Not Polished Arrows, but Beacons of Light
Jan 18, 2026 • Gary Sandberg
This Epiphany reflection draws us deep into Isaiah 49 and John 1, where God reshapes how power, purpose, and freedom are understood. The people of Israel once imagined themselves as polished arrows—strong, sharp, and ready to conquer. But God offers a different calling: to be a light to the nations.
John the Baptist echoes this vision by pointing not to himself, but to Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Not by domination. Not by force. But by freeing us from what binds us and sending us into the world with love, justice, and peace.
This sermon invites us to reconsider our place in God’s story:
not conquerors, but witnesses.
not rulers, but servants.
not polished arrows, but beacons of light.