Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of Our Lord (2023)
Illustration
Isaiah 60:1-6
We continue to wallow in the woes of the recession/inflation and the post-Christmas blues which seem to plague many Americans each year. Commenting on our lesson, Martin Luther expresses the word of hope contained in this text:
This is our plague and wretchedness, that we are unable to recognize the exceeding greatness of the treasure because of its lowly appearance. Even though it bears this treasure, our foolish reason judges it on the basis of its lowly appearance and can be perceived only through the Holy Spirit. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p. 311)
To this point, the reformer added:
Moreover, the chief point of all scripture is that we should not doubt but hope, trust, and believe for a certainty that God is merciful, kind, and patent, that he does not lie and deceive but is faithful and true. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 26, p. 386)
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 60:1-6
Epiphany, the season of light, reminds us that no matter how dark the world seems, God provides the light we need to celebrate and offer praise. There have been dark days for many of us. The challenges of human life bring us pain, sorrow, loss, and lament. Yet, we are never truly in complete darkness for God is there, here, and present with us. I have lost several good friends to illness during the past year, and my husband in 2021. I could become mired in the darkness of those losses. I admit there have been days when that has been the case. And yet, I have never stopped feeling the presence of God. This Epiphany, I celebrate the light of love those beloved ones and God have brought into my life.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Isaiah 60:1-6
Lights! Lights! Lights!
When a fire breaks out, people lose their sense of direction in the smoke and end up heading away from, instead of towards, an exit. It’s painful, you can’t breathe, and all the familiar landmarks are gone. This confusion can be fatal.
There are emotionally confusing times that are as smoke-filled, and blinding, as a house on fire. Like a first responder bursting on the scene with a bright light to lead you to safety, a sign that you are about to be delivered, we are restored, and not we alone, but all the nations will come to the light.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 3:1-12
Have you ever heard of “Transformers?” They were more popular several years ago, but the toy and movies are still around today. From the Hasbro website, “Transformers are living, human-like robots with the unique ability to turn into vehicles or beasts. The stories of their lives, their hopes, their struggles, and their triumphs are chronicled in epic sagas that span an immersive and exciting universe where everything is more than meets the eye.”
I enjoyed watching the Transformers movies and I really liked the Transformers ride at Universal Studios. By their nature, Transformers change from one thing into another. They have the power to do that.
I thought about Transformers while reading this passage. Paul’s change was not by his own strength or design. It was the transformative power of the gospel that changed Saul the persecutor into Paul the preacher to Gentiles. The gospel’s transformative message is for Jews and Gentiles. The gospel made all the difference for Paul, and it can for you, too.
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 3:1-12
Although not as detailed as the personal testimony about his conversion and his ministry given by Paul in the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18), nevertheless when Paul says, “for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation…” (3:2-3) he is speaking of his experience on the Damascus road. What was it God told Ananias regarding Paul? “I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16) The numerous escapes, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, being lowered from a window in a basket — all this is part of living the cross of Christ, which is the open-sourced mystery that everyone can have access to, and which is hidden from no one.
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Gifts brought and exchanged are such a part of our Christmas celebrations that we sometimes forget it was two years before the gifts were brought to the Christ child. We lump all the celebrations of the season together in our Christmas pageants. For Mary, Joseph and Jesus the years between the nativity and epiphany were more challenging. Born in a stable, traveling as refugees to Egypt, trying to eke out a living in a new place with an infant and then a toddler — none of that could have been easy. We remember the good and joyous parts of the story, as we should. But it is good to remember the challenges as well. Then when the gifts arrive, when the celebrations return, we experience both joy in the recognition that our challenges do not remain forever. Remember the gifts and grace you have been given — and share them with others.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Unless you grew up near the area, you probably haven’t heard of "Pigtown.” It is also known as "Washington Village.” It is a neighborhood in the southwest area of Baltimore, bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the east, Monroe Street to the west, Russell Street to the south, and West Pratt Street to the north. Why does “Pigtown” matter? One of baseball’s all-time great sluggers was born there. George Herman (Babe) Ruth was born in Pigtown.
Sometimes great things or people come from relatively obscure places. Bethlehem was like that. As the prophet wrote, “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6). Bethlehem was a small village five miles from Jerusalem. Yet, it was the birthplace of the king of Kings and Lord of Lords. Rick Warren wryly surmised, “The miracle of Christmas is not on 34th street; it's in Bethlehem.”
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Like the Christmas story to which Epiphany is intimately related, Martin Luther stressed the tension between what we naturally perceive and the light of grace. In a sermon he proclaimed:
The natural light of man and the light of grace cannot be friends. Human nature wants perception and certitude as a condition of faith. Grace wants faith prior to perception; that is why human nature will not proceed beyond its own light. Grace happily steps out into the darkness and follows nothing but the Word. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 52, p. 196)
Living this way does not come easily for us, as we are creatures so hung up on ourselves that we have even made Christmas a “family day” so much that most of us do not have the time to celebrate the birthday child either today or on December 25. As Luther once put it, man can seek only his own interest and love himself above all things. This is the essence of all his faults.” (What Luther Says, p. 1270) We are not inclined to want to settle for the ordinary (but to buy the top-of-the line products) around Christmas. To these inclinations, the Epiphany and Christmas stories confound us. The best things in life may be very ordinary, even down-right plain (kind of like Jesus and his gang). On that matter, Luther also comments on what Epiphany (and Christmas) might entail for our everyday lives:
Let us then observe how these wise men took no offense at the mean estate of the babe and his parents, that we may not be offended in the mean state of our neighbor, but rather see Christ in him, since the kingdom of Christ is to be found among the lowly and the despised... (The Martin Luther Christmas Book, p. 64)
Mark E.
We continue to wallow in the woes of the recession/inflation and the post-Christmas blues which seem to plague many Americans each year. Commenting on our lesson, Martin Luther expresses the word of hope contained in this text:
This is our plague and wretchedness, that we are unable to recognize the exceeding greatness of the treasure because of its lowly appearance. Even though it bears this treasure, our foolish reason judges it on the basis of its lowly appearance and can be perceived only through the Holy Spirit. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p. 311)
To this point, the reformer added:
Moreover, the chief point of all scripture is that we should not doubt but hope, trust, and believe for a certainty that God is merciful, kind, and patent, that he does not lie and deceive but is faithful and true. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 26, p. 386)
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 60:1-6
Epiphany, the season of light, reminds us that no matter how dark the world seems, God provides the light we need to celebrate and offer praise. There have been dark days for many of us. The challenges of human life bring us pain, sorrow, loss, and lament. Yet, we are never truly in complete darkness for God is there, here, and present with us. I have lost several good friends to illness during the past year, and my husband in 2021. I could become mired in the darkness of those losses. I admit there have been days when that has been the case. And yet, I have never stopped feeling the presence of God. This Epiphany, I celebrate the light of love those beloved ones and God have brought into my life.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Isaiah 60:1-6
Lights! Lights! Lights!
When a fire breaks out, people lose their sense of direction in the smoke and end up heading away from, instead of towards, an exit. It’s painful, you can’t breathe, and all the familiar landmarks are gone. This confusion can be fatal.
There are emotionally confusing times that are as smoke-filled, and blinding, as a house on fire. Like a first responder bursting on the scene with a bright light to lead you to safety, a sign that you are about to be delivered, we are restored, and not we alone, but all the nations will come to the light.
Frank R.
* * *
Ephesians 3:1-12
Have you ever heard of “Transformers?” They were more popular several years ago, but the toy and movies are still around today. From the Hasbro website, “Transformers are living, human-like robots with the unique ability to turn into vehicles or beasts. The stories of their lives, their hopes, their struggles, and their triumphs are chronicled in epic sagas that span an immersive and exciting universe where everything is more than meets the eye.”
I enjoyed watching the Transformers movies and I really liked the Transformers ride at Universal Studios. By their nature, Transformers change from one thing into another. They have the power to do that.
I thought about Transformers while reading this passage. Paul’s change was not by his own strength or design. It was the transformative power of the gospel that changed Saul the persecutor into Paul the preacher to Gentiles. The gospel’s transformative message is for Jews and Gentiles. The gospel made all the difference for Paul, and it can for you, too.
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 3:1-12
Although not as detailed as the personal testimony about his conversion and his ministry given by Paul in the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18), nevertheless when Paul says, “for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation…” (3:2-3) he is speaking of his experience on the Damascus road. What was it God told Ananias regarding Paul? “I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16) The numerous escapes, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, being lowered from a window in a basket — all this is part of living the cross of Christ, which is the open-sourced mystery that everyone can have access to, and which is hidden from no one.
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Gifts brought and exchanged are such a part of our Christmas celebrations that we sometimes forget it was two years before the gifts were brought to the Christ child. We lump all the celebrations of the season together in our Christmas pageants. For Mary, Joseph and Jesus the years between the nativity and epiphany were more challenging. Born in a stable, traveling as refugees to Egypt, trying to eke out a living in a new place with an infant and then a toddler — none of that could have been easy. We remember the good and joyous parts of the story, as we should. But it is good to remember the challenges as well. Then when the gifts arrive, when the celebrations return, we experience both joy in the recognition that our challenges do not remain forever. Remember the gifts and grace you have been given — and share them with others.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Unless you grew up near the area, you probably haven’t heard of "Pigtown.” It is also known as "Washington Village.” It is a neighborhood in the southwest area of Baltimore, bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the east, Monroe Street to the west, Russell Street to the south, and West Pratt Street to the north. Why does “Pigtown” matter? One of baseball’s all-time great sluggers was born there. George Herman (Babe) Ruth was born in Pigtown.
Sometimes great things or people come from relatively obscure places. Bethlehem was like that. As the prophet wrote, “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6). Bethlehem was a small village five miles from Jerusalem. Yet, it was the birthplace of the king of Kings and Lord of Lords. Rick Warren wryly surmised, “The miracle of Christmas is not on 34th street; it's in Bethlehem.”
Bill T.
* * *
Matthew 2:1-12
Like the Christmas story to which Epiphany is intimately related, Martin Luther stressed the tension between what we naturally perceive and the light of grace. In a sermon he proclaimed:
The natural light of man and the light of grace cannot be friends. Human nature wants perception and certitude as a condition of faith. Grace wants faith prior to perception; that is why human nature will not proceed beyond its own light. Grace happily steps out into the darkness and follows nothing but the Word. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 52, p. 196)
Living this way does not come easily for us, as we are creatures so hung up on ourselves that we have even made Christmas a “family day” so much that most of us do not have the time to celebrate the birthday child either today or on December 25. As Luther once put it, man can seek only his own interest and love himself above all things. This is the essence of all his faults.” (What Luther Says, p. 1270) We are not inclined to want to settle for the ordinary (but to buy the top-of-the line products) around Christmas. To these inclinations, the Epiphany and Christmas stories confound us. The best things in life may be very ordinary, even down-right plain (kind of like Jesus and his gang). On that matter, Luther also comments on what Epiphany (and Christmas) might entail for our everyday lives:
Let us then observe how these wise men took no offense at the mean estate of the babe and his parents, that we may not be offended in the mean state of our neighbor, but rather see Christ in him, since the kingdom of Christ is to be found among the lowly and the despised... (The Martin Luther Christmas Book, p. 64)
Mark E.
