The Wesleyan Way

In the winter months of 27-28 AD, John the Baptist came out of the Judean wilderness. Crowds gathered to the desert lands where the river flowed into the Dead Sea. This was a movement like no one had ever seen before. At a ford of the Jordan, John cried, "Repent for the kingdom of God is near!" When he ended each sermon, he would walk to the river's edge and stand in the shallow water. Hundreds came forward to be baptized. John would place a strong hand on everyone who came forward, then the people would humble themselves and bow their knees in the muddy river until they could hear the rush of water in their ears. Toward the end of that winter, as the crowd began to thin, Jesus came, almost unnoticed, and was baptized. One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and ...

Epiphany is when we remember the magi's visit to see baby Jesus. Epiphany means "manifestation." This day is a celebration--not because of the gifts given to baby Jesus--but because of what God has done through Jesus. Through Jesus, the divine glory has been made manifest. Through Jesus, God's glory has been made known to all. What this really means is that now the world finally gets to see what God is truly like. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where  is the child who has been born king of the Jews?" . . . they set out; and there ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. (Matthew 2:1-2a, 9) If you're an artistic type who's interested in Christian art, light is the traditional symbol for Epiphany. . . . the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land o...