Epiphany—The Love of God Appears
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, he saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4,5a)
"I've had an epiphany!" Someone might say that when they've had a captivating thought, figured out the solution to a problem, or worked out some puzzle or riddle. It is like the idea just suddenly appeared in their mind. The word "epiphany" comes from a Greek word that means "appearance" or “reveal.” During the Epiphany season, we don't celebrate any ordinary appearance. We celebrate the Epiphany, the appearing and revealing, of our Savior Jesus.
The season of Epiphany begins on January 6 with the festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord. This day commemorates the visit of the Wise Men, or Magi, who came from the East to worship the newborn King of the Jews. The festival of Epiphany serves both as the beginning of a new season and, in many ways, as a conclusion of the Christmas season. Before Christmas and Epiphany were established as separate holidays, both Jesus' birth and the visit of the Magi were celebrated on the same day of Epiphany, along with other events from Jesus' early ministry. Some Christians still celebrate Epiphany this way today. The name Epiphany fits this celebration well, because the visit of the Magi showed that Jesus came to be the Savior of all people. We celebrate his appearance as the Savior of both Jew and Gentile.
During the Sundays after Epiphany, we focus on the ways Jesus appeared and revealed himself during his ministry, beginning with his baptism in the Jordan River. As we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord on the First Sunday after Epiphany, we are reminded to reflect on our own baptism, and how God has united us to Jesus through baptism. The Sundays that follow show Jesus appear as our Savior in his preaching and teaching and miracles. The number of Sundays after Epiphany changes each year, based on when Ash Wednesday occurs, which in turn is based on the date of Easter that year.
However many Sundays are before it, the Last Sunday after Epiphany is always the celebration of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. In this event, Jesus appears before three of his disciples to reveal a portion of his divine glory. The Baptism and Transfiguration of Jesus serve as bookends on the Epiphany season, since at both events God the Father spoke clearly from heaven to declare, "This is my Son." When Jesus appeared on the earth, so did the kindness and love of God our Savior.
Two different colors are used during the season of Epiphany. For the festivals of the Epiphany, Baptism, and Transfiguration of Our Lord, white is used, like at Christmas. White pictures the holiness of God and his shining glory. For the other Sundays after Epiphany, green is used. The color green pictures growth and life; it is used during parts of the Church Year the focus more generally on our growth in knowledge of God's Word. During Epiphany, we grow in our understanding of who our Savior is through his teaching and preaching, his healing the sick and casting out demons.
Following Christmas, the Epiphany season is a time when our lives have usually settled back into the old routines. But even during ordinary times, we are reminded in God's Word that we still have much to celebrate. Our Savior has appeared; let us rejoice at his Epiphany!
Epiphany
Etymology of Name: From a Greek word for "appearance" or “reveal”
Seasonal Color: White (holiness and purity—used for the Epiphany, Baptism, and Transfiguration); Green (growth and life—used for the other Sundays after Epiphany)
Duration: January 6 through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday