So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:6-11
The world has highjacked the “Christmas season.” The Christmas season (more accurately, Advent) is a celebration of divine redemption that reconciles people to God to the praise of His glory. The world has displaced the Gospel message of Advent with the pursuit of individual happiness and personal satisfaction to the glory of themselves. Advent should be a time of worshipful contemplation, focused on Christ’s coming in all its fullness.
Today is the end of Christmastide and tomorrow is Epiphany. The twelve days of Christmas do not begin with December 13 and end on Christmas day. The twelve days begin on Christmas day with the twelfth day followed by the celebration of Epiphany on January 6. Advent quite naturally transitions into Epiphany. While Christmas turns our attention to the incarnation, Epiphany focuses on the revelation of Christ whose coming means redemption for all of creation.
Christ’s advent is a historical fact, the meaning of which people may or may not understand. Epiphany is the open declaration of who Christ is, providing insight into what He came to do. Epiphanic events include:
- the visit from the Magi where Jesus’ kingship is declared.
- Christ’s baptism where the voice from heaven identified Him as the well-pleasing Son of God.
- the miracle at the wedding of Cana confirming His Messiahship.
- the revelation to Peter that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- the transfiguration.
- the cosmic signs at His crucifixion.
- Christ’s resurrection.
- Christ’s ascension.
- Christ’s appearance to Saul on the road to Damascus.
- Christ’s appearance to John on the Isle of Patmos.
Each of these events was an appearance, a manifestation proclaiming Christ’s identity. Every true believer experiences Epiphany when he hears the Gospel and believes in Christ. No one affirms that Jesus is Lord apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
The whole Advent-Epiphany season should be a time of reflection upon the historical wonder of the incarnation and the glorious redemptive work Jesus accomplished by coming in the flesh. It ought to be a time of spiritual refreshment as we rejoice over Christ’s presence with His people here and now through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, bringing us spiritual life. Finally, it should be a time of anticipation as we await Christ’s return to bring His people the fullness of salvation along with a new heavens and a new earth.
The Advent-Epiphany season is not a celebration of the pathetic potential of man but of God’s redemptive purpose. It is a time to remember that Jesus came to fulfill God’s purpose of cosmic renewal, not inspire humanity to solve their own problems. It is a time to remember that Jesus came to redeem a wretched, hopeless people, not motivate good people who simply need a little direction. The Gospel is not about boosting our self-esteem; it is about a Savior who exposes our guilt and atones for our sins. The Gospel is not about rehabilitation; it is about regeneration. The Gospel is not about reforming our lives; it is about new life in Christ.
Jesus was born to fulfill all righteousness in our place because we were born in sin and shaped by iniquity. He came to die on our behalf to pay the penalty we could never pay. He was buried in the tomb that our corruption could be forever laid to rest in the grave. He rose again that we might have eternal life. And He ascended into heaven to open the way into the Father’s presence. This is what Christ’s coming did for us in the past. In the present, He continues coming to us in the Spirit to apply His saving work to our hearts. At some point in the future, He will come again to consummate God’s glorious purpose by bringing us into glory. We believe these truths if they have been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. That is the Gospel message of Advent and Epiphany. This is why Christ came 2000 years ago. It is why He comes to us now in the Spirit. And it’s why He will come again, to consummate redemption and usher in a new heavens and a new earth in which only righteousness dwells!
