photo #9017505

THE BIBLE STUDY – February 18, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto - A Confessional Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession Our readings this Wednesday from the daily lectionary are Genesis 1:1–19 and Mark 1:1–13. “In the beginning, God created . . . .” With these majestic words, Holy Scripture opens by revealing the Lord who brings order out of nothing and light into darkness. Creation is not an accident or natural process, but the deliberate work of the Triune God, who speaks and it is so. The first days of creation display His generosity—light, sky, land, and the promise of life. Everything is gift. Mark’s Gospel begins with a similar burst of divine action. There is no gentle introduction; instead, the heavens are torn open as Jesus steps into the waters of the Jordan. The same God who once spoke light into existence now stands in the river to redeem His creation. Martin Luther reminds us, “Christ is baptized for the sake of our baptism, and He sanctifies the waters for us” (Luther’s Works, vol. 58, p. 44). In the wilderness, Christ confronts the darkness that entered the world through sin. Where Adam failed, Jesus stands firm. Where creation groaned, the Creator now restores. The God who formed the world by His Word now recreates us through His Word and Sacraments. The Light that shone on the first day shines again in Christ, driving back the shadows of sin and death. As we journey through these days of Lent, we rest in the One who brings order to our chaos and life to our dust. Prayer: Lord God, Creator of all, shine Your light into our hearts through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Strengthen us in our baptismal grace, and keep us steadfast in every wilderness we face. Amen. Our Hymn for today from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 405 – “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmDzL03cs_E&list=RDgmDzL03cs_E&start_radio=1