Skip to main content

Epiphany - A Day Late!


Epiphany was January 6th, and I'm a day late, but was traveling yesterday, so forgive me for not getting this on time.

We’ve come to the end of the 12 days of Christmas.  Epiphany is the appearance of the Wise Men, the Magi, who came from the East to find the “King, born of the Jews”.  
Each of the days between Christmas and Epiphany celebrated an aspect of our faith.  And now, the twelfth day arrived.
“On the Twelfth Day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve Drummers Drumming”

What did it stand for?  The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed:
1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

There you have it...twelve days for twelve significant aspects of our faith.

There are certain advantages to knowing these 12 aspects of our faith.
Most Christians know Jesus – the Partridge who is willing to die for it’s children.
And, they know there are two Testaments (Covenants) in the Old and the New. (Two Turtledoves)
Three Essential Christ-like character: Faith, Hope Love (three French Hens)
Four Gospels (Four Colly Birds)
Five Books of Moses (Five Golden Rings)
Six days of Creation (Six Geese-a-laying)
Seven Gifts of the Spirit (Seven Swans-a-Swimming)
Eight Beatitudes Jesus Spoke (Eights maids-a-milking)
Nine Fruit of the Spirit (Nine Ladies Dancing)
Ten Commandments from God (Ten Lords-a-leaping)
Eleven Faithful Disciples (Eleven Pipers Piping)
And NOW,
Twelve Doctrinal Statements in the Apostle’s Creed (Twelve Drummers Drumming)

The key is, can you/I say what each of them are from memory?  What if we took the time to actually memorize what each of them were?  Some are easy (the first 5 I think), and some will take some work (six thru 12), but they are worth it.
Thanks for journeying with me through these twelve days.

Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loving Well

As Jesus came to  his last hours on the earth, he spent them with his disciples - a show of his dedication to their special relationship with him.  If it were me and I knew this was my last night, I might want to take time to talk about what's important, and what they must remember....and perhaps it would be about doctrine, or beliefs, faith, etc.  Jesus goes a different direction: John 13:1-17 (NIV) 1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Betrayed by Failed Expectations

No one names their children Judas.  No other name is more recognized as anathema than his name.    It's hard to sort out what to do with Judas.  He walked with Jesus, learned from him, saw the miracles, knew what Jesus was up to early on.  Yet when it came down to it he betrayed Jesus. What's perhaps more amazing is that it doesn't surprise Jesus at all. John 13:18-32 (NIV) 18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Joy to the World - Help is On the Way

It’s the first day of Advent– while you prepare for Worship this morning at church take a minute to ask God to direct you through this season that you might be prepared to “receive your King”. In the first week of Advent we celebrate the PROMISE of His Coming. His promise is based on our need. We were made in his image, but there is emptiness in our soul that is the result of the Fallen nature of sin. But why did Jesus come? What in his coming announces God's heart? His desire for us to know and experience? 10 BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, "DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE; 11 FOR TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID THERE HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. GREAT JOY! Did you know that God is Joyful? 1 CHRONICLES 16:23-27 (NASB) 23 SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH; PROCLAIM GOOD TIDINGS OF HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY. 24 TELL OF HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS, HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS AMONG ALL THE PEOPLES....
46 comments
Read more