Day of the Epiphany

READ: MATTHEW 11:27-30; JOHN 1:14; 5:19-20; HEBREWS 1:1-12

Have you ever celebrated the Day of the Epiphany? While most North Americans celebrate December 25 as the big gift-giving day of the season, other cultures celebrate January 6 as the day for presents and other surprises. On January 6, the Day of the Epiphany, many people traditionally remember the day when the Magi brought gifts to young Jesus. In many Spanish-speaking countries, children leave out grass and water for the Magi’s camels the day before Dia de los Reyes (the day of kings). They awake to find their shoes filled with gifts “from” the visiting Magi. In Germany, children dress up as the Magi and carol from house to house, asking for charity donations. The Epiphany is celebrated in Italy with bonfires and special treats; the French make a holiday gateau des rois or king cake. There are many other traditions as well.

The word epiphany means revelation or manifestation. The Day of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, born as a baby into the world. As He lived among us, Jesus was a living revelation of who God is—that means Jesus reveals to us what God is like. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that “the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Throughout His life, Jesus demonstrated God’s power, His love, His mercy, His holiness, His wisdom, and more. The words Jesus spoke were the very words of God (John 5:19). And Jesus’s death and resurrection fulfilled God’s plan of salvation for His people.

The Magi experienced the epiphany of seeing young Jesus. And Jesus invites each of us to have this epiphany as well. Do you see Jesus as God Himself? He invites us to see His glory as “the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). That’s exactly who He is! • Laura N. Sweet

• How did Jesus demonstrate God’s power while He lived among us here on earth? How did He demonstrate God’s mercy? His love?

• Why is it important that Jesus is both God and human? How does this affect the way we understand His death and resurrection?

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)