• "Knowing ABOUT Jesus vs Knowing Jesus"
• Sermon for Epiphany
• January 9, 2005
• The Reverend Stephen C. Scarlett

There is a difference between knowing about Jesus Christ and knowing Jesus Christ. The difference is the central point of the feast and season of Epiphany.

The wise men knew about the promise of a coming Jewish king. When the star led them to Bethlehem, they met the Lord Jesus. The certain shepherds who watched their flocks by night knew the Messiah was supposed to come. When an angel of the Lord announced Jesus' birth and led them to the manger, they had a personal encounter with him.

Even the disciples who followed Jesus during his ministry didn't really come to know him until the significance of his death and resurrection was revealed to them after the Resurrection. On Easter Day, Jesus revealed himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He explained the Bible to them and, as Luke's gospel says, "was known to them in the breaking of the bread." The apostles came to know Jesus on Easter night when, as Luke's gospel tells us, Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:27, 31, 35, 45).

Jesus, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling over the world. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. These things are true. Many people know these basic facts. But these facts do not change lives until a person comes to know Jesus through a revelation, an epiphany.

One of the great missionary problems in our nominally Christian culture is that most people are already aware of the basic outline of the story. Many, by over familiarity with it, become immune to it's power. When St. Paul went through the cities of Asia Minor telling people about Jesus Christ, he was giving them real news. Paul's preaching was their first introduction to the dying and rising savior.

By contrast, in our culture one would have to be incredibly ignorant or sheltered not to know that Christians believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. However, the experience of conversion, the epiphany, occurs only when a person comes to understand the significance of that story for his own life. The epiphany occurs when a person realizes that Christian faith is not about doing religious things or trying to be good people or memorizing creeds and commandments. The Christian faith is about knowing Jesus Christ.

The converting and revealing experience comes through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, as Jesus said, "convict[s] the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment" (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit speaks to people, calling them to turn away from sin and believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit heals people of the spiritual blindness caused by sin and Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and gives them eyes to see the truth about God.

Each person who believes in Jesus Christ has an epiphany story. Jesus is revealed to some people through miracles or unique experiences of God's grace. Jesus is revealed to some people through the power of prayer. Jesus is revealed to some people through his sovereign ordering of events in their lives. Jesus is revealed to some people when the gospel is preached and they are moved to a response of faith. Jesus is revealed to some people through Bible reading or the testimony of another person.

Jesus is revealed through the structure and worship of the church. As we come into the church, the invisible God is revealed to us in the visible symbols and sacraments. We see Christ enthroned as Lord of all. We see that the cross is the centerpiece of history, heaven and worship. Jesus is revealed to us in the reading of God's word and he is known to us in the breaking of the bread. The liturgy reveals to us how God and man are reconciled in Christ.

The experience of epiphany is ongoing. As we persevere in the life of prayer and worship, God's grace comes to touch new parts of our lives. We come to see new implications of the gospel. We progress in our personal understanding of God toward the end point of the Christian faith, the beatific vision, when we will see God face to face. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face."

Epiphanies change us. As Christ becomes a living presence in our lives, we are no longer comfortable with sinful habits. We become aware of the ministry we have to those around us. We are drawn to worship and to prayer. The transformation of life we experience in Christ begins with revelation. God reveals himself to us in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Right behavior, right worship, right stewardship and right concern for the needy are all consequences of the revelation. As 2 Corinthians says, "We all...beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another" (3:18, RSV).

On Epiphany we give thanks that Christ was revealed to the Gentile Wise Men. And we give thanks that God has also led each of us to Christ. As 2 Corinthians says, "The God who commanded, 'Let light shine out of darkness'... has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (4:6 NKJV)