The Feast of the Epiphany

Epiphany

January 6, 2026

INI

The Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of our Christmas Season. The King born to the Jews became a light to the Gentile nations. What began with a particular focus on Israel is already revealed to have a far greater scope, as Jesus’ mission and salvation are shown to extend to the whole world.

         The Epiphany of our Lord often gets overshadowed by the pomp and circumstance of the new year and getting back into the routine after the holidays. But the Epiphany event is really the beginning of when we hear the wonderful manifestations of Jesus’ divinity to the world. Throughout this season, you’ll hear the stories – the baptism of Jesus, John the Baptist declaring to the world that Jesus is the LAMB of GOD – that is, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. You’ll hear the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and how even he preached repentance like John – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Jesus performed healings for the Gentile people to demonstrate His divinity to them. And finally, we hear what this Divine man taught. We’ll hear His Sermon on the Mount, and we’ll see how He teaches as one with Divine authority.

         But for now, we stop and observe our Savior’s first encounter with the Gentiles. The Magi, who foreshadow the Gentiles, come and worship the baby Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Through this, the prophecy from Isaiah 60 came to pass – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has arisen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Is 60:1,3)” For the star that had shone in the sky to direct these Magi, came to rest directly overhead where Jesus rested. And they rejoiced with great joy at this star, for it guided them to meet the Immanuel, which means, God with us.

         When God revealed Himself to the world—when He epiphanied Himself—He did so as a light shining in a dark place. That’s the central image of Epiphany: light. Christ is the light of the world, and without Him the world remains in darkness. From the very beginning of creation, God’s first word was light, spoken into the darkness. Throughout Scripture, light becomes a picture of God’s holiness and life, because it drives back the darkness of sin and death. Where there is no light, there is no life. And so Epiphany teaches us this: Christ does not simply improve a dark world—He is the light that alone gives it life.

         And so today, we celebrate that Jesus has burst onto the scene as a light that lightens the world. Jesus Himself even said it – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”

         The theme of light bleeds into the other theme for epiphany – that God’s plan of salvation isn’t just for the Jewish people, but all people. Isaiah says – “Nations shall come to your light… Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together to come to you. (Is 60:3-4)” That’s what’s so significant about the Magi coming to worship Jesus. They weren’t Jews, yet they worshipped Jesus as King and Savior. The Epistle lesson highlights this inclusion of the nations. Paul says “this mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

         I know this sounds pretty normal as Western Christians. We know that Jesus came for all people, because God loves all people. He invites ALL to repent of their sins and receive the forgiveness that Christ won at the cross, a bloodshed he endured to cover the sins of ALL. This is the heart of the Gospel! And thanks be to God for it, because Epiphany is the season we remember that Christ’s mission and work is for ALL people. It’s not for the exclusive few. It’s not even for the righteous few. But it’s for the sinners, that they may be made righteous by Christ’s cleansing blood.

And so, Epiphany shows us not just that Christ has come, but who He has come for. The Magi stand as a reminder that no one is outside the reach of this Light—not Gentiles, not sinners, not you. The same Jesus who was revealed by a star now reveals Himself through His Word, through water, bread, and wine, still drawing people out of darkness and into His light of forgiveness. He comes not for the righteous, but for those who know their need. He shines where sin, guilt, and death once ruled. And having been brought to this Light, we don’t look for another. We don’t wait for something more. Christ is enough. In Him, the Light has come, and in Him, we walk by faith until the day we walk by sight.

INI

Pastor Joshua Ralston