Remembering Great Moments in Christian History

Christmas does not end on Christmas Day. In fact, December 25 is just the first of the 12 days of Christmas. Perhaps you know the famous song.

But another festival traditionally follows right after those 12 days, on January 6^th. In fact, this festival is even older than Christmas. It is sometimes termed “Gentile Christmas,” but most often it is called by the name “Epiphany.”

“Epiphany” means to “show forth” or “make manifest.” This festival had its start in eastern Christianity. The beginnings of Epiphany go back to the third century. Epiphany was being celebrated in the East already then — well before Christians in the west began observing Christmas as the festival of Christ’s birth on December 25th.

At first, Epiphany did not focus on any one particular event in the life of Christ, but instead it commemorated several all together: the birth of Jesus, the visit of the Magi when He was a child, His baptism in the Jordan, and His first miracle at the wedding of Cana. These were all events in which God’s Son was being made manifest, shown to the world.

Eventually, Eastern and Western Christianity began to share their festivals. The East started celebrating Christmas. The West started to observe Epiphany in addition to the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas, and Epiphany is observed in Western Christianity to this day. You might think of it as the time to unwrap God’s great Christmas gift to the world.

In the West, it was the visit of the Magi that became most closely connected with Epiphany on January 6^th. Hence, Epiphany is sometimes called “Gentile Christmas.” This nickname recognizes Christ’s manifestation to the wise men, people who had been led from afar by a star.

The baptism of Christ and the miracle at Cana are not left out, though. These events often have their places in the lessons, hymns, and sermons on subsequent Sundays in January.

Maybe it should not be surprising that, in addition to Christmas, there is Epiphany. The Good News of God in the fullness of time sending His Son to redeem the world just proved to be too much to be adequately celebrated with only one day, or even twelve. Remember.

The Rev. Ken Schurb (Ph.D., History, Ohio State) is Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Moberly. These features can be heard on KTCM, 97.3 FM

at 7:00 on Wednesday mornings.