EPIPHANY

 

Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

               Traditionally January 6 is known as Epiphany; a remembrance of when the Magi traveled from the east and found the infant Jesus, proclaiming him to be the one born king of the Jews.

               The word epiphany means an awakening or a divine appearance. Sometimes, when a person makes a discovery, they will say that they had an epiphany. The Magi had an epiphany when they believed the prophetic signs and traveled to Bethlehem to find Jesus. When they saw him, they knew that he was the one that had been foretold.

Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV)
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

               Each person who encountered Jesus at his birth had a different kind of epiphany; a different response. The Magi responded to Jesus with genuine worship. Herod responded to Jesus with anger and malice. The religious leaders responded to Jesus’ birth as if it was the answer to a religious trivia question. The shepherds responded to Jesus’ birth in awe and wonder. Mary and Joseph responded to Jesus’ birth with amazement.

               Many years later, Peter had an epiphany of his own. Jesus had posed the question to his disciples, who do people say that I am. The disciples gave a variety of responses.

Matthew 16:13-14 (NIV)
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

               Then Jesus posed the most important question of all. Who do you say that I am? At that moment Peter, speaking for all of the disciples, voiced his epiphany.

Matthew 16:16-17 (NIV)
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

               Jesus is still asking the same question to us today. Who do you say that I am? Many people are willing to see Jesus as a good, moral teacher. Others see him as a prophet or spiritual leader. Still others see Jesus as a threat to their way of life. But many still take their place alongside of Peter and declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

               Traditionally, Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season. It is the wrap up of the story for another year. This week we began to take down all of our Christmas decorations. They will go back into boxes to be stored for another year. But Epiphany is not the end of the story, only the beginning.

               For many people, as they box up their Christmas decorations, they will put Jesus away for another year. They will not give much thought to the significance of his coming into the world. But for those who have had a genuine epiphany, the journey of faith is just beginning for another year. It is a reminder that Jesus came not to be a religious leader or a good moral teacher, but to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus came to change the course of human history forever.

               Each year, at Epiphany, we are faced again with the question, who do you say Jesus is? The Magi knew the answer. Mary and Joseph knew the answer. Peter and the disciples knew the answer. How about you? Have you had your own personal epiphany?

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."