Understanding the Significance of Jesus' Baptism...And Yours!

 This past Sunday, many churches around the world observed "The Baptism of the Lord Jesus".

The Christmas season began by us celebrating the birth of a babe in a manger.

The Season of Epiphany focuses on the growing child who was worshiped by the Magi and revealed in His adult baptism to be God, the Son.


The Godhead manifested at the Baptism: God, the Holy Spirit alighted on Jesus as a mantle and God, the Father spoke from Heaven--the first time the distinct Persons of the one essence of the Trinity were made visible to humankind:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from Heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased." (Matthew 3: 13-17)

Ritual cleansing with water was well known to the Jews. Even today, Orthodox men immerse themselves before the Sabbath and holidays. Scribes do so before writing a Torah scroll. Jewish women often follow the Mikvah prior to marriage. Ritual immersion symbolized a renewed commitment to purity and devotion to God. People considered it very important during major transitions of life such as ministry (age 30) and marriage.

John began to preach during human history's greatest transition--from shadow to substance, promise to fulfillment, from works to grace.

"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, .Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"

"Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:1-6)

As the 400 years of prophetic silence were drawing to a close, John preached repentance and its accompanying fruits in order to prepare people for Christ's arrival. Obviously, those who had been baptized by John were made ready for the message of the Kingdom. It enabled them to better recognize and respond to their Messiah. That’s what real repentance does. It makes you a ready vessel for God; its corresponding fruit is an amended life.

When John saw Jesus, he questioned why the Sinless One was coming to be baptized. Note Jesus' answer: "It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness".

Jesus already possessed righteousness, but it was important to publicly demonstrate that right standing. In doing so, He established a standard for those who were to follow Him.

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

Prior to this event, the locals knew Jesus only as an ordinary man, the carpenter, son of Joseph and Mary--perhaps wise beyond his years--even a prophet. But when He emerged from the water, Jesus' full identity and purpose was revealed to those who had readied ears to hear and eyes to see--God in human flesh!

John had been instructed ahead of time to watch for this sign as confirmation:

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for HE WAS BEFORE ME.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."

And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that THIS IS THE SON OF GOD." (John 1:29-34)

The Ceremonial Law was meant to be a lesson in the futility of man's own efforts to become righteous. When he inevitably failed, God's mercy allowed the innocent blood of animals to stand in humanity's stead for judgment. The sights, sounds, and smells of the animals being sacrificed all added to the compounding pain of of man's estrangement from God. But the coming of Jesus changed all of that!

"I (John) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11, 12)

John’s baptism unto repentance didn’t save those who went into the water. It just made them ready for what was to come. John clearly proclaimed that those who were baptized into the coming Christ would be saved—cleansed to the deepest levels of the heart—by the fiery, transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

If Jesus is our pattern, then let's look at our own baptisms to get a better understanding and appreciation for what God has done for us.

Upon genuine repentance* (conversion), God forgives you for your personal sins.

By the "fire" of the Holy Spirit, you are regenerated into a new creature in Christ--out of obligation to Adam's deficiencies and dysfunctions and into Christ-- thereby removing you from the damning indictment of Original Sin. This is being "born again".

Then you are instantly justified--having Christ's righteousness credited totally, permanently as yours.

Next, because of belonging to Christ, you are adopted by God as His son or daughter with full benefits and privileges as an heir and joint heir with Christ. All of this is accomplished from start to finish by grace as you place your active faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Finally, with Jesus as your pattern, you follow through and also make your 'appearing' to the world and validate who you are by baptism. Folks may have known you for years as the sad drunk, wayward son, abusive father, or drug addict, but now the Godhead declares you to be brand new and devotedly THEIRS!

Our baptism is meant to be earthly evidence of our Heavenly status, where our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Adoptees on earth have legal proof of their new identity and home and so do we. Earthly adoptions cannot be formalized in solitude; neither can Heavenly ones. BOTH must be public.

Some people say baptism is not necessary for Salvation; they are right. But it IS necessary to fulfill all righteousness! Jesus was sinless, yet went into the water to demonstrate the importance of baptism.

A genuine convert already has imputed righteousness, but still must follow through in baptism in order to not complete the righteousness, but 'fill" it (Greek-Pleroo..."to fill, as a house with perfume or a net with fish."

Both vivid examples of perfume and fish indicate evidence that can be weighed with one or more of our five earthly senses. The house or net is already yours--now fill it!

Did you know that the Father spoke over you at your baptism? What did He declare? If Christ is our pattern, then here it is:

"This is my beloved son (daughter), in whom I am well pleased."

God's acceptance of you is not based on your performance. He loved you from the foundation of the world. Now that you are restored to right standing, there is nothing that remains in the way of you walking in that love as His adopted child. What you could not become by human nature, He made you by divine grace.

In fact, you are as righteous now as you ever will be! As you grow in Christ, the reality of what you have been given will manifest more and more here on earth, but your standing with God cannot increase through good works or decrease through faith's struggles.

The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus, launching Him into His public ministry:

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

At your baptism, you were also anointed to go about doing good and continue the earthly ministry of Jesus with particular gifts and callings. Some abilities may have already been evident or in use. However, following your obedience into baptism, the Holy Spirit anoints all your gifts (even the dormant ones that will surface as needs arise),  placing a special grace of favor and effectiveness upon them that you cannot achieve on your own. God’s purpose for your life becomes clearer!

In summary, at your baptism:

God, the Son affirms you have been legally redeemed out of corrupt Adam and safely into Him.

God, the Father officially receives you into the family and places you under an “Open Heaven” whereby “His Kingdom can come and His will be done” in your earthly life. He identifies you as His beloved child.

God, the Holy Spirit begins to equip and prepare you unto service in the world and unto sanctification for Heaven.

Did you realize all of this?

Growing up as an evangelical, I recall that the act of baptism seemed to center around what the people were doing. Very little thought was given to God’s perspective. Some of my friends have been re-baptized in order for the experience to be more 'meaningful'--even traveling to the Holy Land’s Jordan River--as if the setting or their later maturity in Christ makes it really count.

I say, God got it right the first time!

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit." ( 2 Corinthians 1:21) 

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel  of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."  (Ephesians 1:13)

Proof of this sealing is baptism. You do not seal the commitment--God does! What do repeated baptisms say of the integrity of God's sealing power? Can it be eroded through the ups and downs of the Christian life or stolen by the devil? No!

Consequently, we must be careful to faithfully represent God and His intents to a watching world. Is the focus more on what we want, think, or feel, rather than on what God has said and done through our baptism?

Hank Hanegraaff, in his excellent article on baptism, notes that Charles Hadden Spurgeon, often referred to as the Prince of Preachers, said that he was afraid to confess Christ before his baptism.

Thereafter, he lost all fear of man and never hesitated to boldly profess his faith. He likened his baptism to "burning the boats". "No retreat was possible after that,” he said, "nor have I ever wanted to go back to the world from which I then came out." (Spurgeon at His Best, Baker Book House)

Hanagraaff reminds us that while baptism is not essential to salvation (nor its modes), the mandate of baptism is essential to obedience. Although it is not the means by which we are saved, it is the means by which we are set apart. Read the entire article

Are you a believer who has yet to be baptized? Fulfill all righteousness, make the path straight, and be baptized. Show yourself publicly to be set apart from the world and unto Christ. Show your “legal papers”, so to speak, of being adopted out of doomed Adam and into the abundant life in Christ. Baptism, if properly understood, can become the anchor that steadies us.

Are you a baptized believer? Seek to understand and appreciate your outward sign of an inward grace. The next time you’re tempted to doubt your salvation, be reminded of your baptism and what reverberated through the Heavenlies as you came up out of the water: “This is my beloved!”

A few notes on true repentance, and the problem with altar calls for salvation:

Repentance differs from mere regret or remorse. We are normally regretful when our behavior brings difficulties upon others or ourselves. We might experience profound remorse when the consequences of our actions result in horrible pain or loss.

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation..." (2 Corinthians 7:10a)

Being exposed, getting caught, or coming to an end of one's means or wits produces only worldly sorrow. The focus is entirely on how the uncomfortable consequences are disrupting our lives and pleasures.

Godly sorrow is experienced when we have come face to face with the goodness and love of God, and we break for breaking the heart of God. The focus has now shifted to how God sees the sin and resulting estrangement.

A crisis can certainly lead us to the place of true repentance, but we often confuse regret or remorse for repentance. We cut short the conviction process when we ask others to pray for us so we can simply feel better. There's nothing wrong with lingering conviction that's allowed to work its way down into the deepest motives of our hearts.

Don’t be so quick to always end pain in your life or in the lives of others. Pray first, and see if God desires to use it for a greater, redeeming purpose!

**The first altar calls and "sinners' prayers" in the Church were introduced by Evangelist Charles Finney in the 1800s. Prior to Finney, a person under conviction would come into the church through the witness and prayers of others, and arrange for instruction and baptism. It became a relational journey of prolonged conviction (letting the Holy Spirit do a thorough job), learning, and readiness to enter the Kingdom.

For over 1,800 years in the Church, baptism itself was the public renouncement of the old life, accompanied by the convert's first public profession of faith.

His new church family participated from start to finish--much as midwives--in bringing the new convert along to a successful birth. Baptism was the proof, not an afterthought. It was not an empty ritual or ceremony; baptism was (and is) the public signing and sealing of the covenant of redemption between God and the new believer.

How different from most of our modern altar calls and baptismal services, where the congregants are mere spectators who often remain relationally detached from the convert before and after his "decision".


"Church wide, there's an 84% to 97% "fall-away" rate among those who make decisions for Christ at the altar. The most logical inference is the 20th century evangelism practice of telling everyone they are saved at the altar without regard for their true condition is producing a staggering number of stillborn--not born again Christians." (Society for Effective Evangelism)

The Society for Effective Evangelism also reports that 90% of those who come to crusades and evangelistic meetings for conversions do not join themselves to a church afterward. (It also stands to reason that most people within this 90 percent have not been baptized.)

Also disturbing is the organization’s revelation that 74% of Americans who once walked an aisle and shook a pastor's hand claim they are born again and have been told they are secure for eternity!

At least Finney (and later D.L. Moody) had inquirers' rooms where counselors would spend time with seekers to determine true conviction BEFORE leading them in the sinner’s prayer. A prayer of commitment was never spoken at the altar, and both Finney and Moody believed that only a few of the people who filled the rooms were actually ready to be saved (10% or less).

Those who did make a decision for Christ were assigned a local pastor who personally followed up with the new convert in discipleship for several years to make sure the “birthing” process into the Kingdom of God was authentic and complete.

All of this changed with Billy Sunday’s meetings in the first half of the twentieth century. He was frustrated with the labor-intensive inquirers’ rooms and developed the “prayer at the altar” shortcut without prior assessment of the seeker’s heart. Everyone who came forward to shake Sunday’s hands at the altar was considered saved by an act of faith.

“What I want and preach,” said Sunday, “is that a man can be converted without any fuss.” He later boasted that he had so streamlined the salvation process that he could make converts for two dollars a soul.

At first, Billy Graham brought back the private inquirers’ room prior to the sinner’s prayer and attempted to strengthen follow-up with local churches. However, as the crowds attending his crusades grew, Graham, like Sunday, streamlined by leading those who came forward in a corporate, open sinner’s prayer before ushering people to the rooms.

The number of counselors available in Graham’s crusades has often been woefully inadequate, and many volunteers publicly bemoaned the fact that they’ve watched as people grew tired of waiting in line and walked away. Yet, those who left had been assured by the famous evangelist that they were saved and headed for Heaven!

Having worked in many follow-up rooms myself, I can personally attest to restless seekers walking out of the room and the pressure on us as counselors to “hurry up". I also know how easy it is for names on a card to get lost or carelessly neglected.

I am convinced relational evangelism within a community of believers is the best way to bring someone authentically into the Kingdom of God. It is neither easy nor convenient. It requires commitment to attend to the convert from conception to gestation, then on to birth and into a healthy spiritual childhood.
 

The Feast of Epiphany: Do You See What I See?

Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
(From “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Gloria Shayne and Noel Regney)

Today is joyous Epiphany! Epiphany means "Manifestation; Appearing". The Twelve Days of Christmas have come to a close as the Church now turns her focus from the arrival of Christ in the world to His manifestation and revelation to the world--first, to the Gentile Magi and then at His Baptism.

The season of Epiphany begins tonight at sunset (the time of evening prayer) through the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) on February 2. In some cultures, the Christmas decorations and greenery are not taken down until Candlemas.

For many Christians, today’s observance will never come to mind. I grew up in a non-liturgical church and never heard of Epiphany, although Christians began observing it in 361A.D. However, it is important because it helps us understand the significance of the Magi’s worship, which can enrich our lives and witness in the world.

Most anger scenes include the Wise Men from the East, but they actually arrived about two years later to the house of Joseph (Matthew 2:11). Remember, Herod had male children two years old and under executed, hoping to kill Jesus in the slaughter.

How amazing to think that gentile royalty, led from afar, brought gifts and worshiped Jesus as the King of Kings. I always ask myself during this time, "What gifts did I give Jesus this past year? Were they the quality of the Wise Men's?

gold (costly)
myrrh (sacrificial)
and frankincense (a true heart of worship)

What about this year?

Can I leave my status and comfort, as they did, and travel to wherever God leads? Can I keep looking up, regardless of the arduous road before me?

Can I humble myself before someone who appears "smaller or lesser" than me? Can I refuse the commands and enticements of a Herod? As a new year arrives, so does the opportunity to begin a renewed journey.

Epiphany also celebrates our Lord's "appearing/manifestation" as the Son of God as He stepped out of His baptism in the Jordan River and began His public ministry.

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?'

Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed him.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'." (Matthew 3:13-17)

Epiphany observes beautifully Jesus Christ as Son of Man (identifying as one of us by becoming human in every way) to His unveiling as the Son of God.

So, what special celebrations are underfoot in the Goin household?

Honestly, I'm not much of a cook. But in years past, I’d call the bakery ahead of time and order a batch of star-shaped cookies, sprinkled with glittery-good sugar in three colors:

gold
red (frankincense-because it burns on coals)
blue (myrrh-although actually brown in appearance, it represents sacrifice. It was used to anoint bodies for burial; hence, the use of a “colder” color)Epiphany is celebrated is many colorful ways around the world:

The Dutch and Flemish call this day Driekoningen, while German speakers call it Dreikönigstag (Three Kings' Day). In the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and neighboring Germany, children in groups of three (symbolizing the three kings) proceed in costume from house to house while singing songs typical for the occasion, and receiving a coin or some sweets at each door. They may each carry a paper lantern symbolizing the star.

In some places, especially Holland, these troops gather for competitions and present their skits/songs for an audience. As in France, Koningentaart (Kings' tart), puff pastry with almond filling, is prepared with a bean or coin hidden inside. Whoever finds the bean in his or her piece is king or queen for the day. A more typically Dutch version is Koningenbrood, or Kings' bread.

In Britain, the celebration of the Night before Epiphany is known as Twelfth Night (The first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6), and was a traditional time for mumming (a form of folk entertainment in which bands of masked and costumed merrymakers roam the streets singing, dancing, acting out stories, or simply engaging in horseplay) and the wassail. The Yule log was left burning until this day, and the charcoal left was kept until the next Christmas to kindle next year's yule log.

A traditional dish for Epiphany was Twelfth Cake, a rich, dense, typically English fruitcake. As in Europe, whoever found the baked-in bean was king for a day. Anything spicy or hot, like ginger snaps and spiced ale, was considered proper Twelfth Night fare, recalling the costly spices brought by the Wise Men. Another English Epiphany dessert was the jam tart, but made into a six-point star for the occasion to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and thus called Epiphany tart.

In the German-speaking lands, groups of young people called "Sternsinger" (star singers) travel from door to door. They are dressed as the three Wise Men, plus the leader carries a star, usually of painted wood attached to a broom handle. Often these groups are four girls, or two boys and two girls for the benefit of singing their songs in four-part harmony, not necessarily three wise men at all.

German Lutherans often note in a lighthearted fashion that the Bible never specifies that the "Weisen” (Magi) were men, or that there were three. The star singers will be offered treats at the homes they visit, but they also solicit donations for worthy causes.

Germans eat a Three Kings cake which may be a golden pastry ring filled with orange and spice representing gold, frankincense and myrrh and forming a crown. Or they may be made of typical rich Christmas bread dough with cardamom and pearl sugar in the same seven-bun crown shape. As in other countries, the person who receives the piece or bun containing the trinket or whole almond becomes the king or queen for a day.

Epiphany is also an especially joyful occasion for the young and young at heart as this is the day dedicated to plündern – that is, when Christmas trees are "plundered" of their cookies and sweets by eager children (and adults), and when gingerbread houses and any other good things left in the house from Christmas are devoured.

The Irish call Epiphany the Feast of the Epiphany or traditionally Little Christmas or "Women's Christmas" (Irish: Nollaig na mBan). On the feast of the Three Kings, the women of Ireland in times gone by had a bit of rest and celebration for themselves, after the cooking and work of the Christmas holidays. It has long been a custom for women to gather this day for a special high tea.

Today, Irish women may spend the day shopping, take a meal at a restaurant or spend the evening gathering in a pub. Women may also receive gifts from children, grandchildren or other family members on this day. Other Epiphany customs are popular in Ireland, such as the burning of the sprigs of Christmas holly in the fireplace which have been used as decorations during the past twelve days.

In other countries, children leave grass and water by the door for the Magi’s camels on Epiphany Eve. They awake to find gifts from the travelers. House blessings are common on this day as well.

Johann Sebastian Bach composed two cantatas for the feast:

Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65 (1724)
Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123 (1725)

Part VI of his Christmas Oratorio, Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, was also designed to be performed during the service for Epiphany.

And of course, we’re all familiar with “We Three Kings of Orient Are”, written in 1857 by Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., an Episcopal deacon. (Wikipedia)

Regardless of the activities associated with the celebration of Epiphany around the world, the most important thing is why we choose to observe this special day: We are thankful for the call to "whosoever will" to come from afar and worship the Messiah.

In the middle of the world's turmoil, a light still shines; and as it has been said many times, "only the wise see it". Epiphany is a time to pray for wisdom--an ability to see and be led by God.

It is a day to examine the goods we bring along on the journey...for just as gifts were laid at the feet of an Incarnate Child, so they will be laid at the end of our lives at the feet of our glorified King.

Have a blessed Epiphany! Enjoy your merrymaking, and may the Lord ever increasingly manifest in and through your lives in 2014!

Living by the Christian Calendar: How It Helps Me Stay Focused on the Author and Finisher of Another Year

 God created time and space, and gave them as gifts to His creation.

Such gifts bring order and definition to our universe, as well as a way to reference events that have already happened, things that are now occurring, and events yet to come.

Man was given the responsibility to manage these gifts.

You’re familiar with the phrase “Time waits for no one.” Time is the most valuable commodity we have; either we will waste it or invest it. We have only a measure of time on earth (Psalm 31:15); therefore, the greatest gift you can give to someone is your time. In essence, you consider that person worth the costly exchange.

The first Law established in the earth was the Law of Sowing and Reaping (Seedtime and Harvest--Gen. 8:22). If we make time for others (God first), the Lord will “stretch” our time--literally or figuratively. He will increase our productivity and effectiveness, and His blessings upon our use of time will result in what appears to be more “free” time.

“So I will restore to you the years (In the Hebrew, more akin to ‘opportunities’) that the swarming locusts has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust.” Joel 2:25 nkjv

Actual time wasted in sin and disobedience can never be regained. The consequences of our actions will leave marks upon time that others will reference. However, God in His mercy, who is the Lord of time and transcends it, offers to the penitent the restoration of many missed opportunities!

In an effort to use time wisely, man has invented many time-keeping devices--sun dials to printed calendars to gizmos with impressive bells and whistles. Whether managed electronically or by the “old-fashioned” ballpoint, the phrase “I’ll pencil you in” is Standard English (particularly in the West). Moms keep track of soccer practices, school plays, and dinner menus.

Dad skillfully manages his weekly work schedule, knowing that minutes, hours, and days translate into much needed income for his family. Children manage to “make time” for their extracurricular activities, but somehow lose that ability when it comes to managing homework deadlines. The saying, “We always seem to find the time for the things we consider important” is so true for all of us…at any age!

What about personal time with the Lord? What about time invested within the Christian community? These investments have a higher rate of return than all our other activities combined. We are eager to “pencil” in everything else, while our time with the Lord remains a flexible option.

Christians read in the Old Testament how God moved His people through a rhythmic calendar of seasons, feasts, and holy days that enabled the covenant community to stay focused on the spiritual in a material world. Some people say, “That’s no longer necessary”. I beg to differ. A church loosed from its ancient moorings is apt to drift through time. 

Modern Church life is often lived out incrementally--from Sunday to Sunday or event to event with no true sense of identity, why they worship, and where they’re going. There’s no link to the past…no connection to the now unfolding and future encompassing of the Kingdom of God.

Some time after the council of Nicea (A.D. 325), the concept of a Christian Year began to develop. It was designed to move around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Sadly, most churches today mark ecclesiastical time by who speaks from the pulpit, not Christ’s presence at the Altar. The modern Church calendar is packed with a flurry of diversely focused meetings, programs, and concerts--all designed to hopefully keep the busy family interested in “growing and going for Christ."

By contrast, the historic Church remains relatively faithful to the way the early Church marked time on earth and measured spiritual growth. Most of the elements of the Christian Year were combined together during the 4th and 5th centuries into the form we recognize today.

Very little has changed. You’ll find some feast dates rearranged in certain Communions, and the Scripture readings during the seasons will vary according to whether congregations use the Book of Common Prayer or the Revised Common Lectionary. Nevertheless, the focus of the calendar remain the same—teaching the Life of Christ.

The Christian Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent (the fourth Sunday before December 25). Festivals or “feast days” commemorate historical events in the life of Christ or in the experience of the early Church. Dates remembering the lives and contributions of the great saints and martyrs of the Church are also recorded in order for today’s faithful to emulate their courage and devotion to Christ.

The Seven Seasons of the Christian Year teach
the four major truths about Christ:
The Incarnation, The Atonement, The Resurrection and the Holy Trinity

Advent – Preparation
Color: Serum Blue (or purple) – the royalty of Christ as King
Significance: Begins the Christian Year/penitential season of reflective thankfulness
 for our Savior’s first coming as Servant and readiness for His return as Judge and King
Theme: The two comings of Christ to earth
Duration: It starts four Sundays prior to Christmas Day on the Sunday nearest November 30th and ends on Christmas Eve.
Lesser Feast:
St. Nicholas Dec. 6

Christmas – Celebration
Color:  White (or Gold) – the purity, holiness, and perfection of Christ
Significance:  Honors the birth of Christ
Theme:  The Incarnation
Duration:  It starts at the first Eucharist on Christmas Eve, ends on Epiphany Eve, January 5. It last 12 days (the Twelve Days of Christmas)
Major Feast:
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Dec. 25)
Lesser Feasts:
St. Stephen (Dec. 26)
St. John (Dec. 27)
Day of the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28--a feast for the children who were slain by Herod. they were Christianity’s first martyrs)
The Holy Name (Circumcision and naming of Christ--January 1)

Epiphany – A Showing Forth
Color: (Major Feast Days are White/ordinary days are green)
Significance:  The appearance and revelation of Christ to the world, as seen in the visit of The Magi (Gentiles) to the Christ Child
Theme: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Duration:  January 6 through the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) on February 2.
Feasts:
Feast of Epiphany (January 6)
Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ (1^st Sunday after Epiphany)
Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Jan. 2)

Ordinary Time after Epiphany
Color: Green– representing the renewal that comes from Christ
Significance: The Incarnation of Christ remains in the Church, as Jesus now continues His ministry through believers all over the world.
Theme: : “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
Duration: Lasts from the day after Candlemas until Shrove Tuesday--the day before Ash Wednesday

Lenten – Repentance
Color:  Purple – represents penance, death, and Christ’s forgiveness
(During Holy Week the color is Ox Blood Red, denoting the shedding of Christ’s blood.)
Significance:  Introspection for the removal of sin
Theme:  Repentance, forgiveness, and restoration
Duration:  It lasts from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week--a period of 40 Days (excluding Sundays).
Major Observance:
Ash Wednesday (Dried palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday Procession are burned and the ashes are imposed on the penitent’s forehead.)

Holy Week Services: (Ox Blood Red)
Palm Sunday (“Hosanna!” Processional)
Maundy Thursday (means “New Commandment”/a day of joy because Christ gave us the Eucharist-Color is White)
Good Friday (Color-Black/Day of Atonement for our sins)
Holy Saturday (lasts until sunset)
The Great Easter Vigil (starts at sunset on Holy Saturday until Easter Sunday sunrise)
From the evening liturgy on Maundy Thursday through evening prayer on Resurrection Sunday is also known as The Paschal Triduum or "Three Days".

Easter – Resurrection
Color:  White (or Gold) – represents the purity, holiness, and perfection of Christ
Significance:  The bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, conquering sin and death
Theme:  Joy and renewal through the resurrection power of the living Christ,
who has redeemed and brought us eternally home to the Father
Duration:  It starts Easter Evening and last 50 days until Pentecost.
Major Feasts:
Resurrection Sunday (Easter)
The Feast of Ascension (Christ returned to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, having finished the work of redemption. He now builds and governs His Church through the Holy Spirit until His bodily return to earth to rule.)

Pentecost—Keys of the Kingdom
Color:  Red – Life in the blood of Christ and a representation of the power that was made available to the Church…also represents the “tongues of fire” that rested upon the heads of those gathered in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost
Significance:  We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit who saves, sanctifies, and empowers for service…the guide, governor, and guardian of the Church.
The Holy Spirit was given to the Church on the day of Pentecost. It was here Peter “unlocked” the Kingdom with the Keys of the Kingdom.
Baptismal candidates would wear white robes on this day, so Pentecost was often called “Whitsunday” or “White Sunday”. many Christian calendars, liturgies, and hymnals still use this term.
Theme:  The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
Duration:  Pentecost Sunday through Trinity Sunday
Major Feasts:
Trinity Sunday (White is the color) Observed the first Sunday after Pentecost
A time when we celebrate and ponder the majesty and mystery of our one God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Kingdomtide – Ordinary Time (Manifesting the Kingdom in Everyday Life)
(Also called the Season After Pentecost because the Christian growth is dependent upon the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.)
Color: Green – represents the growing Christian life
Significance: The Kingdom of God is an everyday reality in our lives and should not be marked by high’s and low’s, but steady progress.
Duration: It lasts from the day after Trinity Sunday until the day before Advent.
Major Feast:
Transfiguration of Our Lord (white--August 6)
Christ the King (White--Last Sunday before Advent)
Lesser Feasts:
All Saints Day (White…Nov. 1—honoring the heroes of the faith from the Bible and Church history)
All Souls Day (White Nov. 2--a time to honor all of our loved ones who have passed from this earthly existence into the rest of our Lord.)

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32  nkjv

The above verse is often quoted with the word “set”, but notice Jesus “makes” us free. This suggests a period of time--a process similar to peeling or unwrapping. As the Holy Spirit helps us to understand, embrace, and activate truth in our lives it will ultimately--without fail--begin to make us free!

Kingdom truths are like exquisite diamonds with multiple facets. The closer we are to the treasure, the more facets we can clearly locate and examine. Moving around the diamond also gives up perspectives we could not see from a static position. The enemy likes to keep us stuck in a rut, but God wants us to go from “glory to glory".

The Christian Calendar keeps up focused on the four major doctrines of Christ as we repeatedly, year after year, move rhythmically through the seven fixed seasons. They, like the diamond, remain unchanged. However, we are the ones changing--growing ever closer, gaining new perspectives as the Holy Spirit removes layers of self and man-centeredness to reveal a Christ consciousness.

We observe the birthdays of our loved ones every year at the same time. Nevertheless, these celebrations vary in meaning from year to year, becoming more poignant and precious with the passing of time and changing circumstances. So does the passing of holy days during our pilgrimage on earth.

We don’t gauge our spiritual growth by reading the latest “end time” book or attending a healing crusade, but by whether or not we know Jesus better--more intimately--than ever before! We compare ourselves…not to each other, but to Christ as He is increasingly revealed through time in these doctrines of the Church.

I must ask myself: Do I have a greater personal revelation of Christ’s Resurrection this year? Am I walking in a Kingdom reality of Pentecost that I was not able to grasp last year? How have these truths been working progressively, faithfully in my life over the past year to “make” me free in Christ? Can I tell a difference? Can others?

Yes, the Christian Year is the same; but am I? David proclaimed:

“Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, you have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is nothing before You.” Psalm 39:4-5a  nkjv

After David died the Holy Spirit proclaimed: “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep…” Acts 13:36  nkjv

May we all be wise redeemers and stewards of the gift of time. May it also be said of us that AFTER serving our generation by the will of God, we took off our watches, closed our calendars, and felt the eternal embrace of God!