The Epiphany Sunday, January 06, 2019
Gospel reading: Matthew 2:1-12
Lectionary C
Throughout Advent, we have been anxiously waiting for the arrival of the Promised One. Now, He has finally come! And we are reminded mostly clearly on Epiphany Sunday that He is a King. He is the King of Kings. But King Jesus is unlike any king we have ever known. He isn’t a tyrant. He does not place heavy burdens on the backs of His people in order to hold them captive. He is the King who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28). The Good News is Jesus the King has come to set us free from everything that keeps us from life with Him! And for this, He is worthy of our worship and our allegiance.
A few thoughts on this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Matthew 2:1-12):
First, we learn that the Gospel truly is good news for ALL people (v. 1-2).
Do not overlook the fact that Jesus’ coming was announced to even the worst of men — namely, Herod. What’s staggering about this is it shows that Jesus came to rescue sin-sick people. Prideful, power-hungry, self-centered, cruel people. Do you know what this means? It means there is hope for you, and for me. You may feel far from God today. You might only be able to see your sin. Your heart might be breaking over a loved one who is lost and wandering. The Gospel declares to you and to me that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace! We have God’s invitation and promise that if we seek Him, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13; Mt. 7:7).
Secondly, we see that while God is busy reclaiming what is rightfully His (a people for His own possession), the devil is busy counteracting and disrupting this work (v. 3-8).
As he did with Herod, Satan often uses fear to keep people in darkness, so that they “cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4). The fear we experience often revolves around the issue of control. We fear losing control of ourselves and others, so we do our best to keep King Jesus from ruling over us. In our reading, many of the devil’s primary weapons are exposed — such as secrecy, deceit, paranoia, and pride. When we give into Satan’s temptations to resist the Good News, we stunt the good work Jesus wants to do in us.
Finally, we can be encouraged that the mission of God will not be —cannot be— stopped (v. 9-12)!
What a comfort to know that no matter how cunning or crafty the evil one seems to be … how much power he seems to have … how brutal his tactics are … our God wins! Nothing can stop God’s redemptive plan in the person of Jesus Christ. As we look to Him, the Lord will guide our feet through the enemy’s attacks and make us overcomers. As this Sunday’s collect beautifully states, we will experience the power and presence (or “face”) of the One who came, and lived, and died, and rose again … for us.
“…Lead us, O God, to Your presence, where we may see Your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord…” Amen.
– Father Nick Braunschneider is rector of church plant, Bethesda Church, in Lake Nona.