Houston
Congregational Christian Church
Pastor James Manuel
4883 Russia-Houston Road
Houston, OH 45333
Phone: 937-295-3591
Email:
click here
Message Title: Epiphany
Call to Worship: Ephesians 3:6
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1-4
Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto You O Lord on this Your day.
Today is Epiphany Sunday in the Christian calendar. Epiphany is when something reveals itself or shows itself. For example in parts of Alaska after 65 days of darkness the sun finally reveals its glory for everyone to see. That’s an Epiphany. In the Church year the Epiphany season is when the Son of God reveals His glory for everyone to see.
Epiphany in the Church is called the Feast of the Three Kings. Usually the first Sunday in January, about the time the Magi came to Bethlehem to find the Christ child. As Matt. 2;2 says, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews. We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ You see the Wise Men represent that noble spirit of curiosity that searches for truth and goes the distance to find it and having found it, recognizes its deity and bows before it in worship and praise.
Epiphany can be summed up with a short phrase----From Darkness to Light. The Prophet Isaiah spoke of such when he said in Isaiah 60:1, ‘Arise shine for your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.’ The Bible pictures the world as a group of people living in darkness, people who have been waiting for the sun to rise. God tells us in Isaiah 60:2, ‘See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the people.’ God pictures our world as spiritually dark.
The presence of the Wise Men, an Epiphany, proclaims God’s salvation to all people. These men were considered outsiders. They didn’t belong at the manger. They were Gentiles, not Jews. What they knew about God may have been very little. Yet there they were standing with the Christ Child, bowing before Him with gifts, Matt. 2:11, ‘of gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ With their worship ended they returned to the place of their origin taking with them the message of the Birth of the Christ Child. In a way greater than the angels, the shepherds, or even Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men tell us what the coming of Jesus was really all about. It was about God’s all-inclusive love, for all people, everywhere.
In fact the Wise Men are our representatives because like most people in the Christian Church, they were Gentiles, not Jews. Except for the mercy of God they would have had no place there. Except for God’s mercy there would be no room in Bethlehem for us either. This Epiphany---God’s revealing of Himself to the entire world is about us. Without it we are on the outside looking in. With it we are starring players in the greatest story ever told. It is indeed as Luke 2:10 says, ‘Good news of great joy to all people.’
At the heart of the book of Ephesians is the unity of all persons under the Lordship of Jesus. As Paul said in Ephesians 3:6, ‘This mystery is that through the Gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.’ This mystery or secret, is no longer a secret. It had been hidden until the time of Christ, but His Incarnation, Crucifixion, and glorious Resurrection opened up the mystery to all.
Every person Jew, Gentile, slave or free, male or female, black or white, rich or poor, American or foreigner----is to share in God’s Eternal peace, love and power. How easily we forget that Jesus died for all. That Jesus tore down the walls of separation and bitterness, that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism----one God and Father over all. We know that because of the Wise Men. What an Epiphany.
The Wise Men challenge us to share that Good News with others. Here is where the story of the Epiphany comes closest to us. It is one thing to give thanks for the presence of the Wise Men at the side of the Christ Child. And for Paul, whose preaching included those of us in the Gentile world. But what about our sharing with others the word of grace that has come to us? Our calling today is to express in belief and in action, the overwhelming Love of God for the entire world. Let us be an Epiphany, a manifestation of Christ to the world. May our light so shine that the entire world may see God through us.
You see the Birth of Jesus is described as the rising of the sun on a very dark place. What happens when the sun rise---darkness disappears? Matt. 4:16 tells us that, ‘The people living in darkness have seen a great Light, and it says on those living in the land of the shadow of death---a Light has dawned.’ A Light has dawned. So what happens to the darkness of your sin and guilt when Jesus rises in your life. The darkness disappears.
You have received an Epiphany, a new awareness. Jesus shines His forgiveness and grace into your life and the darkness in your soul disappears. Jesus tells us in John 8:12, ‘I Am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of life.’ As that songs says---The Light of the World is Jesus.
Epiphany is when anyone living in the darkness of sin, comes and sees the glory of God as He reveals it through the person of Jesus Christ. Just as the sun rises on every nation, on every people, no matter who you are or what your background is just as the sun every morning rises on you, so it is with Christ. His grace, His forgiveness, His love, His Salvation rises and shines on every person.
And may I say no matter how dark the world becomes the Light of Jesus will never stop shining for you. This is what happened to the Wise Men There is the form of a little Child the Wise Men saw the Light of the world. They had gone from darkness to Light. Psalm 119:105 says, ‘Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a light for my path.’ I saw the Light, no more darkness, no more night, now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord I saw the Light. My friends no matter how dark the world gets around you Jesus’ Love will always shine in your life.