Mission Possible: A Baby Changes Everything
As we leave 2008 and enter 2009 we enter the Season of Epiphany. Epiphany begins with the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child at Bethlehem and concludes with Jesus’ transfiguration.
Epiphany is about mission from beginning to end, which will be our emphasis throughout the Epiphany Season. Our goal will be to help us fulfill the mission which God has given us here at Pilgrim Lutheran.
This year we’ll celebrate Epiphany on January 4th. We’ll use this Sunday to study and learn from the Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12). Jesus came to enlighten everyone—including Gentiles—with the light of God’s love. Epiphany is all about mission: telling people, showing people, helping people experience the good news about the birth of the world’s Savior, Jesus. (You can read a message from this day entitled “Rise and Shine.”)
The Baptism of Jesus follows on January 11th. Through Mark 1:4-11 we learn that the Christian’s “secret weapon” is much more than “hocus-pocus.” It is the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to come to faith and, ultimately, to live out that faith as we help share it with others. (See the message “Holy Hocus-Pocus” for this topic.)
On Epiphany 2, January 18th, we’ll look at one of the lesser-known apostles: Philip. What did he do (John 1:43-51)? He came and saw Jesus. Then he went and told others. May we be led to do the same!
On Epiphany 3, January 25th, we’ll go fishing with the apostles Jesus called at the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:14-20). Jesus called them to stop being fishermen in the traditional sense of the word and to become “fishers of men” – people who help others find their place in God’s story.
We’ll continue our mission theme into February. On the 1st we’ll see that “There’s Something About Jesus” (Mark 1:2-28). He drew people to Himself and to God—and calls us to do the same. On the 8th we’ll look at “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall” (Mark 1:29-39). We all have “talking mirrors” which reflect distorted images. Jesus can heal those who are damaged by these distortions—and then encourage us to show others Jesus so they, too, can be restored by Him!
On the 15th we’ll see that we’re “Cleansed to be Close to God” (Mark 1:40-45). Just as God cleanses us that we might have a relationship with Him, He calls us to help show others how they, too, might be cleansed.
Epiphany concludes with The Transfiguration of Our Lord on February 22nd. We’ll conclude with where we started: Epiphany is about mission. Church is about mission. We need to be about the mission.
Epiphany is “Mission Possible” not because of us, but because of He whom is at the very heart and center of Epiphany: Jesus. He who came as a Child at Christmas, was worshipped by Magi on Epiphany, and then began His ministry of drawing people into a relationship with God calls us into mission with Him.