Epiphany Thoughts
This Sunday we will be celebrating Epiphany. The text below is the one I'm preaching from. What are your thoughts about this text?
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
There are a number of reasons, likely the first is to save the child’s life. Although the magi were not followers of the God of Israel, they listened to God’s warning through a dream and did not return to Herod to tell him the location of Jesus and his family.
What is most significant to me, however, is that we are included. In Christ, all were included. As Paul wrote in Galatians, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). God used foreigners, those looked down upon by the Jewish people, to spread God’s message.
Others may not think much of us. We may not think much of ourselves. But God sees us as beloved children. God will use us to share the message of Christ’s love, if we let him.
God we sometimes underestimate your power in our lives. May we be as obedient as the magi. As you have shown us your love, enable us to share that love with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
“God's promise shines bright in the night as magi follow a star to honor a new king. Strangers from a faraway land, they welcome the long-awaited messiah of Israel” (sundaysandseasons.com). Can you imagine the strength, the power of the star that brought the magi to Jerusalem and then Bethlehem? These people were not Jewish and yet God spoke to them and drew them to the birthplace of God’s messiah, the messiah of the people of Israel. Have you ever wondered why? Why did God bring these foreigners?
There are a number of reasons, likely the first is to save the child’s life. Although the magi were not followers of the God of Israel, they listened to God’s warning through a dream and did not return to Herod to tell him the location of Jesus and his family.
What is most significant to me, however, is that we are included. In Christ, all were included. As Paul wrote in Galatians, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). God used foreigners, those looked down upon by the Jewish people, to spread God’s message.
Others may not think much of us. We may not think much of ourselves. But God sees us as beloved children. God will use us to share the message of Christ’s love, if we let him.
God we sometimes underestimate your power in our lives. May we be as obedient as the magi. As you have shown us your love, enable us to share that love with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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