7 January 2007

Luke 3:15-22

Love Reveals the Way

Larry Jacobs wrote:

I read this humorous account of the Wise Men (Let me just insert that Larry thinks it was obviously written by a woman. You probably heard it before, but let me read it to you anyway.) If it had been ‘Wise Women’ instead of ‘Wise Men,’ he writes, who came to see Jesus, they would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts from Baby’s-R-Us, including diapers, wipes, bibs and formula. But that’s an entirely different story

As you know, yesterday (January 6) was Epiphany, which means “to appear” or “to make known.”  On this day, January 6, most Protestants celebrate the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was in his baptism that God “made known” to the world that Jesus, was his son, “the beloved.” 

However, about one fourth of all the Christians of the world (mainly Greek Orthodox Christians), on January 6 celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On this day Jesus is born and God “appears” in the flesh before all humanity to see. For them Christmas happens January 6 on the day of Epiphany. 

For most Latin American Catholics and increasingly more Evangelicals, January 6 is a time to remember when the three wise men came to baby Jesus with gifts. This event is significant for two reasons. First, it shows that the coming of Jesus was an event that would impact the world, not just Palestine. The three wise men who came to see Jesus were not Jews, but most likely astronomers from Persia who were moved by the stars and came to meet the King of the Jews. From the very beginning, Jesus’ birth had world-wide significance. Second, it shows the importance of Jesus. The gifts they brought to Jesus were proper gifts for a king. Although Jesus was born in a humble setting, he was not just another poor boy he was a king that one day would liberate humanity from its sins. The three wise men recognized Jesus’ importance in spite of what Jesus looked like or where he was born. 

In Latin America, January 6 is as important as Christmas. In fact, most children receive a gift on January 6, not on December 25. Just like the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus, the Three Wise Men bring gifts to all the children of the world. The children feel appreciated and special like baby Jesus. On Christmas the birth of Jesus is celebrated, but on January 6 gifts are given. 

In the Elizalde family, January 6 is extra important. Exactly two years ago at 11:15 AM Christina Renee Elizalde was born. In Mexico all of our relatives were delighted that our second child was born on January 6. It was as significant as being born on Christmas day. Most of our relatives said, “Los Tres Reyes Magos les trajeron su regalo.” (“The three Wise Men brought you your gift”). Of course, this makes us feel special and appreciated. Yet we know that all the children of the world are gifts from God. 

However, regardless of what January 6 means to us, the important thing is what impact it has on our lives. If you ask Luke for example, the writer of the third Gospel, he would say that Jesus’ baptism was not that important. Luke for example does not say where nor who baptized Jesus. Luke, the writer that seemed most preoccupied with details, omits the fact that John the Baptist baptized Jesus by the Jordan River. He writes, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened (v. 21). Maybe we can assume that Luke did not bother with those details because the reader will conclude that since John the Baptist was baptizing the people that he would have baptized Jesus. 

On the other hand, there seems to be a deliberate omission. Back in verse 15 we read, “As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah (v. 15). Luke probably realized that the people (the masses of people who followed John), were beginning to believe John and not Jesus was the Messiah. He therefore, downplays John’s baptism of Jesus and moves quickly to talk about when the heavens opened. He writes, “The Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice come from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased’” (v. 22.). Luke wanted us to move away from John the Baptist and follow Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ who is the Son of God; the Beloved, the one with whom God is well pleased. 

What does January 6 mean to us, to you? “Epiphany?” “To appear” “to make known?” What does January 6 mean to us, to you? The birth of Jesus Christ? The baptism of the true Messiah? The day three foreign wise men from the Far East came to give gifts fit for a king to baby Jesus? For Luke, Epiphany should be a day when we recognize that the birth of Jesus who we celebrated on Christmas day a few weeks ago, has profound significance. The baby we saw in the manger, the baby born to Mary, the infant the shepherds came to see, came to transform the world. This baby is asking us to follow him, to believe in him, to praise him, to obey him. 

This child, this baby of Christmas, this innocent and fragile infant says Luke, “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (v. 16b-17). Let us not make a mistake about baby Jesus. He was born to change the world, to baptize each and every one of us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He was born to change the world, to gather those who believed in him unto himself and to remove from his presence the ones who reject him. 

You know what January 6 means to me? It means the birth of my second child. It means the day three wise men from the East came to give baby Jesus gifts fit for a king. It is the day local shepherds and foreign astrologers recognized Jesus as the true Messiah, the true king of Israel, the one who will transform the world. It means the day Jesus was baptized and began his ministry. It is a day to remind myself to re-commit to God and to my Savior. It is a day to remember that I have met God in Jesus, and it is Jesus, not John or any other man who I must follow and obey. 

So, on this Epiphany Sunday, let us welcome the true Son of God, the true Messiah, the true King of Israel, our LORD, our Savior, Jesus The Christ. 

On this Epiphany Sunday, let us remember that the baby born on Christmas day, has come to change the world; to baptize each and every one of us with the Holy Spirit and with fire, to call unto himself all those who obey and trust in him and remove from his presence those who reject him. 

On this Epiphany Sunday, let us remember our goal is more than to believe God was born in human flesh, but to obey and to follow Jesus Christ all of our days until he comes again or until we are called to meet him face to face. 

Amen.