Broadcast
The Gentiles' Christmas
Isaiah 60:1-3
01/05/2024
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the
glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and
thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will
arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon
you.
3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to
the brightness of your rising. (ESV)
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany when the Church
celebrates the Wise Men visiting Jesus. Epiphany comes from the
Greek word meaning sunrise or dawning. As such it has come to
mean an unveiling, a showing, or appearance of something
previously hidden. How fitting the meaning when the Old
Testament reading from Isaiah is remembered,
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of
the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness
shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be
seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
The day is called the ``Gentiles' Christmas'' because it is
the first time that the Bible records people outside the Jewish
community worshiping Jesus. Luke had recorded that Jewish
shepherds sought Jesus in the stable the night of His birth.
Simeon and Anna, both devout Jews, adored Jesus on the fortieth
day of His life when He was presented at the Temple. Now,
however, Jesus is shown as the Redeemer of all people, not simply
the biological descendants of Abraham.
Trinity Lutheran in Slayton and Saint Paul Lutheran in Fulda
are gathering tomorrow evening, January 6, at 7:00 p.m. to
celebrate this important Feast in the Church Year. Please join
us in this celebration.
We also invite you to join us on Sunday morning at Trinity
Lutheran in Slayton at 9:00 a.m. for the Divine Service where we
will commemorate the Baptism of Jesus.
May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing of His love,
grace, and mercy as found in Christ alone. Amen.