It can be said in many ways—You are not going to believe this!—You
have got to see this!—Wait until you hear this one! What each of these
expressions has in common is an exclamation point—A declarative statement
made with feeling—adrenalin added. God’s word for us today comes with
exclamation point accents. Beginning with the words of an Old Testament prophet
more than 2500 years ago, “Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you
peoples from far away!” Reframed by John the Baptist 500 years later as
he beholds Jesus and declares, “Here is the Lamb of God!” Do you hear
the exclamation point—the bold face underlined text?
You are not going to believe this! Wait until you hear what I have for you this morning! A great moment is at hand—Epiphany we call it.—Epiphany—a moment of revelation—a special moment of revelation with an exclamation point—not just light shining forth but THE light shining forth—seeing that which goes beyond the moment—transcending time and place—a moment that enlightens us—invites us to follow—Behold!—Here! But the exclamation points of life are not always easily spotted—We are often distracted by what history will later judge to be relatively unimportant—the ultimately less significant although momentarily popular—The exclamatory moment that is Epiphany is not just loud and flashy—it is spirit filled—spirit blessed—filled with substance and not just form. It was a Thursday --a little more than 4 months had passed since that fateful 4th of July weekend--the gathering was to dedicate the grounds. They gathered on Cemetery Hill outside the small Pennsylvania town--the main orator was Edward Everett of Massachusetts--he delivered a two hour formal address. The concluding speaker--while more famous--spoke for only two minutes--the audience was surprised by its shortness and reports of the speech indicated that most were unimpressed. And yet the vision of words from those two minutes now transcend time and place--they have come to symbolize the very definition of democracy--“a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Few in that moment recognized the real significance of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address--or of the events of that year which included the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was left to later generations to work out the full meaning of Lincoln’s vision--the nation’s light had flickered but did not go out.
Behold!—here! It was only three months short of 100 years later that a much larger crowd gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It had been a long walk to that day--a long walk--with many who started the journey never finishing. Most were surprised by the fact that tens of thousands had gathered in Washington--but the preacher’s voice rang out loud and clear--a cry for freedom--and the promise of a dream--his voice stirred the souls of his listeners--it was an adrenalin moment—an exclamatory moment—waiting for the epiphany--the beginning of the fulfillment of that which had been promised a hundred years earlier--he said he had a dream--and Martin Luther King Jr. invited others to dream their dreams—Behold!—Here! But almost 2,000 years earlier--that’s where it all begins. A prophet spoke--simple words--direct and declarative--in the classic King James Version translation of the Bible the words are the text for Handel’s music in the Messiah--Behold, the Lamb of God! A musical exclamation point! In our Gospel lesson for today--our more modern age has transformed John the Baptist’s declaration into the stuff of a television announcer presenting the program’s host--No longer is there a call to behold--now the word declares an immediate moment--Here is the Lamb of God!--Here is where it all begins--in this moment.
There are moments in history that later reflection identifies as defining--critical--decisive to all time--battles that proved to be the turning point for major cultures--inventions that redefine the nature of civilization--medical discoveries that bring new life to humanity. There are moments that reveal the promise of light—Epiphany moments. To reflect on our lives--to try to identify the most significant moments--to try to name the most influential people--the most critical choices we made--to try as we might to find the real value of our lives--the most eternally significant moments we feel that we have lived. That is where our Gospel lesson begins today—with the critical moment when faith leads to an action that can be identified with Christ. Most of us would assume that John the Baptist had a special understanding from the very beginning of the importance of Jesus--but our text for today makes it very clear that John’s discernment of Jesus as the Messiah came only because he was faithful in doing that to which he had been called. To Baptize--to baptize with water --the spiritual significance--the life transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit--would only be known if the Baptist fulfilled his calling--to baptize--with water. Jesus is the one who brought something more to baptism. John looks upon Jesus and sees the promise of something more. John points to Jesus--points to Jesus and proclaims what no one else could see—An exclamation point enters the world—Not just God in human form but God incarnate—fully human.—Behold!—Here is the Lamb of God! who takes away the sin of the world!
There is power in great words spoken to the moment. A battlefield is dedicated but in that moment a word is spoken that transcends all time and all who hear the word from that moment on see something more. A nation--a people--striving to be more. A civil rights rally is held but in that instant a word is spoken that echoes through time--a dream of a future that is more then the current time can even vision. And a whole society begins the struggle for racial reconciliation. John the Baptist baptized Jesus he admits to his own limited vision--Says that at first he did not even recognize Jesus--but as the waters dripped from Jesus head the Baptist suddenly saw something more--he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove--a moment of mystery and wonder—exclamation and insight--an epiphany. And John could not remain silent. He had to proclaim the wonder and truth he observed--Behold!--Here is the Lamb of God! The meaning of this proclamation was as yet unclear to those who heard it but the next day John repeated it--Repeated his identification of Jesus as the Lamb of God--this time he was in the presence of two of his own disciples--they also are struck by the meaning and power of this vision. One of them—Andrew—also could not remain silent—He also had to repeat what he had heard—he goes to his brother, Simon Peter, and repeats John’s words--and the spread of the gospel message has begun.
Have you ever heard something so amazing you had to tell someone else—You picked up the phone—ran down the hall?—Do you remember what it was like as a kid coming home from school with the most amazing news?—Do you remember the time that college roommate burst through your dorm room door?—Do you remember what it was like announcing the wedding no one thought would ever occur or proclaiming that the long awaited grandchild had arrived at last!—Think back to what it was like to be 4 years old when it seemed like every day contained at least one exclamation moment! Today is exclamation Sunday—At least that is what God would have today be. Today we gather as the church--in worship--and also, a little later, in business session--to proclaim the work of the church. Reports and budgets are seldom written with exclamation points, but this morning God wants us to discover something truly amazing—exclamatory moments—moments of light in the darkness—hope and vision and possibility—Epiphany moments that bring us to the brink of declaring Behold! Here! Behold!—Here!--people who give of their time and talents to sing in our choirs--share their musical abilities playing bells and other instruments--that others might be lifted by the Spirit of God revealed in tones, rhythms and forms not common to our world. Behold!—Here! --teachers of our Sunday school, Tuesday club and various study groups--who hear Christ’s good news that strengthens their faith for the journey of life and the witness to others filled with doubt. Behold!—Here! --servants of others such as PADS volunteers, blood donors, food pantry contributors, and so much more servants who witness by their giving of their gifts to a God who blesses us again and again that we might be a blessing to others. Behold!—Here! Today we once more hear the word--To those open to the Spirit there is the possibility of something very new--Behold--Here--in this bread--in this wine --Behold--Here--in this prayer for healing--in this moment of Sunday school--in this hymn--in this moment of silence. Behold—Here—Come and see what God has done—What God is doing—What God would have us to be doing in the days—weeks—months to come.
We have received an exclamatory faith—from its very beginning in the pronouncement of the first “Behold!—Here!” To the final exclamation of “He is not here! He is Risen!” Some words are Epiphany words—exclamatory words that take us beyond the moment—lifting us beyond the Here to something more important—something true—something eternal. John the Baptist saw the light--and he pointed his disciples to that light--the Baptist’s disciple Andrew saw the light and he went to find his brother--his brother named Simon Peter--the great leader of the early church—beheld the light and preached, proclaimed and exclaimed! Today Jesus comes to us once more—an exclamation of grace. One of the great truths about an exclamation is that no one ever keeps a true exclamation to themselves—they share it—they pass it on! Behold! Here! Today is an epiphany day Behold—Here!—You are not going to believe this!—You have got to see this!—Wait until you hear this one!
Amen!
