As we close out the season of Epiphany and transition into Lent it is good to reflect on what it all means.
Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Christ Child, but Jesus does not stay the little baby in the manger. The Wisemen saw the star and set out to find Jesus. The scriptures tell us this Child is the Way, Truth and Light. The people sitting in darkness have seen a Great Light. Jesus is baptized and begins his ministry of giving and healing. Christmas is about Jesus being present with us and all the gifts and blessings that accompany him. This gift is so grand and extravagant it encompasses all of humanity, every human people group.
The magnificence of who this Jesus is brought to a climax on The Sunday of the Transfiguration as Jesus gives Peter, James, and John and glimpse of his true radiance. It is a shame that all of our Christian Holidays have degraded into secular celebrations. Christmas focuses on Santa Clause and ends December 25th. Epiphany and the splendor of what Jesus brings as the Light of the World is lost and the last day of Epiphany a day of decadence before we make our sacrificial recognition of Jesus going to the cross. (I could go on about Easter and the Easter Bunny and All Saints becoming All Demon Night.)
Epiphany is the celebration of Jesus’ brilliance and God’s extravagant blessings given in and through Jesus.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
So, Epiphany goes out with a Grand Finally. In the parade we see symbols of God’s abundant blessing showered upon us and we feast knowing one day we will feast together with Christ in the Feast of Heaven.
May this Mardi Gras remind you of how blessed you are in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Mark
Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Christ Child, but Jesus does not stay the little baby in the manger. The Wisemen saw the star and set out to find Jesus. The scriptures tell us this Child is the Way, Truth and Light. The people sitting in darkness have seen a Great Light. Jesus is baptized and begins his ministry of giving and healing. Christmas is about Jesus being present with us and all the gifts and blessings that accompany him. This gift is so grand and extravagant it encompasses all of humanity, every human people group.
The magnificence of who this Jesus is brought to a climax on The Sunday of the Transfiguration as Jesus gives Peter, James, and John and glimpse of his true radiance. It is a shame that all of our Christian Holidays have degraded into secular celebrations. Christmas focuses on Santa Clause and ends December 25th. Epiphany and the splendor of what Jesus brings as the Light of the World is lost and the last day of Epiphany a day of decadence before we make our sacrificial recognition of Jesus going to the cross. (I could go on about Easter and the Easter Bunny and All Saints becoming All Demon Night.)
Epiphany is the celebration of Jesus’ brilliance and God’s extravagant blessings given in and through Jesus.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
So, Epiphany goes out with a Grand Finally. In the parade we see symbols of God’s abundant blessing showered upon us and we feast knowing one day we will feast together with Christ in the Feast of Heaven.
May this Mardi Gras remind you of how blessed you are in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Mark
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