Let the Light Shine :: Ephesians 3:2-12
Today is Epiphany, the beginning of the church season in which we celebrate the Lord manifesting himself to the world. The noun “Epiphany” literally means “upon shining.” The picture is that of light overtaking the darkness.
In the past weeks, we have been talking and singing about this a lot ... about coming out of darkness ... about the light coming into the world. Jesus is the Light of the world. He has come into the world. In him, there is no darkness.
He came into the world he created, but the world was in darkness and it didn’t understand him ... at least it didn’t until he baptized us. In baptism, we are given new life, and his light. So today we are called to arise, shine, for your light has come. The Lord has appeared, and the whole world should see the light of his coming.
It’s an Epiphany! It’s the Epiphany!
Epiphany is a mission festival. The light is moving out. We hear about the Wise Men, or Magi, who are probably just astrologers, pursuing the light beginning in the east, following it west to Bethlehem ... all to see a newborn king.
The Light came to dispel the darkness that covers the earth and all its peoples. Therefore, the light that we enjoy here, the light that warms us in this place ... the Light that is Jesus ... has to get out.
1. Have you been letting your light shine?
We don’t often notice it, but our building has walls.
Walls that divide “us inside” from “those outside.” Walls that divide us Lutherans, those of us who have literally been set free, from those who aren’t Lutherans. These walls have doors ... there, and there, and there.
These walls aren’t meant to be barriers. Anyone should be able to come through the doors; in fact, we want them to come in! The walls are designed to hold up the roof and keep the rain or snow off of us, that’s all.
But from the outside, walls can be a real barrier.
People looking at our church wonder, can they come in? Will they be welcome? Will they fit in? What if they come inside and find they are still “outsiders”? We on the inside have to realize that the walls can be barriers between us inside and those outside — even if those outside only think they are barriers.
This is why Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians, the text for this meditation. He tells them about the mystery that was once known only to God but has been revealed to the apostles and prophets, and through them is revealed to us. The mystery is that the Gentiles ... the outsiders of Paul’s day ... are heirs with Israel. “Outsiders” and “insiders” are one body with Christ, are partakers together of his promises. There is no division. Jesus opens the door, and no one can shut it.
2. For us to get the full impact of Paul’s words, we need to remember that we are the outsiders in this text.
I don’t think any of us were born as insiders ... We were born as Gentiles ... as outsiders ... not the inheritors of the family promise, not as the descendants of Abraham, not as part of the people God set apart for his holy purposes.
But thanks be to God! The plan God fulfilled in Jesus Christ gives us access to his presence ... free and confident access to the throne room of God ... by faith in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us.
As far as God’s eternal plan of salvation is concerned, that we Gentiles are on the “inside” is the surprise. It was once a mystery known only to God. It was Paul’s great joy to unveil the mystery to us, the Gentiles: This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (3:6). Also for us, Jesus was born, died, and rose again. For us, he gives citizenship in heaven and eternal inheritance with the Father.
That was Paul’s great message, the message God gave him to bring to people like us. Outsiders like us. Paul was not adding his little Epiphany addition to the Gospel he was given. His work was rather a small reflection of the great Epiphany, the glorious appearance and work of Jesus Christ.
3. Jesus is the one who brought the light
All of us were born children of Adam and Eve, tied to sin in rebellion against God and sentenced to die. Jesus came as a volunteer, willingly taking on himself the form of his rebellious creatures, so that he could bring the rebellion to an end.
On Sunday, we celebrate his Baptism, when he voluntarily, despite John the Baptist’s objections, received a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins ... and brought sin to an end. He had no sins ... and he needed no repentance ... but he stood with all of us, those who do. We died with him in baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.
In the weeks to come, we will hear more about how he lived and taught and touched and healed people. How He let his light shine, but he also let that light be covered with the darkness of sin and cross and death.
Yet even on the cross, his light was shining. He didn’t die for his crimes. He died for the crimes of outsiders. He died for people who would have ended up in hell to be punished eternally for their sins. When he said, “It is finished,” our death and our punishment were finished. The Son of God provided new life and love for us.
That is the light shining out.
That is the light we need for our lives.
That is the light we need to shine.
4. So let there be light
Compared to the barrier between the sinless Son of God and his sin-polluted creatures, the barriers between Jew and Gentile pale. The barrier between us and our “unchurched” neighbor is no barrier at all. We are, both of us, sinners who need a Savior.
The good news is, we have one. Jesus has appeared. Jesus is here. Let there be light.
Let there be light, first of all, in our lives, where there is still too much darkness. We still try to hide in the sin-filled shadows of our life. We still try to keep God at a distance.
Paul said it to the Ephesians: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light. ... Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ... Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’” (Eph 5:8, 11, 13–14).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Let’s wake up ... even in the dead and dark recesses of our life ... let’s look to the light. Let there be light here in the church, where we gather around the Word and sacraments of Christ, our Light. We need to guard ourselves so our own habits, activities, attitudes, and expectations don’t block the light. We are here because Christ is the light of the world ... the light no darkness can overcome.
Most of all this Epiphany season, let’s dedicate ourselves to the task that was Paul’s joy and make it our own ... that light shines into the lives of people who need to see it. We are children of the light.
If we are not the best witnesses, then so be it. As we talk with people, we can simply tell what promises we rely on, what God has accomplished for us, and why we boldly and confidently believe God has saved us.
Everyone has the invitation to bring joy to the courtyards of heaven by turning from the slavery of sin to the freedom from sin given by our Savior. Just like us.
Everywhere we go we can bring light.
So ... Arise. Shine. Your Light has come. And he shines forever.