This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6
Today is Epiphany day, commencing the season when the Church focuses on events that publicly disclosed and identified Jesus as the incarnate Son of God and the promised Messiah . These events include: the visit of the Magi from the East (Matt 2:1-12); the baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17); the first sign miracle of Jesus – turning water into wine (John 2:1-11); the Transfiguration, where the glory of Jesus is revealed to His inner circle of disciples – Peter, James and John (Matt 17:1-13); the shepherds and the angels (Luke 2:8-14, 6) and Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:21).
These events should remove every doubt as to the place Jesus Christ should occupy in our lives and the purpose of His coming into the world The shepherds came with their story of what they experienced in the field at night: the angel that appeared to them and the message -”good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”. Their account of “the great company of the heavenly host” that appeared with the angel, praising God. The Magi that visited from the East saw something spectacular about a child being born, from their study of the stars and undertook the long journey to pay their homage to the Child-King. The testimony of Simeon, who the Holy Spirit revealed to that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ and that of the Prophetess Anna, all point to the identity of the Child that was born.
The life Jesus lived and His deeds are also enough to remove any pessimism from those that look at Him as a mere man. The opening of the heaven, the dove and the voice from heaven, during His baptism, which John the Baptist testified to, were out of the ordinary. The authority He commanded; the turning of water to wine and His other acts of healing and deliverance from demons; the transfiguration experience; His death and resurrection were so convincing that the early disciples withstood all forms of torture and gave up their lives to proclaim the gospel He brought.
The good thing is that His gospel of salvation is for all of us and not limited to the Jews only. Prophet Isaiah wrote this: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b). Through the coming of Jesus Christ we have been admitted as heirs to the Kingdom of God and are fellow partakers of the promise concerning Christ in the gospel (i.e., that whoever trusts in Him has everlasting life; John 3:16; et al.)
In the light of these overwhelming facts, we urge you to reflect on your relationship, especially in this season, with the Saviour of all that came and lived amongst us. May you not be destroyed amongst those who, the evidences to the contrary notwithstanding, chose to harden their hearts against this Saviour of the world (Hebrews 3: 18).
Have a glorious and victorious season as you face the facts and allow the Saviour to invade, take over and manage your life.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede