Author: The Admin

Lent is a 40 day Christian festival that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Easter (Sundays are not counted).  To begin this holy season, on Ash Wednesday some churches invite their members to come forward and receive the imposition of ashes.  The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each while speaking the words, “For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). This practice is to remind Christians of their sinfulness, mortality, of their need to repent, and how greatly we need God’s mercy in Christ.  That theme is to be with us throughout the entire season, for Lent is a penitential season, one of repentance and sorrow for sin.  Lent prepares us for the observance of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection for us.  The liturgical color for Lent is purple.  This deep, rich color has come to represent somberness and solemnity, penitence, and prayer.  Jesus wore a purple robe only once.  As the soldiers mocked and tormented Him, the Scriptures record they placed on Him a purple garment in order to ridicule Him and belittle the claim that he was King of the Jews.  Thus, purple is also a reminder of the contempt and scorn he endured, and the subsequent sacrifice he made for our eternal salvation.  May this holy season remind us of our daily need to humbly give attention to leading a life of repentance, as we follow our Savior’s footsteps to the cross on which he suffered for our redemption.

On February 19, we observe The Transfiguration of Our Lord. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John went up on a high mountain. There Jesus’ clothes became a spectacular dazzling white, and His face shown like the Sun.  Moses and Elijah were also there in glory talking with Jesus. This event gave these three disciples a glimpse of Jesus’ divine majesty. It helped to confirm and solidify their faith that He was Lord. They needed this service to endure the troubles and tests soon to come upon Jesus’ mission that was heading to the cross. The voice of God the Father also spoke with a grand testimony from Heaven, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.” It was a similar to what the Father spoke at Jesus’ baptism by John at the Jordon. However, this time, it included the emphasis, “listen to him!” The disciples were to take to heart the voice of God speaking that day. Such commitment from the Father is what the Holy Spirit used later to powerfully work through those Jesus sent out to begin building His church. “For we were eyewitnesses of His majesty and heard the voice from Heaven that day on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). God’s very Son was shown to be man in dazzling glory fulfilling what ancient prophecy had foretold,  “I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43:11).

Epiphany is both a day and a season on the church calendar.  The day is January 6th; the season is the time between the close of the Christmas season and the beginning of Lent.  “Epiphany” means “an appearance, a showing forth, or a shining revelation”.  Though the world pays little attention, for Christians it is an important festival.  The Scripture readings in this season emphasize that the Son born of the Virgin Mary is also the almighty Son of God and Savior of all.  The voice from heaven reveals this fact, declaring at Jesus Baptism, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The light of Epiphany shines with the truth that the Babe of Bethlehem is true God, made man.  We also see what Simeon prophesied of the infant Jesus at the temple, that His ministry would be for glory to God’s people Israel, and a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32).  Epiphany has been called “The Christmas of the Gentiles”.  A time when we think of the Magi- those Gentile Kings from afar, whom God guided by the new star, a star that He revealed to them connected with the fulfillment of a promise.  A promise by God’s Word now kept at the birth of the Messiah into the world.  May our hearts be blessed this Epiphany season as we celebrate and rejoice as God’s Word shows us the divine glory of His Son.  He is indeed true man and also true God, and our Redeemer.  The last Sunday of Epiphany ends with the transfiguration of Jesus’ glory and we hear before the darkness of Lent, “This is my Son, My Chosen One; listen to him”!

On January 1^st we observe the festival of The Circumcision and Name of Jesus. God commanded Abraham that on the eighth day after birth every male child would be circumcised. This was a sign of the covenant that God marked them as His people. The Israelites were to observe this practice as it would be a seal in flesh of this covenant promise (Genesis 17:10-14). At this time, the child was also given his name. In Christ, God became flesh to free humanity from the corruption of sin under the laws demand. This was the first place the law took hold of God’s Son marking Him as the promise sent from the Father. He fulfilled this part of God’s law for us when His sinless flesh was cut as a child. He was given the name Jesus, which means Savior. Joseph was told by an Angel in a dream what to name the child when in fear of taking Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-21). This festival observes the first shedding of Jesus blood for us, in compliance to the law of God. Later on the cross, our Savior would shed His blood to the fullest point possible giving His very life for our salvation. This festival just happens to fall when all over the world are celebrating a new year. It carries a lot of meaning for us, since this is the initial time the Savior’s blood would be shed showing sins could be washed away and forgiven in His Name. The Sacrament of Baptism has replaced circumcision with the mark of being God’s people in Christ (Colossians 2:11-15). This water does not cut flesh, but goes straight to the heart with the Word of promise. We arise every day in faith as a new creation by the grace poured out from God by the Gospel.

Scripture Readings for this day–  O/T:  Numbers 6:22-27

Epistle: Galatians 3:23-29       Gospel:  Luke 2:21