Join the Wise Men
And 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. Matthew 2:11
Today, January 6, is the Christian feast day known as Epiphany. Epiphany, from the Greek ἐπιφάνεια, means “appearance” or “manifestation”. The purpose of the feast is to celebrate the revelation of the Incarnation – God taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The observance of Epiphany originated in the East, with the commemoration of the Lord’s birth, the Magi’s visit, the Lord’s childhood, His baptism in the Jordan River, and His first miracle at Cana. It was known in the earliest centuries as the feast of the Manifestation, the Theophany, and the Feast of Light. Second only to Easter in importance, Epiphany was observed in the East as early as the second or third century.
Before A.D. 354, the Western Church separated the celebration of the Nativity as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25. It reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of the Christ, particularly to the Magi (along with his baptism and the miracle at Cana). The West has historically observed a twelve-day festival, beginning on Christmas Day and concluding on January 5, known as Christmastide (the Twelve Days of Christmas). Eventually, the observance of Christmas Day in the West overshadowed Ephipany (the “old Christmas”).
Today the Holy Spirit wants to move us into the caravan of the Wise Men. We can stand by the side of these Wise Wanderers and, in faith, worship Him who is God’s great Gift of grace. At a Bethlehem house, on a Jerusalem cross and, before a borrowed tomb, we can see the wonder of God’s love, which comes to us through the Savior’s sacrifice.
And if the Lord wills it, we can, like the Wise Men, give the Christ Child our gifts. No, I’m not referring to presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; I’m saying a really wise man and woman will give Jesus the gift He wants the most: a saved, sin-free heart.
Today, January 6, is the Christian feast day known as Epiphany. Epiphany, from the Greek ἐπιφάνεια, means “appearance” or “manifestation”. The purpose of the feast is to celebrate the revelation of the Incarnation – God taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The observance of Epiphany originated in the East, with the commemoration of the Lord’s birth, the Magi’s visit, the Lord’s childhood, His baptism in the Jordan River, and His first miracle at Cana. It was known in the earliest centuries as the feast of the Manifestation, the Theophany, and the Feast of Light. Second only to Easter in importance, Epiphany was observed in the East as early as the second or third century.
Before A.D. 354, the Western Church separated the celebration of the Nativity as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25. It reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of the Christ, particularly to the Magi (along with his baptism and the miracle at Cana). The West has historically observed a twelve-day festival, beginning on Christmas Day and concluding on January 5, known as Christmastide (the Twelve Days of Christmas). Eventually, the observance of Christmas Day in the West overshadowed Ephipany (the “old Christmas”).
Today the Holy Spirit wants to move us into the caravan of the Wise Men. We can stand by the side of these Wise Wanderers and, in faith, worship Him who is God’s great Gift of grace. At a Bethlehem house, on a Jerusalem cross and, before a borrowed tomb, we can see the wonder of God’s love, which comes to us through the Savior’s sacrifice.
And if the Lord wills it, we can, like the Wise Men, give the Christ Child our gifts. No, I’m not referring to presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; I’m saying a really wise man and woman will give Jesus the gift He wants the most: a saved, sin-free heart.
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