Sunday Sermon 01-18-2026: Redefining Messiah

The Reverend Dr. Samuel T. PowersBoston Avenue Methodist ChurchJohn 1: 29-42"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared,‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Thisis he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead ofme because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but Icame baptizing with water for this reason, that he might berevealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descendingfrom heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did notknow him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said tome, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is theone who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen andhave testified that this is the Chosen One.’The next day John again was standing with two of hisdisciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, ‘Look,here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this,and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw themfollowing, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said tohim, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are youstaying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and sawwhere he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It wasabout four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard Johnspeak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Hefirst found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found theMessiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon toJesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John.You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).”