Here we are, three days past Christmas and I had an epiphany. I tried really hard to focus on Jesus this year. Even still, I got caught up in the Christmas crazies and had an all out Christmas meltdown. With too much left to do, gifts to wrap, dinners to attend, I couldn’t handle it. When I realized my husband forgot to pick up one of the gifts, I toppled right over the edge.
But then, I had an epiphany. And the timing was perfect, since Epiphany marks the 12 days following Christmas. Today, I want to share why Epiphany is so important. Don’t take down your tree just yet. We have a few more gifts left to unwrap.
With God everything has meaning.
Matthew 2:1-12 reads;
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
The Epiphany
Epiphany means hope and joyful revelation and also symbolizes the amount of time it took the wise men to travel to Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus, when they recognized him as the son of God. Upon their arrival, they were overjoyed at the revelation of who Jesus really was. So, they bowed down and worshiped Him, giving Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But with God, there is always more than meets the eye. Even in these gifts, each one has significance and represents part of who Jesus is.
“Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are gifts worthy of a king.
- Gold is symbolic of Christ’s deity as King,
- frankincense represents His purity as Priest of God, and
- myrrh is suggestive of His anointed work as a Prophet and of His death.” (sited from https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/significance-of-the-three-kings-gifts/)
Even the number of gifts has meaning. The number three is significant as it is considered “the perfect number, the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. It was also the number of time – past, present, future; birth, life, death; beginning, middle, end – it was the number of the divine.”
“Every knee shall bow…”
So back to my own epiphany. Somewhere in the midst of the hustle and bustle, I knew I was missing it. But even still, I realized Jesus is with me. By faith, I can follow Him and offer Him whatever gifts I have.
The Magi saw the star and followed it. Through their faith, they encountered God in flesh. In that moment, they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then, they gave Him their gifts. It is a model for us today.
As we come to Jesus, following often through faith, we encounter the divine. When we offer up our gifts to Him, He gives us the greatest gift ever, eternal life. Life in HIM. Jesus is the reason and God gives everything meaning.
Let us pray;
Oh great Giver of life, may we come to you like the wise men did. May we follow your light and receive true life. In Jesus’ most precious name we pray, Amen.
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P.S. leave me a comment below and tell me where you experienced joy this Christmas. Forward this message to a friend and ask them to subscribe. Post on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, follow that star. -M
