Wise Men
“Going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” Matthew 2:11-12
Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on 6th January (or January 19th for some Orthodox Churches who have Christmas on the 7th of January) and is the time when we remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings, or Magi) who visited Jesus. Read the story of the Wise Men in Matthew verses 1 through 12.
In December we celebrated Advent – a time to look forward to the birth of Jesus. Then we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Now we move into the season of Epiphany, beginning with the day which marks the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ to these eastern travelers.
The season of Epiphany in our church runs until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. We celebrate and discover our Lord’s manifestation as the “light to the Gentiles” and the “glory of Israel.” This story tells us of the experience of the Wise Men who went on a journey, searching for a king with just a star to guide them and a prophesy to inform and direct them. Their journey would be a thousand miles with an uncertain destination. Seems like a strange quest, yet they do it.
They arrived at this small home in Bethlehem. It is thought that Jesus was one or two years old by this time. The Magi presented their gifts, fit for a king, and knelt to worship Him. God then warned them not to return through Jerusalem as they initially planned. What do we make from this directive of God? Well, recall the time when you had your epiphany regarding Jesus and the role He would play in your life. God wants us to know Jesus is our Lord, our Messiah, sent to free the whole world from sin, death, and condemnation. Because Jesus is our answer to our sin, we find a new hope and salvation.
As we move out of the Christmas season our hope is that we can find ourselves to be like those who were wise and be different from whom we were before we met Christ. Christmas is an opportunity to assess the values we’re living by and to shed those that have neither merit or value. Christmas ought to make us less fearful and more faithful. The star still leads seekers to God’s truth, to kneel to the child king and to move forward as people set free. Free to live with more grace, love, and hope.
Lord God guide us as we follow the light of Christ; lead us to follow Him more closely. Lift our spirits and our eyes to see more clearly Your vision and direction for us and may our journeys make us a blessing. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.