Happy Epiphany! Today is the day we make note of the wise men’s visit to Jesus and the star they followed. Did you happen to see the so called “Christmas Star” of the planets last month? So pretty. Yet the star that showed the way to Jesus was even brighter. And He is even brighter than that star.
Jesus is the Light so we’re not going to spend any more time on the star itself. The funny thing is, I was talking to Jesus this morning about how I don’t want to lose the lights that are still up from Christmas but the plan is to take it all down by Saturday. I was telling him how I like having lights on when I wake up, lights I don’t have to turn on in the front of the house when I walk to the kitchen to fix my daughter’s breakfast. He hasn’t told me yet how to solve that issue, but He knows the issue so I just am awaiting the answer.
Epiphany is the first Christian Feast of the year.
Epiphany is: The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12). – lexico.com
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.”
Luke 2:25-35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Matthew 2:9-12
After they (the Magi) 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The fact that these non-Jewish wise people saw the incarnate Jesus means the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles occurred when he was very young, not only after the apostles were sent to them. I wonder if they shared the news on their way home with everyone they came across like the shepherds did on the night Jesus was born or if when they did get home they taught of His birth and presence or if maybe they didn’t stay home, but came back to see him later. We just don’t know those things.
Many years pass between those Scriptures and these next. Jesus has lived in Egypt, Nazareth, and now Capernaum.
Matthew 4:12-1
Jesus Begins to Preach
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”[Isaiah 9:1-2]
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Granted, He lived among Jews, but don’t you find something really amazing by how it’s called Galilee of the Gentiles? The people living in darkness have seen a great light. Oh how wonderful Isaiah 9:2 is. Darkness is where we all were before God saved us through Jesus.
Do you see the light? a light has dawned
John 8:12
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus sat on a mountain and taught.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
And it’s a different way of saying to his audience at the time
“Your eyes have seen God’s salvation,
which God has prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Be the blessing you were made to be.”
Yet so few of them saw it.
The promise given to Abraham and fulfilled finally with Pentecost. Because until then Israel stayed among themselves. They didn’t go out and be the blessing they were intended to be to other nations.
Faith now is how the light spreads. His light shines on us and through us and that grows the kingdom.
May our eyes be opened to see all the wonder in his light. And may others see His light inside of us in such a way that they want it too.
The Light of the World has indeed come and He’s given each of the faithful his light to shine into all the darkness in this world and awaken all whom God will bring to faith. Shine His light in your life. Hang on tight to the faith.
Happy Epiphany.
Here I am to Worship sung by Chris Tomlin with lyrics too.