Sometimes in movies, TV shows or cartoons, a character in a story will have a sudden realization, idea or inspiration. These moments can often be represented by a lightbulb appearing over the character’s head. The lightbulb indicates that the character has worked something out, come up with a new solution to a problem, or realised something which is important for the storyline or that character’s development.
These moments of realization, clarity or new ideas can also be called an epiphany. The word epiphany comes from the Greek language and literally means something that is revealed, appears or shows itself. A ‘light-bulb’ moment can also be called an epiphany because something has appeared, revealed or shown itself to people that they hadn’t thought of or considered before. The use of a light-bulb in these moments also connects with an epiphany because when people realize things or have ideas, it is sort of like a light is turned on, and they can see something new or from a different perspective.
In the Christian church, the Festival of the Epiphany is usually held on 6th January, at the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmas. Epiphany celebrates the good news that Jesus was born to save all people. This is shown in the gospel reading for the Festival of Epiphany, Matthew 2:1-12, which tells the story of the Magi or Wise Men from the East who came to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. This is significant in Matthew’s gospel because he was writing to a mainly Jewish audience. Including a story of foreigners who discover and then follow a sign of the Messiah’s birth in the stars told his readers that Jesus wasn’t born only to save people of the Jewish nation, but people of all nations. This festival is called Epiphany because it was a light-bulb moment for God’s people. Epiphany celebrates the realization that Jesus wasn’t born to save just one select group. Jesus appeared and revealed himself as the Saviour of all people from every nation.
In some ways, this shouldn’t have been such a huge light-bulb moment for God’s people. We can see God pointing his people towards this truth throughout the Old Testament. When God first made his promise to Abraham, he also said that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). In the same way, the words of the prophet Isaiah in this week’s Old Testament reading, Isaiah 60:1-6, tells us that all nations will come to the light of God’s glory which he will reveal. Isaiah contrasts the light of God’s glory with the darkness which covers the world. God is promising to send his own light-bulb moment in which he will reveal his saving love for all people of every nation through his chosen Messiah.
Paul points us towards this epiphany or light-bulb realization in this week’s New Testament reading, Ephesians 3:1-12, when he writes,
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6 NLT)
Paul is highlighting the lightbulb moment of realization that all people of every nation are welcome in the family of God through the grace he has for us in Jesus. Even though this was something that God had repeatedly said through the Old Testament, Paul still needed to point people to this good news so they could have their own personal epiphany or lightbulb moment of faith. Paul spent his life bringing the good news of the epiphany, the light of God’s goodness and grace appearing in Jesus and his life, death and resurrection, to people of many nations in his missionary journeys. He did this so all people of every ethnic background, social standing or gender could share equally in the riches of our Father’s inheritance and the promise of blessings in this life and the next through faith in Jesus (v6).
We continue to celebrate Epiphany because sometimes we need these light-bulb moments of faith as well. When we see the darkness which covers the world around us, or experience this darkness in our own lives, we can lose sight of the light of God’s goodness and grace to us in Jesus. Sometimes we can get distracted by our own worries or concerns as individuals. We can start to focus more on the uncertainties or struggles we face as a church. We can lose sight of God’s promises to us in Jesus and his saving love for us and all people. We celebrate Epiphany to show us the light of God’s goodness and grace which he shines in our lives through Jesus. Epiphany reminds us that God’s love and mercy has appeared to us in the birth of Jesus so we can share equally in the riches of our inheritance as God’s children and his promises of blessings to us. The light of God’s saving love shines on us in Jesus so we can have our own light-bulb moments of faith, as we trust that God is with us in all things through Jesus, he is for us in all things, and the light of his glory will always shine on us.
Epiphany also reminds us that the light of God’s glory in Jesus shines on all those around us. The early Church needed the Holy Spirit to provide them with their light-bulb epiphanies so they would take the good news of Jesus to the nations around them. Maybe we also need the Holy Spirit to give us light-bulb epiphanies and remind us that the good news of Jesus is also for our children, our grandchildren, our families, friends, neighbours and even our enemies. We celebrate Epiphany to remember that God’s light doesn’t just shine on us. It also shines through us into the darkness which covers the world and which can cover the hearts and minds of the people around us. Epiphany gives us a light-bulb moment, so by the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit we can live every day in the light of faith, hope and love, following Jesus and faithfully loving all people the way he has loved us.
We can all have light-bulb moments at one time or another in our lives – those times when we realize something for the first time, have a great idea, or see something that we couldn’t see before. A light-bulb doesn’t literally appear above our heads, but something either appears to us or we see something that we hadn’t seen before. When we have these epiphanies, they point us to the greatest Epiphany of all: that the light of God’s rich inheritance and the promises of his blessings have appeared to us in Jesus. This light shines on us and through us into the lives of others, so God can give them their own lightbulb epiphanies about his saving love in Jesus as well.
More to think about or discuss:
- Have you ever had a ‘light-bulb moment’ where you realized something for the first time or had a great idea? What was it? What did you do about it?
- How is it good news for you that you can ‘share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children’ & ‘enjoy the promise of blessings’ because you belong to Christ Jesus (v6 NLT)?
- How might this be good news for the people you know or are around you? How can we as a church help people have light-bulb moments that this is for them too?
Pastor Eugene Online 
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