JESUS MEETS THE WORLD
It’s the twelfth day of Christmas; your true love is supposed to give you twelve drummers drumming. You promised New Years Day those new resolutions but who cares today. It is January 6, 2024, and if you are in the know, we celebrate the three wise men. It is the Epiphany. The Magi followed a new heaven sent star, to pay their respects to the new leader of the Jewish world. Epiphany is known as the Gentile Christmas because when Jesus was born only Jewish folk knew. Mary and Joseph were Jewish. The priests were Jewish and the shepherds were Jewish. Some say the Magi were priests from Egypt or Persia, which is now Iran. They were of the World and students of the sky and stars. They did not find the newborn King in the palace, so they turned to scholars and the Scriptures. The Wise Men set out again, inspired with God’s Word, following the star. In a small unassuming home in Bethlehem, they found Joseph, a carpenter, his wife Mary and a baby boy named Jesus. Not the king of state, a monarchy or a country, but they found the Christ, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.
It took the Three Wise Men a fair amount of time, money, dedication and traveled many miles. These men had seen much of life and were dedicated scholars but they did not think of themselves as too grand or too elite to humbly bow down and worship the Christ Child. With God’s guidance, the Three Wise Men were led on the first ‘’star trek’ ‘It was right to present their gifts, the precedent of all Christmas presents. They were honored to offer their heaven-sent King; glittering gold, fragrant frankincense, and perfumed myrrh. Nice, but maybe three wise women would have brought items a family with a new baby really could use.
The Wise Men had gone looking, led by God and a star, to find a Heaven-sent Savior. With the arrival of the Magi, Jesus meets the World. Epiphany is God’s way of saying to people of every race, every color, every age, Jesus is the One promised through the prophets. This is the Savior who can rescue everyone from sin. Epiphany is the church celebration which says Jesus is Lord and Savior.
The Three Wise Men teach us a lesson; they followed where God led them. Jesus trusted in God for everything. He is the real servant of the Lord. Jesus fulfills God’s laws. Can we, like the Wise Men, follow His direction? Jesus calls us to follow Him. Will you follow Jesus? Will you walk along the dusty and rocky roads? Jesus has all the power in Heaven and on Earth, but He leads gently and tenderly. He never gives up on us, no matter how broken we are. When our faith is burning low, like a candle about to go out, He makes us strong again. Jesus loves us; He died for our sins Remember our own baptism. Jesus gives us the opportunity to share in the service of God’s people. Let us welcome this blessed gift our God gives to us and embrace it wholeheartedly.
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