Epiphany: The appearance to the Magi and in the Jordan

The word “epiphany” means “appearing,” as in the appearing of a deity, the appearing of God.

We have waited. We have planned. We have given special offerings. And now our unique artwork and woodwork are about to appear at the Festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord on January 6.

These paintings are unique. Pastor Pope is a student of church history, art and architecture. He has told me that he doesn’t know of anytime in church history when canvass paintings were created to look like stained glass.

But we commissioned these unique paintings to mimic the beautiful stained glass windows our congregation’s forefathers have installed through the years. Pastor Pope also told me that many churches have a stained glass window in the front of the church, but that ours is very unique because it is the focal point above the altar.

We wanted to build upon that uniqueness with these unique paintings. Melanie Schuette, Pastor Pope’s daughter, has other paintings hanging in WELS churches. But not a single painting looks like ours.

These paintings are created to be a part of a triptych. A triptych is a set of three paintings or pictures. In many triptychs, the center picture always remains the same, while the two outer pictures can be removed and replaced. Jesus as the Good Shepherd will obviously always remain at the center. The two outer pictures will be removed and replaced for the various seasons of the Church Year.

(Right now, we only have the one set, but the long-term goal is to also have sets for Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc.)

It was an obvious choice to have the first paintings centered on the Epiphany theme.

The painting that will hang in the arch behind the pulpit is of the Magi following the star to Bethlehem. The skin tones of the Magi are of an African and a Persian, for the Wise Men were from various nations and cultures serving in the Persian kingdom as astrologers. They follow the star which stops above the little town of Bethlehem. There is a light on in the home where the Magi are going to.

Jesus appearing to the Magi reveals Himself as the Savior of the Gentiles. That is why we call January 6, the Gentiles’ Christmas. Jesus also appears as the Savior of the world by stepping into the Jordan River at His Baptism. His step into the Jordan is His first step toward the cross.

The first Sunday after the Epiphany is always the commemoration of Jesus’ Baptism. In the painting that will hang in the arch behind the lectern, Jesus is pictured standing in the water up to His waist with His head bowed, receiving the waters of Baptism. John is pictured holding a shell in his hand and baptizing the innocent Lamb of God. The dove of the Holy Spirit hovers over the scene, shining down His glorious beams of light.

Like stained glass windows, these paintings tell a story – a story that will change with other paintings through the church year, but also repeat, season after season, year after year.

Don’t forget to also examine the amazing woodwork that Pastor Pope has created for us. The sound fabric inside the arches will serve as matting, like in picture you may hang on the wall. (We couldn’t cover the whole arch with a painting because it would cost too much and we still need to have sound come from the pipes of the pipe organ). Just as the arches Pastor Pope created for us last year mimic the arch around Jesus, the Good Shepherd window, so this framework mimics the woodwork inside that Good Shepherd window. 

The paintings will be revealed at our Epiphany Festival on January 6. We will dedicate them at the celebration of Epiphany’s 85^th anniversary on January 29. Both Pastor Pope and Melanie Schuette will be present to discuss these unique Epiphany paintings with us.

Thank God for His Epiphany – to the Magi and in the Jordan … and in the front of our church.

In our Epiphany Lord’s service,
Pastor Michael Zarling