Epiphany: The King Jesus Gospel


The Gospel of the Worshipped King

1.17 | Reverend David Garrison



This morning we begin a new season in the life of the church, the season of Epiphany.  It runs from Christmas up to Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.  It is a season in which we intentionally and purposefully reflect on the wonder and awe of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ.  And it provides for us an opportunity to look, with fresh eyes and ears, at the Gospel.  For the Apostles, the Gospel was simply the declaration of the good news that King Jesus has come to redeem Israel and all people.  This morning we begin also a new sermon series, Epiphany: The King Jesus Gospel.

We begin this reflection with the event that marks the beginning of the season of Epiphany: The visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus.  It is a striking event that seems commonplace to us, mostly thanks to the carol inspired by this event.  As we look at Matthew’s account of it today, we will see that when we recognize Jesus as King, we are invited to join the Magi in worshipping him in fulness and truth.



Epiphany: The King Jesus Gospel

The liturgical season of Epiphany is an interesting one in the life of the church.  It runs from Christmas up to Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.  It is interesting because an epiphany is defined as “a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being, a moment of piercing awareness or insight.”  But in the church, it isn't a moment, it's an entire season.  Which means our definition becomes: “A moment of piercing awareness, a sudden jolt of understanding, spread out over a period of time.”

The season of Epiphany is a time in which we intentionally and purposefully reflect on the wonder and awe of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ.  And it provides for us an opportunity to look, with fresh eyes and ears, at the Gospel.  For the Apostles, the Gospel was simply the declaration of the good news that King Jesus has come to redeem Israel and all people.