We're still solidly in the season of Epiphany, the season following Christmastime. As you may remember from last week, an "epiphany" is--in modern terms--a "big reveal," at lease some kind of unveiling... of a profound truth or a new awareness. So, what's the unveiling in today's readings? In Luke's description of Jesus' baptism it's the Holy Spirit coming on Jesus in the form of a dove, and God's voice declaring, in effect, "Jesus is my son, and I support him 110%." In Acts 8 we read that even the Samaritans, whom the Jews passionately hated, believed in Jesus, were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. For the Jews back then that was a HUGE reveal... and one they didn't necessarily like. For us today it means: Jesus came to earth for EVERYONE, whether we like them or not.
What in the world is an "epiphany?" Aside from its centuries-long religious meaning (referring to the Magi/Wise Men's journey to see the baby Jesus), it means "any moment of great or sudden revelation." It's an A-HA moment… a “light bulb” moment… when you see something you hadn’t seen, noticed or ever thought of before. There are quite a few A-HA moments of revelation, or unveiling, in the Christmas story. Such as the revelation of the Bethlehem Star to the Wise Men. Or our revelation that Jesus came not just for you and me and other people who look like us... but for EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the whole world, who--in this case--were represented by the Wise Men who came from "the East," or "the Orient." But the greatest epiphany is that A-HA moment when we realize that Jesus Christ is truly the greatest, most perfect gift God has ever given to the world.
Today's lesson concludes our sermons about Noah, the ark, and the flood. In case there was any doubt, God symbolically identifies Noah as "the 2nd Adam" by twice instructing him (and his family, and the animals, too) to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" the same as Adam and Eve were instructed in Genesis 1. Then God gave Noah the commandments against the taking of a human life, "for in his own image God made humans." Finally, God solemnly promises never to destroy life on earth again in a flood, and God establishes the rainbow as a permanent reminder of that promise. What do we learn from the story of Noah? Perhaps that God is God... and we are not. Or perhaps that when a disaster ends life as we know it, God always offers a new life on the other side.
The Great Flood of Genesis, Chapter 7, ends. And then in Chapter 8:1, after Noah and his family and all the animals had spent 5 whole months in the ark, the Bible tells us, "God remembered Noah." The phrase "God remembered" occurs 73 times in the Old Testament, and much of the time it means a lot more than just mental recall--like when you "remember" to get milk on your way home from work. When "God remembers," it often means God takes ACTION, God DOES SOMETHING for someone. In this instance, God sent the Holy Spirit as a wind to dry up the land for the new creation after the flood. It's a wonderful and powerful witness of God's care and salvation, not only for Noah and his family, but also for all the other living creatures--birds, animals, and all--to be "fruitful and multiply," just like in the first creation.