Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 7, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 January 1941 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by Rev. Geo. Gotsch,

Pastor of

the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

January sixth is the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany means appearance. It is celebrated Jn commemoration of the appearance of the newborn King of the Jews to the Magi who came from the far East to behdld and worship the long expected Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, of the pagan world also. Of this event Isaiah prophesied, “Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the 'Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness covereth the earth and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee and His Glory shall be seen upon thee’’ (Isa. 60:1-2.) This prophesy is being fulfilled throughout the New Testament era and today we gratefully praise God that the great Epiphany Light 'is shining in our midst and that the Glory of the Lord is risen upon usl This light is the precious gospel, invisible to the natural eye and despised in the world. When we behold the darkness covers the earth, we too are tempted to undervalue the power and influence of the gospel. But the Apostle Paul was determined to preach nothing else, and he continually pointed out wherein the glory, the excellence of the gospel consisted. May the Holy Spirit lead us to a deeper appreciation of the gospel, the great Epiphany Light, as we consider on Sunday on the basis of 2 Cor. 4 :3-6, The Excellency of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It reveals to us the glory of God; it enlightens the darkness of our heart.