The season of Epiphany started last Monday on January 6th
and runs for seven Sundays until Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent
which starts on Wednesday March 5th. The word epiphany comes from the Greek meaning
Manifestation, or Revelation, and in biblical terms refers to when Jesus is
recognized by those around him as the Son of God to mankind.
The first such recognition in the Gospel of Matthew, and
perhaps the most recognized in all the Gospels, is Jesus’ visit by the Three Wise
Men. January 6th, known as
Three Kings Day, is a recognized in some religions as a time for feasting,
celebrations, and giving gifts. This
celebrates the three wise men who follow the star to the child Jesus and give
him gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
According
to Matthew Chapter 2 there were scholars,
philosophers, professors and astrologers, possibly in Persia, who knew
the prophecies
from Numbers 24:17 and Micah 5:2, (perhaps because of teachings from
Daniel from his time during the Babylonian Exile) who had been waiting
for the coming King of
Judah. They saw the new star in the
heavens and followed it to Judah. They
met King Herod, told him of the prophecy and asked if he knew where this
new
king was. Herod told the no, but if they
found the Child King, come back and tell him so that he might go and
recognize him.
Following the star the Three Wise Men found Jesus, worshiped
Jesus as the King of Judah, and gave him the gifts. Having been warned in a
dream not to return to Herod they went home by a different route. When the Wise Men did not return and Herod realized he had
been outwitted and he sent soldiers to Bethlehem and the surrounding area to
kill all male children under 2 years of age.
The Unknowns: This story is found only in the Gospel of
Matthew. We do not know how many Wise
Men / Magi there were, we assume three because of the three gifts, but there
could have been more, with their entourage.
We do not know when they arrived at the baby Jesus. It may not have been at the time of his birth,
as shown in the typical nativity setting we see displayed, because Herod had children
up to 2 years old killed to be sure the foretold future king was killed.
What we do know is that Joseph was warned in a dream of
Herod’s plan and the family escaped to Egypt until Herod died. The other known is the child Jesus was recognized
by another culture, completely outside the Jewish community as the future King
of the Jews, who been sent to save the Jewish people. It was an Epiphany to world.
Join us for our First Sunday in Epiphany, January 12th Worship Service.
Photo: Death of the Children, Mosaic in Siena Cathedral, Siena Italy, Based on Matthew 2:16-18
