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Epiphany and Joseph’s Response – A Life Worth Noting
Epiphany, in the traditional church calendar, is a festival observed on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to honor and worship the infant Christ. It commemorates the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church it is called Three Kings Day and Twelfth Day. The coming of the Magi to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child precipitated a crisis for Mary and Joseph and the Infant Christ. King Herod’s edict that followed, once he realized he was outwitted by the wise men as they returned home another way, called for all baby boys who…
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The Angels Of Advent
You can’t consider Advent without acknowledging the role of angels. Intricately woven into the story of the birth of Christ are these created beings – often pictured by the artists of old with wings, flowing robes and long hair. Consider three of the prominent roles angels played. Preparation was put in place to ready the participants in the nativity story. Can you imagine the orchestration behind the scenes in heaven within the Trinity and with the angels as the drama began to unfold? God was getting His message out – revealing His heart, His plan to the ones He had chosen for this certain invasion into earth. In the exact,…
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An Exercise in Observation
This painting is by the famous seventeenth century Dutch painter and printmaker, Rembrandt. He is praised as a master storyteller who captured intricate details with his paintbrush. Go ahead and study this painting. What do you observe? Who are the four figures represented? What are they doing? Do you recognize this scene? This painting is titled, The Supper at Emmaus, and it is based on Luke 24:17-35. It is a powerful story that reminds us of the personal and real nearness of God. Notice in this painting: Jesus is the central figure. Jesus’ glory is represented by the glow emanating from him. Additionally, his light colored robe stands in…
