“Jesus Christ Is the Revelation of God’s Great Gospel Mystery”
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
Dear blessed ones to whom God has revealed His great Gospel
mystery in Jesus Christ, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord [Amen.]
“Christ the eternal Lord,
Whose promise here we claim,
Whose gifts of grace are freely poured
On all who name Your name; …
“Christ the unchanging Word
To ev’ry passing age,
Whose timeless teachings still are heard
Set forth on Scripture’s page; ….
“Christ the redeeming Son,
Who shares our human birth,
And by His death salvation won
For ev’ry child of earth; …
“Christ the unfading Light
Of everlasting day,
Our Morning Star in splendor bright,
The Life, the Truth, the Way; …
“Christ the ascended King
Exalted high above,
Whose praise unending ages sing,
Whom yet unseen we love; … .”
(Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.
829:1-5)
Epistle
Reading........................................................................
Ephesians 3:1-12 (esp. 1-6)
1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you
Gentiles—2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known to me by
revelation, as I have written briefly. 4When you read this, you can
perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to
the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is that the Gentiles are
fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in
Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Prologue: Well, the all-too-brief twelve-day Christmas season is
now history for another year. Having once again formally commemorated our
Savior’s humble birth in Bethlehem’s manger with joyful singing and
exuberant celebration we today mark that occasion that’s often inaccurately
portrayed in crèches and manger scenes, namely, the visitation of Gentile
Magi to worship Him with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Or
do we?
A somewhat detailed explanation of The Epiphany of Our Lord
contained in the Treasury of Daily Prayer devotion book tells us: “The feast
of the Epiphany of Our Lord commemorates no event but presents an idea that
assumes concrete form only through the facts of our Lord’s life. … At
Christmas, God appears as man, and at Epiphany, this man appears before the
world as God. That Christ became man needed no proof. But that this man,
this helpless child, is God needed proof. The manifestations of the
Trinity, the signs and wonders performed by this man, and all His miracles
have the purposes of proving to men that Jesus is God. Lately, especially
in the Western Church, the story of the Magi has been associated with this
feast day. As Gentiles who were brought to faith in Jesus Christ, the Magi
represent all believers from the Gentile world.” (Treasury of Daily Prayer.
Scot A. Kinnaman, Gen. Ed. Copyright © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, MO. Page 1094.)
Of course, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s Old
Testament Reading: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of
the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his
glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and
kings to the brightness of your rising. A multitude of camels shall cover
you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the
praises of the Lord.” (Is 10:1-3, 6 ESV) the familiar account of the Wise
Men’s visit is today’s Gospel Reading. In it the Spirit-inspired Saint
Matthew wrote that, after being led by a star on a long journey and an
encounter with wicked King Herod, the unknown number of Magi made their way
following that same star to a house in Bethlehem. Upon arrival, “And going
into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down
and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts,
gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return
to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” (St Matt
2:11-12 ESV)
To get to the real benefit of Matthew’s account, however, we have
to get past the star, the long trip, the stopover in Jerusalem, and the
meaningful gifts. When we do so, we discover from the pen of Saint Paul
that the substantive significance of this familiar account is that …
“Jesus Christ Is the Revelation of God’s Great Gospel Mystery.”
You see, the word “epiphany” means to make known, manifest,
reveal. Hmm, … reveal. That probably sparks in our minds the expanded
word, “revelation.” And, of course, that leads our attention to the New
Testament book, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” In that last book of the
New Testament and the entire Bible, the apostle John revealed in all sorts
of mysterious images and activities the simple and yet profound message that
Jesus Christ has battled Satan and conquered him for us. That is, …
I. It’s All about the Gospel of God’s Grace-Gift, Jesus Christ. (7-10)
7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace,
which was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, though I am the
very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for
everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created
all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might
now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
“Gospel” means “good news” specifically about the atoning work of
the Messiah—“the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (St John
1:29 ESV)—as declared by His cousin John the Baptizer, who was the New
Testament Elijah. That good news involves bad news … sin. For it was our
original parents’ disobedient rebellion against God that introduced sin into
God’s perfect creation and stained it with ugly darkness. But Immanuel
defeated the father of that bad news—Satan—with His holy life, innocent
suffering and death, and victorious resurrection from the dead in triumph
over sin, Satan, and death itself … all for us!
What was necessary to overcome sin, Satan, and death itself that
mankind could not do … Jesus Christ did. And more than that, He now gives
us the undeserved gifts of His accomplishment, namely, forgiveness of all
our sins, healing of our sin-sick souls, and eternal life with Himself in
glorious heaven. That’s what grace is … the undeserved love of God that
motivated Him to rescue us stinking, rotten, rebellious people in the
Blessed Sacrament of Holy Baptism from the eternal damnation in hell’s fiery
torment that we deserve and to retain us as His own dearly-adopted children
through the hearing and reading of His Holy Word, the soothing announcement
of Holy Absolution, and the guarantee of His grace-gifts in Holy Communion.
All of that and more comprises the gospel message of God’s grace
that Saint Paul was privileged to preach to the Gentiles then and Pastor
Marks and I are privileged to preach to you today. It’s what in some
mysterious manner was revealed to the Magi, who then travelled to where they
found the toddler Jesus with His mother and worshipped Him with tangible
valuable material gifts. In addition, they then and we today join together
with “angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven” in lauding
and magnifying Christ’s glorious name and evermore praising Him now and in
eternity all because …
II. We Have Access to God through Faith in Jesus Christ. (11-12)
11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ
Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence
through our faith in him.
Another way of saying that is: “Not only do [we] have the freedom
to come to God, but [we] have the joy and pleasure of coming confidently,
without any reservation, ‘as dear children coming to their dear father.’”
(Armin J. Panning in People’s Bible Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians.
Copyright © 1997 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 168.)
That’s what the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther communicated in his
explanation to The Introduction of The Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in
heaven”: “With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our
true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and
confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.” (Luther’s
Small Catechism with Explanation. Copyright © 1986, 1991 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Pages 19 & 180.)
Now that’s a revelation that reveals the depth and breadth and
height and length of God’s love for us. For our heavenly Father inflicted
His righteous and just anger on His own dear Son … righteous and just anger
that we deserve … righteous and just anger that should have condemned us to
everlasting damnation in the fiery abyss of hell, forever separated from God
Himself. Instead of doing what we deserve, however, He did what we don’t
deserve. He withheld His righteous and just punishment from us and laid it
on our Substitute, His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly bore
it for us. Today’s Introit offered an appropriate response: “Your throne, O
God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of
uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore
God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your
companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.”
(Ps 45:6-8a ESV)
With our heavenly Father’s righteous and just anger appeased, we
now approach Him without fear, fright, or trepidation through Spirit-given
faith in Jesus. We do so with today’s Gradual on our lips: “Praise the
Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love
toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Ascribe to the
Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!”
(Ps 117:1-2a; 96:8 ESV)
So, as we now bid a fond farewell to Christmas 2015 and its
less-than-two-weeks season, welcome the transition season of Epiphany
between Christmas and Lent, and anticipate the soon-to-be-here Lent season,
let’s ever realize and focus on the manifested truth that …
“Jesus Christ Is the Revelation of God’s Great Gospel Mystery.”
As we make that certainty our realization and manifestation, let’s
continue to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that …
I. It’s All about the Gospel of God’s Grace-Gift, Jesus Christ. (7-10)
and …
II. We Have Access to God through Faith in Jesus Christ. (11-12)
Finally, let us remember and never forget that Epiphany marks the
revelation of Jesus Christ as the God-man Savior of all sinful people; that
we, like the Magi, who travelled a long distance to worship Him, also
worship Him in Spirit and in truth with our time, talents, and treasures as
well as sanctified thoughts, desires, words, and deeds; and that we, also
like the Magi, have the privilege and opportunity to tell others the good
news about Jesus wherever we may be. To that end, in the bright shining
light of Him who is the revelation of God’s great gospel mystery, let us
continually pray what we prayed in today’s Collect: “By the leading of a
star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who
know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence.”
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our
holy Savior. [Amen.]
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
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