Monday, January 31, 2011
Ephesians 1:3, 9 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ.
WHAT'S EPIPHANY ABOUT?
Right now we're half way through the Epiphany season (which this year lasts nine weeks due to Easter's late appearance on the calendar). Epiphany may be the least well understood season of the church year. All Christians readily understand what Christmas is about (the birth of the Savior born for our redemption). We know Lent's significance (it's the season we focus on the Passion of Christ, our sin-bearing Substitute, and all He endured to redeem us). We rejoice in the message of Easter (His victory over the grave which assures us of our own victory). But what of Epiphany? What is its significance?
The word "epiphany" means to "make known." During this season called Epiphany we focus our thoughts on how our heavenly Father MADE KNOWN that the Jesus born at Bethlehem, who grew up in Nazareth, who suffered, died, and rose again is the Savior of all people. This is something worth taking time each year to ponder and thank God for. If He had not condescended in love to grant us this epiphany, then all the events of Jesus' life and their meaning would have remained a secret. As Paul once wrote: "The wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God which was hidden, which He planned for our glory before time began. Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:7-9).
Praise be to God for the love He has shown in disclosing Jesus' identity to us (through the Spirit in the Word) and in blessing us with the ability (through the same powerful Word) to anchor our hopes in Christ. Without this epiphany we could not know Him -- nor could we serve Him in love now or look forward to spending eternity with Him then.
