Friday, January 16, 2015
Isaiah 60:2 ... the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Through the Word God's glory drives away the darkness of sin and death and turns on the light so that now we see the way to heaven. When that Good News is proclaimed to us, the Savior is born in our hearts and God's forgiveness shines upon us, taking away all of our sins and declaring us to be children of God.
Epiphany means "to reveal." It is often called the Christmas of the Gentiles. A Gentile is someone who is not a Jew. Which, of course, would include most of us. Christ did not come only to the Jews. He came to the Church, which includes believers in the time of both the Old and the New Testament, to all of those who look to Him for salvation. Yes, He was born in Bethlehem long ago, but whenever His Word is preached, He makes our heart His cradle, calling us His own. Through faith in Christ we are the children of God. We are Israel, for Israel, properly speaking, is only believers, whether in the time of the Old or New Testament. Even now deep darkness covers the earth. But wherever God's Word is proclaimed, there the glory of the LORD shines as it arises over His people, over His Church. And, our text tells us, as the LORD rises over us with His glory, "His glory will be seen upon you." Christ says to believers, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). That Gospel shines upon you, and through you it shines to the world!
