"Heard, Seen, Touched, Proclaimed"
January 06, 2008
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 1 John 1:1-2
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Sunday January 6, 2008 Epiphany
We began our devotions together a month ago thinking about the seed – not even a visible seed but only a promised seed – the smallest imaginable ray of hope. The tiny hope that was planted by God’s promise to Adam and Eve took root, but it was still barely visible through long centuries of darkness.
God’s prophets refreshed our hope. When His people could not see the promise any longer, they delivered the promise that a branch would come from the stump of Jesse, and David’s descendant would come to the little town of Bethlehem. They promised that the Savior, when He came, would be “God with us,” and His people, even though they felt small and weak, would become “oaks of righteousness.”
“Behold, your king comes to you,” they said. And at last it happened. Jesus came, His power still concealed in weakness as a child. But when He began His earthly ministry, when God proclaimed to the world at Jesus’ Baptism that “this is My beloved Son,” then at last the Light was revealed.
We call this season Epiphany, the revelation. Now what we had only heard about, we have seen and touched. And now we proclaim Jesus to the whole world. God’s promises have been answered. The seed promised to Eve has crushed our Enemy. Jesus has conquered death. Our salvation is here.
Prayer: Father, we waited and waited. But now we have seen Your love and faithfulness. By Your Spirit let Jesus be revealed in us as well, so that our world may know the love and forgiveness He has brought. Amen.
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