I sure hope you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! I know our family did and we are enjoying the opportunity to have some downtime together.
This coming Sunday we will commemorate and celebrate the Epiphany, otherwise known as the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men. You can read this account in Matthew 2.1-12. Epiphany occurs on January 6 and marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas. The word, epiphany, means a sudden comprehension or awareness of reality. So when we celebrate the Epiphany and the visit of the Wise Men we are called to realize two distinct things: (1) that Jesus is the Son of GOD and (2) that in Jesus, GOD is for all people.
It is important to bear in mind the image that GOD deliberately gives us at Christmas. Jesus is born in apparent scandal to a poor and unwed teenage girl. He makes His entrance to the world not in the posh comfort of royalty, but in a feeding trough in a stable or cave. Yes, angels announced his birth and a star shone brightly overhead, but it was a group of shepherds and dignitaries from a non-Jewish people who came to pay homage to the newborn King. Where the cries of “no room in the inn” were echoing through the Bethlehem night, GOD was declaring that Jesus was born and sent for all people. And if the Son of GOD can come in such a scandalous and humble fashion, then there is no such thing as a person caught up in the same who cannot come to GOD. Period.
The Bible tells us that when the Wise Men made their pilgrimage to Jesus, they brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts were indicative of Jesus’ royalty and the fact that He would suffer for our sins and bring forth salvation. Though Jesus could provide a preeminent case of what-kind-of-gift-do-you-get-the-person-who-has-everything, the Magi knew just what to bring to mark this momentous occasion. For us today, we can turn to the sentiments of the beautiful Christmas song, “In The Bleak Midwinter” and say, “what I can I bring him; bring Him my heart.”
As we prepare to usher in a new year this weekend, I want to encourage you to think about how you will bring GOD your heart to mark this year’s Epiphany. Will you allow GOD to bring you a sudden realization that He is Lord? Will you allow GOD to break into your life and show you that He is for you, despite what you might think or feel? Perhaps you did that a while back and need to recommit to living for Him and His purpose for your life…New Year’s Day provides us that unique annual opportunity to acknowledge GOD’s loving sovereignty in the world and in your life.
May you enjoy this blessed Christmas season and prepare for a very Happy New Year. If you are in town, I hope to see you in worship on Sunday as we celebrate a New Year and learn about how we are taking seriously our call to be Jesus’ witnesses to the ends of the earth.
This IS indeed the most wonderful time of the year, so may we commit, or recommit as the case may be, to living for the Lord!
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