“Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise, Manifested by the star To the sages from afar, Branch of royal David's stem, In Thy birth at Bethlehem. Anthems be to Thee addressed God in man made manifest.” (TLH 134:1).
Please read the Gospel lesson for today: Matthew 2:1-12
Please read the Gospel lesson for today: Matthew 2:1-12
In the Name of Jesus, God in man made manifest. Amen. Epiphany means “He manifests, He makes known.”
Jesus spends the season of Epiphany in the Church making Himself known to us by what He does and says. And as He epiphanies for us, we sing!
First, Magi from the East follow a star to Jerusalem in search of the One Born King of the Jews. Jesus manifests Himself on Epiphany as their King and their God. He’s our King and our God too, and so we join their worship of the Christ child!
Then, the Beloved Son of God sets Himself in our place, being baptized by John with and for sinners. ”Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme” (TLH 134:2). This makes His Heavenly Father “well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)!
“And at Cana, Wedding-guest, In Thy Godhead manifest; Manifest in power divine, Changing water into wine” (TLH 134:3). Jesus shows Himself as one of us as He listens to His mother for us and for our salvation and saves a wedding by turning water into good wine.
“Manifest in making whole Palsied limbs and fainting soul; Manifest in valiant fight, Quelling all the devil's might; Manifest in gracious will, Ever bringing good from ill” (TLH 134:4) Jesus is the savior who heals us! He heals the lepers, the sick, the demon possessed, and even heals our failing limbs and fainting souls!
Jesus makes Himself known to us most of all at His Transfiguration! There, on the mountain, He shows us His true glory. The glory isn’t so much that He shines like the sun, but what He does next: He comes down from the mountain and sets His face toward Jerusalem. He sets His face toward Lent, toward the Good Friday, toward the Cross. He is true God. He is true Man. He is our Savior headed for the Cross to die for all our sins.
So let us sing and pray in these few weeks of Epiphany, “Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Mirrored in Thy holy Word; May we imitate Thee now And be pure as pure art Thou. That we like to Thee may be At Thy great Epiphany And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest” (TLH 134:5). In the Name of Jesus, God in man made manifest. Amen.
Other readings for today
Psalm 72:1-11
Isaiah 60:1(2-4)5-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.