Week of Epiphany
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
“Epiphany” is a word that we don’t use every day, and as a season of the church year, its significance may not be as immediately recognizable as Christmas or Easter. What does “epiphany” mean? “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “appearance” or “manifestation.” So, this is the part of the church year where we celebrate the manifestation—the showing forth or revelation—of Jesus as the true Son of God. Accounts that emphasize this manifestation include the visit of the wise men, Jesus’ baptism, and His first miracle at the wedding at Cana.
What is so important about this manifestation? Ever since His life on this earth, people have claimed that Jesus was a spiritual, moral, ethical, or political leader, and, in that sense, He is seen merely as an important figure to model one’s life after. What these people miss, though, is crucial. Yes, Jesus was a human who was subject to all the temptation and pain that we are, yet He is also true God. As true God, Jesus was also born without sin. If we look honestly at how we live our lives versus what God commands in the Ten Commandments, we know we cannot go a day, or even minutes, without sinning. Furthermore, ever since Adam and Eve sinned, all humans have been born sinful into a sinful world.
On our own, then, our situation is hopeless. Thanks be to God who sent His only Son to this world to be born, live, suffer, and die for us to take away all our sin! This Epiphany, let us celebrate that God has been manifested and revealed to us as our Savior.
Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star To the sages from afar
Branch of royal David’s stem In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.
The Lutheran Hymnal 134:1