Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/81

Contributor - Richard Westra

Title - Epiphany

Topic - Epiphany

The true light that enlightens every one was coming into the world ...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth,

We beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father

And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:9, 14, 16)

The word 'epiphany' therefore, means something special to those who believe in Christ as the Saviour of the world. His glory is the true reflection of God the Father. Through Christ we live in the presence of God' holiness and are made partakers of the light . of his love. God has made an appearing (epiphany) through the light of the world, Jesus the Messiah.

The word 'epiphany' also came to mean the second appearance of Jesus at the end of this world. Paul calls the Christians to keep "the commandments unstained and free ,from reproach until the appearing (epiphany) of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Tim. 6:14). Timothy is charged, in view of Christ's appearing, to preach the word faithfully, convincing, rebuking and exhorting. And Paul tells his Thessalonian friends that God will destroy the lawless one by his appearing (epiphany) and his coming (11 Thess. 2:8). Even though we believe God's epiphany to have occurred in Christ's birth at Bethlehem, we can still speak of a future epiphany.

History of the Celebration

The celebration of the epiphany of our Lord as a special day has its origin in the eastern orthodox church. It is one of the most ancient church festivals, arising as early as the second century in Asia Minor and Egypt. At this stage of history it celebrated the birth as well as the baptism of Jesus, on a date sometime around January 6. By the time of 300 a.d. the Roman or western church had begun to celebrate the birth of Jesus, choosing the date of December 25th. Both dates were festivals of the pagans, transformed into a Christian celebration with a Christian meaning.

In the course of time, when communication between the Eastern church and the Western church became possible, the celebration of epiphany became known to the West, and the celebration of Christmas became know to the East. Eventually December 25 was accepted by both churches as the day to celebrate Christ's birth, while January 6 remained a special day in the calendar of the Eastern church as the Festival of our Lord's Baptism and in the Western church as the Festival of our Lord's Epiphany to the Magi. We follow the Western calendar by emphasizing the story of the magi's trip to Bethlehem. These gentiles were shown the glory of God in Christ. This fulfilled the scripture in Isaiah:

God's Epiphany to Israel

One of the favourite Old Testament lessons to be read during the second Sunday of January is Isaiah 60:1 - 6, a portion of which is:

Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

God was expected to come to Jerusalem in a special outpouring of light and glory. It was to be a future event which would lift up the holy city of Jerusalem so that the presence of the Lord would fill her. Not only would the Jews see this, the whole world would run to this glorious appearing. Isaiah could speak about the event with such certainty that he describes it as a past event. Nations around the world remain in darkness; but God has already approached them with his light and called them to worship him.

We must remember that Isaiah is God's Epiphany to the World: it making his address to a people who Matthew 2 were scattered from one country to another. The nation of Israel was a captured people and they were forced to live beyond the land which God promised them as an eternal inheritance. The popular song expresses so well their feelings of loneliness and gloom:

Down by the rivers of Babylon,

Where we sat down,

And oh we wept when we remembered Zion.

Taken away in captivity,

Required of us a song,

But how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? (Psalm 137)

Meaning of 'Epiphany'

This great vision of God's coming which Isaiah expressed is the hope of the world. And this hope is the meaning of epiphany. To Reformed Church ears, it is a strange way of saying it. But the word, 'epiphany' comes from the Greek word for appearing', 'coming into light' or showing oneself'. Isaiah says that God has shown himself to the world in all his splendour. In essence he compares God's coming to the rising of the sun upon the world. Everyone sees its splendour and glory. In the same way, "the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (60:1). God is a light which makes itself known to those living in darkness: the depressed, discouraged and gloomy refugees known as Israel. He appears in all his glory to bring them hope. This is his epiphany in Zion.

In the church of today we rightly have seen God fulfilling his word in the person of Jesus Christ. God has appeared in all his splendour through his Son, our Saviour, lighting up the darkness and gloom of our world.

Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising ....

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. (60:3, 6)

God's Epiphany to the World - Matthew 2

The story of the magi has many interesting bits of historical intrigue, from the star that guided them to Jerusalem, to the gifts they lay at Jesus feet. But certainly the most important point of the story is God's revelation of his Son to the nations of the world. To the church it is somewhat embarrassing, because the gentiles come to the Christ child through no special help of God's ambassadors. God is his own ambassador. No preaching takes place to tell anyone of the good news. The magi come to the Messiah through their knowledge of the stars and through an inner directive from God. They came seeking a new born king of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). The only help anyone gives is King Herod and the Jewish scribes. Their motive, however, is not to help them find the Messiah, and fall into the purpose of God, but to oppose God's plan. But as it turns out, even this God uses for his purpose, Opposition which takes place from the very beginning of Jesus' birth, is taken by God to make himself known to the gentiles. Later the church will preach the same message:

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Gentiles. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (I Cor. 1:23, 24)

Here then is one of the first occasions where God's appearing occurs in Christ. The child born in Bethlehem is the glory of God and the center of worship. not only to his chosen people, but to all people. God shows himself to the world and we, his church. are called to direct others to this light. We live in the light, walk in the light, speak in the light, and do everything from dawn to dusk in the light of Christ. Therefore, it is said that we are children of the light. We are made bright by the appearing of Christ into our heart. We show kindness, hospitality, hope, friendliness. mercy, gentleness. meekness, faith and love. These are the works of light. We can only pray in the words of John Wesley that God will:

Visit then this soul of mine-.

Pierce the gloom of sin and grief-,

Fill me, Radiance divine:

Scatter all my unbelief-,

More and more Yourself display-.

Shining to the perfect day.

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