Epiphany Sunday (5 January 2025)

Today is the second Sunday after Christmas and according to the Book of Common Prayer it is Epiphany Sunday. Today’s Gospel reading Matthew chapter 2 talks about manifestation or appearance of Christ to the gentiles. We are familiar with the history of Jesus’ birth. Caesar Augustus passed a decree that the world should be taxed. Everyone went to their own city to be taxed. Joseph also went with Mary to Bethlehem. The king of Judah was born when they were in Bethlehem. There was no place in the inn and the humble king was born in a manger. Angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the fields. Shepherds came to visit baby Jesus. Jesus was circumcised on the eight day according to the law given through Moses. He was named ‘Jesus’ as the angel of the LORD instructed when He was in Mary’s womb. Jesus’s parents took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and offer sacrifice. They went to the temple of God to offer sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord. When they were in the temple of God, Simeon, a devout and just man, blessed Jesus. Prophetess Anna gave thanks and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. From that time, Jesus and His parents went to the temple of God every year to celebrate the feast of the Passover.

On Epiphany, Jesus was physically revealed to the wise men from the east. These wise men were the first gentiles who visited Jesus and worshiped Him with their gifts. Although Jesus’s birth was not announced by the angel to the gentiles, the wise men followed the star and came looking for Jesus. Epiphany was the day that Jesus was physically manifested or appeared to the gentiles that is the wise men from the east. What does ‘the east’ mean? Theologians say that if we draw a straight line from Jerusalem to the east, it will extend to India and Mangolia or some part of China. These wise men from the east were the first gentiles who visited Jesus and worshiped Him with their gifts. When the gentiles, the wise men came to visit Jesus, he was a baby. But the real manifestation to the theologians and the spiritual leaders was at his age 12.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast as they did every year. When the festival was over, everybody left but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. Jesus’s parents realised He was missing when they looked for him after a day’s journey. After three days, they found Jesus in the temple in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Mary asked him, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing”. Jesus replied, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” Today I would like to meditate on what Jesus meant by Father’s business. Understanding what the Father’s business is will help us to aligning ourselves with our Father’s expectation. We know the Almighty Father’s aim was to break the chain of the bondage of sin and offer salvation to humans to redeem the whole world from eternal death. The Almighty Father’s expectation on us is to overcome temptation and receive salvation.

Overcoming temptation: Jesus was incarnate as the second Adam to overcome temptations. He came to the world as a human. He fasted and prayed in the wilderness to overcome the temptations. He overcame temptations with the Word of God. He lived His life as an example for us to follow. In the mount of Olives, He told His disciples, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” Our Almighty Father’s expectation on us is that we overcome temptations following Jesus’s example.

Salvation: After He overcame temptation, Jesus began to preach about the kingdom of God and called people to repentance. He healed many, performed many miracles and cast away devils. The prophesy in Isaiah 9:2 was fulfilled when people received salvation. The people that walked in darkness saw a great light and the light shone on them that were in the land of the shadow of death.  Almighty Father’s expectation on us is that we overcome receive the Salvation that Jesus offered. 

We have meditated on two expectations of our Almighty Father: overcome temptation and receive salvation. Last week we celebrated the birth of Jesus. How are we going about our Father’s business and fulfilling His expectations? When Jesus lived in this world, He did not forget the purpose of His birth. He was aware of the Father Almighty’s vision. He saved people’s souls from eternal death. Jesus completed His Father’s business in this world. Jesus was focused on His work because He knew He had very limited time to do His ministries in this world. 

Like Jesus, we are also called to overcome temptation and receive salvation to inherit eternal life. We have a very short and limited lifetime when we have to overcome temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” We will not be tempted beyond our ability. We can overcome temptations like Jesus with His strength and receive salvation. 

When we have received salvation, like Jesus we have the responsibility to take the salvation to those who have not received it so they too can inherit eternal life. Jesus has completed His part. We must do our part during our transitory lives. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”. Let us align our thoughts and ways with our Lord’s thoughts and ways. Let us complete out Father’s business and expectations. Let us overcome temptations and receive salvation.? Let us be careful to ensure that our priorities are in line with the Lord’s plan and will. From the beginning of the year, let us take the initiative to share the love of Jesus with others and lead them to the eternal light Jesus. Let us guide them to inherit eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. Before we take part in the Lord’s Table, let us take a resolution to fulfil our Father’s Business in this world.

Let us pray!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this New Year. You have kept us safe and guided us all these years. We pray that You continue to guide, guard and protect us throughout this year also. Help us to be sincere in fulfilling our Father’s business in this world. Strengthen us to overcome temptations and have the happiness of salvation all our days. Guide us to lead those around us to the everlasting light so they also inherit eternal life. As we prepare to come to Your Table, cleanse us and make us holy. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.