeds? It was “the Father” and “the promised Holy Spirit,” along with Jesus, who is called both “Lord and Christ,” along with God “the Lord.”  It is the One True Triune God at work, for us and our salvation.

The Old Testament lesson is Genesis 1:1-2:4a, the story of the Creation of all things by God. Who was involved? Only God. Only He existed in the beginning. Yet we hear of “the Spirit of God hovering over the waters,” and we hear God saying, “Let us make man in our image.” There is both singular and plural language for God, as God created “male and female He created them.” The New Testament also reveals that God the Son, called “the Word,” was also there at the beginning, “through whom all things were made.” “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This Word is clearly identified as God the Son, Jesus, “the Light,” “the Word” Who “became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-9, 14).

The Psalm is Psalm 8.  David begins and ends this psalm by declaring the “excellencies,” the majestic nature of God’s Name, because that special Name, LORD (Yahweh). speaks of the “glory” and “strength” of God Himself and His “eternal power and divine nature” over all His creation (Exodus 3:13-15, 6:6-7, Romans 1:20). This Psalm is also a prophecy of Jesus, the “Son of Man.” Four times, parts of Psalm 8 are quoted in the New Testament with regard to Jesus and His becoming a true “man,” “a little lower than the heavenly beings,” both angels and the Lord, in order to do His saving work for us. Once that work was complete, Jesus received “dominion” again, “with things under His feet,” as the true Son of God, as well as true man. (See for example, Philippians 2:5-11.)

If you want more detail on Psalm 8, see the Bible Study for this week in my podcast. If you want more information about the teaching of the Trinity, listen to a new sermon I will preach this coming Sunday and will include with the materials in the podcast next week.