The Epiphany

I've always liked the word epiphany, even though I've had difficult with its spelling. As a child, I enjoyed the story of the three kings arriving at the stable to present their unusual gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Now, I know the truth that the wise men didn't arrive to Bethlehem until Jesus was about two years old. It changes the nativity set, but I always have my Three kings traveling from the outer reaches of the living room, not to arrive until Christmas Day. Though not accurate, my children enjoyed this tradition.

So what is the feast of the Epiphany really all about? Originally, the church celebrated this day to commemorate Jesus's baptism by John at the Jordan. Here is the story from the gospel of Matthew 3:13-17:

^" But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The word epiphany is not found in the Bible, but it's from the Greek term which means manifestation. The NIV Archeological Study Bible further explains, "The word originally marked a fest to celebrate the baptism of Jesus and  still does in the churches of the Eastern Orthodoxy." The manifestation being both the" Spirit of God descending like a dove" and the a revelation of his glory at the wedding feast of Cana, marking his first miracle of changing water to wine.

However, since the fourth century the church has attributed this word as  "Christ's manifestation of himself to the Magi" (Archeological Bible pg. 1560). He reveled himself as a King and was presented gifts befitting a king. On the practical side, these costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh helped his parents economically when they had to flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod, who felt threatened by the announcement of another King.

However, the third set of meanings is what truly excites me. These are found in the Miriam Webster dictionary : a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential meaning of something, an intuitive grasp of reality though something (as an event) and a sudden realization or revelation. Any English major worth their salt knows that the best stories are when a character hits a turning point and has an epiphany. 

Charles Dickens "A Christmas carol" is a classic example of a dramatic epiphany. It's one of the reasons it's so loved. When the misery Ebenezer Scrooge wakes up a "new man' from his ghostly  visions and becomes a generous soul as their ever was, it speaks to our own spirit. I love epiphanies because they mark a radical change in one's life, such as my own. I went from a hippie, self centered art student to a born again Christian, free from the poverty of soul and spirit. It happened instantly when I realized I was a sinner in need of a Savior. Transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

 My son had an epiphany when he was living in Florida. He turned from the world of drugs and darkness into the light of Jesus Christ. Some people believe they have an epiphany when they realize God isn't real. I call that a negative epiphany and pray they will have a manifestation of truth. God is with us, manifested as Immanuel, the Savior, as a babe who came to die on the cross and set us free from sin and death. His spirit lives with us and can live with you too! That's a true Epiphany!

If you like what you read, please leave a comment. Thanks and enjoy today, January 6th, the modern day celebration of  the Epiphany.