The Manifestation
I admit it. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to liturgy (what we do in worship) and the lectionary (the 3 year cycle of Bible readings used in church on Sunday). So, I wonder about things that most folks probably wouldn’t.
We are now in the season of Epiphany — when we read about and celebrate Jesus being shown forth to the world. “Epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” meaning to manifest or show forth. The church’s celebration of the Epiphany begins with the visit of the “magi” or “wise men,” to the baby Jesus, the first showing forth of Jesus to others. Through the season of Epiphany (which runs until Ash Wednesday), we will hear various accounts that demonstrate who Jesus is.
This Sunday, we remember Jesus’ Baptism by John in the Jordan River and the words from God, “You are my son, the beloved.” The lesson from Acts also speaks of Baptism – an obvious enough connection.
The Old Testament lesson is Genesis 1:1-5, the very beginning of the creation story. Nice, but why would the lectionary designers pick that passage? It’s right there in the very first sentence of the Bible: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” “A wind from God.” The word translated ‘wind” is “ruach” the same word used throughout the Old Testament for the “Spirit” of God — the Holy Spirit.
At Jesus’ Baptism, Mark tells us that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and would descend on us. In Acts, we are told of some Ephesians who were believers in Jesus but had not yet received the Holy Spirit and who receive the Spirit when Paul lays hands on them and prays. The Genesis lesson reminds us that this promised gift of the Holy Spirit is not something new with Jesus, but part of the work of God at the very beginning of creation.
Mark’s original Jewish readers would see this connection right away. And they would be reminded again that Jesus is not some new thing, and neither is the Holy Spirit, but this is the plan and work of God from the very beginning, all revealing who Jesus is, the ultimate manifestation of God in our midst.
Have you asked the Holy Spirit to show you who Jesus is?
This column appeared in the January 7, 2024 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
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