December 30, 2018 Epiphany? Epiphany Sunday

1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”a 7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:1–12 (NKJV)

So often we go through the year not even noticing the Christian Year which should guide our worship and help us understand the flow of salvation. Even worse not knowing what the days and seasons mean.

Take Epiphany. This word to some means the 3 kings coming to honor Jesus seen in the the song “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and the many TV shows of the 3 kings appearing at the birth of Jesus. The definition of Epiphany is:

e·piph·a·ny NOUN

1. the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12).
   • the festival commemorating the Epiphany on January 6.
   • a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.
   • a moment of sudden revelation or insight.

But the story of the three kings is really “misguided theology”. We may call them kings but the term is defined as:

Transliteration: Magog pronunciation: mag'-os Definition: of foreign origin; a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician:—sorcerer, wise man. Occurrences in the NT: 6 KJV Translations: wise man (4x), sorcerer (2x). From The Interlinear Greek - English New Testament: Cross-linked to Strong's Dictionary .

Some also teach there were three Magi but in truth the Bible does not tell us the number of the Magi but only the number of gifts! Gold was a gift to recognize a king or a person of great power. Frankincense was part of the spices used in the Temple to worship God and Myrrh was a spice used in to burial of bodies. We can see the fullness of Jesus and His ministry in these gifts.

Gold = king

Frankincense = recognition and worshiping God.

Myrrh = death and burial.

Of the three gold was the least valuable!

The Magi did not come when Jesus was born but according to the Bible Jesus was a child and the Magi told Herod the Child had been born in the last two years. Could it be the coming of the Magi was a foretelling Jesus would both reach out and draw in those from around the world with the message of God's salvation and a new life?

Have you taken time to honor the Child who came to you and for you? What gift do you bring? To paraphrase a saying “What shall I give Him poor as I am? I will give Him my heart!”