Epiphany!

Last Saturday was the Day of Epiphany.  And now in the church year we continue in the season of Epiphany until February 11, when we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord.  We’ll look later at what the Transfiguration of our Lord means.  But let’s look now a little closer at this word “epiphany”.
 
Epiphany means “a manifestation; a moment of sudden revelation or insight; especially of a divine being”.  The word is used for January 6 to commemorate the visit to the Christ Child by the Magi or wise men.  As we read in Matthew 2, they came from the east, claiming they had seen a star that led them to “the child who has been born king of the Jews”.
 
These Magi, or wise men, were probably astrologers, perhaps from Persia or southern Arabia.  And so they were Gentiles.  While a lot of mystery surrounds them, they may have read the messianic prophet in Numbers 24:17, predicting a ruler who would deliver Israel from their enemies.
 
And now these Magi had come to worship Him.  We recognize this as the first manifestation of the Christ to the Gentile world (of which most of us are all included).  The message and season of Epiphany therefore becomes a message to all the world; the message of “good news of great joy for all the people”
 
Our response to this Epiphany is three-fold: 

1.  Thanks be to God for revealing the Savior to all the world!
2. May we now become followers of Jesus, who seek Him as the Magi did.  
3. May we share this good news with all the world!

 
God’s blessings to each and every one of you in this season of worship, discipleship, and witness!

Pastor Steve