Our Coptic Orthodox Church has 7 Major and 7 Minor Feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Coptic months of Kiahk and Tobah (December and January) are very blessed months, filled with many feasts. Two Major Feasts we celebrate in January are the Feast of the Nativity and the Feast of the Epiphany. Feast of the Nativity “Glory to God in the highest” Luke 2:14 On Kiahk 29 (January 7), we will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas), it is the day our Lord Jesus Christ was born. God sent His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven to Earth to save us. On this blessed day, St. Joseph who was taking care of St. Mary, the Theotokos (mother of God) brought her to a city called Bethlehem where she will give birth to the Baby Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and was incarnated (took a body). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us how to be humble. He was not born in a hospital, a fancy house or even a castle as any king. He was born in a stable with animals and His bed was a manger, where the animals eat their hay. When Christ was born many angels from Heaven came to praise God saying “Glory to God in the highest”. The shepherds and the 3 wise men came to meet the Baby, the King, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest gift God sent to us, His birth brought joy to the world. Feast of the Epiphany “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 Following the Feast of the Nativity another Major Feast our Church celebrates is the Feast of the Epiphany. We also call this feast the Feast of Baptism or Feast of Immersion (in Arabic Eid el Ghetuss). On this day our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. He did not need to get baptized but He did so to show us the importance of baptism and the correct way one should be baptized. St. John the Baptist told many people about God, telling them to repent (ask for God’s forgiveness for their sins) and baptized many people in the Jordan River. St. John the Baptist was chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ to baptize Him. St. John the Baptist was very humble. When our Lord Jesus Christ came to St. John, St. John said to Him “I need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?” Our Lord Jesus Christ responded saying “Permit it to be so now”. St. John was very obedient and baptized our Lord Jesus Christ and something amazing happened: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alightening upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 Our Lord Jesus Christ was immersed (dipped into the water) by St. John the Baptist and when He came up out of the water we hear the voice of God (the Father), we see the Son (our Lord Jesus Christ) and we see the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove). When we are baptized; Abouna baptizes us in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen and dips us under the water just as our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized. Prophecies about the incarnation Isaiah prophesied about His birth of a virgin, His name and and His office (Position) “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Why God Became man and born from a virgin? God, out of His Love, came on earth and accepted to be born to save us from our sins. There was no other solution for our salvation, God had to come down and be born from a virgin in order to save us. Righteous humans cannot save us simply because they are limited. Angles and Archangels cannot save us simply because they are not humans and are limited. What are the characteristics of the savior? 1- Human: in order to represent humanity. 2- Able to die: in order to die on behalf of the humans because the wages of sin is death. 3- Unlimited: in order to cover the unlimited sin of man against the unlimited God. 4- Without Sin: otherwise He will not be able to cover others sins. Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all these Characteristics As a Son of man; He represented humans and died on behalf of humans. As a Son of God; He is unlimited, and without sin. What are the blessings of the incarnation? 1- Salvation We are saved from the original sin. 2- Adoption “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:5 After the incarnation, everyone can be called a son of God through adoption. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6 Note: Our Lord Jesus Christ is a Son of God in Essence. 3- Heirs “And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” Galatians 8:17 On these blessed Feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ we should come to the Church and celebrate together as one body. May these blessed feasts fill your heart with love, joy and peace.
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