We Three Kings of Orient are…
Matthew 2:1–2 CSB
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
The 6th of January, every year, marks the start of the Epiphany season in many churches – Lutheran, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans to name a few – but what is Epiphany and why should it be a part of our yearly liturgical rhythm?
The word ‘epiphany’ is defined as follows:
- a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.
noun: epiphany; plural noun: epiphanies
2. a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.
Specifically, it refers to the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12.
To receive a revelation is to see something revealed – and that is exactly what happened with the wise men from the East. They saw Jesus for who He is – the Christ come! God revealed to man – and not just the Jewish people – but to all men, to all the world.
We see this prophesied in Isaiah 60:1-6:
Isaiah 60:1–6 (CSB)
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord shines over you.
For look, darkness will cover the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to your shining brightness.
Raise your eyes and look around:
they all gather and come to you;
your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters on the hips of nursing mothers.
Then you will see and be radiant,
and your heart will tremble and rejoice,
because the riches of the sea will become yours
and the wealth of the nations will come to you.
Caravans of camels will cover your land—
young camels of Midian and Ephah—
all of them will come from Sheba.
They will carry gold and frankincense
and proclaim the praises of the Lord.
The Magi came bringing great gifts – gold for the King born unto men, frankincense for the Godhood revealed in Him and Myrrh, prophetically, as a balm for what His flesh would endure for us.
Jesus comes, the Light of the World, and calls sons and daughters from afar – He calls us in from desert places, from far off places – the lost, the prodigal, the wandering, He calls us in.
In Christ is revealed the Will, the Mind and the Heart of God – God Himself enrobed in flesh for this one purpose: to call us to Himself.
Christ is made manifest in the world, so that we might see God in Him and through Him, so that God might establish Himself upon the thrones of our hearts and minds.
This is the great Epiphany – the great moment of realization that dawns upon the world — the drawing back of the curtain that separates us from the Divine, the revelation of God to mankind.
And what great cause for celebration!
There is a lot of negativity in modern church circles around keeping these traditions, many among us feel like it borders on Pharisaical – we don’t want to be considered ‘religious’.
However, I find value in these observances. It is a simple way to keep our eyes on what matters – a series of altars we can build throughout the year to remember Christ, bringing Him to the forefront of our hearts and minds.
These dates become altars on which we can consider, again and again, the beauty of our communion with Him – as we lay our lives, the days of our lives, down in remembrance of Jesus.
Perhaps, this week – Epiphany – we can be mindful of Jesus, the drawing back of the curtain that once separated us from God and the glimpse He gave us into the heart, mind and will of the Most High God.
And in doing so, may our lives be transformed anew as we strive to become more like Him. May this epiphany, The Epiphany – the realization and revelation of His Godhood, love and mercy – move us, inspire us and transform us as we strive to live a life worthy of the life He gave. May God be revealed in your life, in you and around you all the more!
Prayer: Lord, as we think on who You are, as we dwell on Your coming – make Your dwelling in us. Just as You revealed Yourself in the flesh, reveal Yourself to our loved ones, our neighbors and even our enemies through the Godly lives we choose to live. Help us Lord to fall into a rhythm in-step and in-tune with the beating of Your heart as we remember and honor You in all we do, all the days of our lives. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Something to consider:
How does Isaiah 60:1-6 relate to the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as seen in Matthew 2? What are the implications of these passages for us today?
Something to do:
Just as we can consider these special days in our liturgical calendar as altars and monuments of God’s goodness throughout the year, we can build some altars of our own through sharing what God has done for us. Share your faith stories as personal testimonies in casual conversations. Aim for authenticity; discuss how your relationship with Christ has shaped your decisions and led you through challenges. For instance, if asked about a significant career decision, say, ‘I prayed about this job and waited for clarity. My faith was a guiding light during that time.’ This personal approach can pique interest and invite further questions, allowing you to reveal more about Christ’s influence in your life and inspire others to seek Him.
Another way in which we can reveal Christ is through embracing acts of kindness in your daily life, particularly in times of high stress. Small gestures of kindness not only reveal your faith in practice but also foster a supportive culture that reflects Jesus’ servant heart, potentially opening doors for faith conversations as they wonder why you are motivated to help.
