This Is My Beloved Son” Matt. 3:17
We are God’s people. Say that with me, believe that with me.
“We are God’s people.” What comes with that knowledge? Certainly responsibility and obedience. Yet as God’s people we receive unbelievable grace, love and patience. Moses called upon God to remember, “We are your people,” as God was pondering whether to destroy the Israelites and start over. The Israelites had been disobedient and blatantly sinned by worshiping a golden calf that they had insisted should be crafted. God in His anger was going to destroy them all and make Moses into a great nation. Then Moses intervened and reminded God that the Israelites were His people. We read in Numbers 32:11, “But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said, why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?”
What does it mean for us at Word of Life to be God’s people? Many years ago a prophet in the wilderness was preaching hope through a baptism of forgiveness and a message of the Savior to come. Dressed in garments made of camel’s hair and subsisting on locust and wild honey this man called John had the look of a wild man. Yet as people heard his message to repent and be baptized they came to be “God’s people.” Then one day a man from Nazareth came to be baptized. Who was that man? As He was baptized the voice of God declared, “This is my beloved Son.” Through that man, “We all are God’s People.”
Question: “What is Epiphany?”
Answer: Epiphany is an ancient church festival celebrating the magi’s visit to the Christ Child (Matthew 2:1-12). It is kept on January 6. Epiphany is also called “Twelfth Day” because January 6 is twelve days after Christmas; the eve of Epiphany is called “Twelfth Night.” It is celebrated mainly in Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and other liturgical churches.
The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation.” Thus, the holiday celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the magi (see Simeon’s prophecy in Luke 2:32). For some, Epiphany also commemorates the baptism of Jesus (Luke 3:21-22) and His turning water into wine (John 2:1-11)—manifestations of Christ’s divinity to the world.
