Epiphany

 

"Come and see what God has done,

    his awesome deeds for mankind!" 

(Psalm 66:5 NIV)

January 6 is the official end of the Christmas season as we begin Epiphany.  The season of Epiphany focuses on Jesus as a young man and then his early ministry.  It sets us up to go deeply, reverently, and penitently through the season of Lent - aware and focused on how much Jesus has done for us.  Epiphany, though, begins a lighter season - focused on the Light of Christ.

According to dictionary.com, epiphany is "a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience."  

We can speak today of having "epiphanies" when we suddenly understand something.  You can puzzle over what a Bible verse meant and then somehow in a moment it becomes clear.  You can wonder why a person does certain things and then suddenly realize the reasons behind what they do.  You can struggle with solving a vexing problem, only to "wake up" with an epiphany of the solution.  

The Magi ("wise men" in some Bible translations) from the East (probably modern day Iran and/or Iraq) were focused on the Light of Christ.  They would have been some of the best educated people in their culture(s), who knew the new star they saw was unique and important.  They believed the prophecies about a "King of the Jews" and so followed the star to the baby Jesus so they could worship him and give him expensive gifts. They had traveled from between 6 months to two years to see the Christ Child. 

What would have caused them to have so much trust in prophecies of a "King of the Jews" that they would have made this long, expensive trek over and around the Middle Eastern deserts just to see an infant/toddler?  

I think the Magi had an epiphany - an insight into the Truth of the new star - because they had spent years studying many truths in many religions and cultures.  When we study the foundational document of our faith - the Bible - we learn God's Truth.  Also, I believe the Holy Spirit told the Magi that THIS star - this Truth - was important.  I believe God gives us a variety of epiphanies in life but all of them harken back to Truth.  

What is Truth?  Jesus said that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  So when we seek Jesus the Truth - as the Magi did - and when we come to the Father through him, we can see the glorious deeds he has done for us.  We can see the Light and Glory of God through Christ.  And we can trust the Truth of God's Word, Jesus. 

What Truth will you trust in today?

Light of the World, 

Thank you, Jesus, for being our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Thank you for showing us the Father and for guiding us with Holy Spirit.  Thank you that your Truths are trustworthy and help us to understand our world and to obey your call.  Show us the places in our lives where we need epiphanies and help us to seek you and then be able to hear and understand what you are telling us.  Help us to see all the wondrous things you have done and your glory in the earth.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.  

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  (Matthew 2:1-12)

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6 NIV)