Feast of Epiphany

Wednesday Praise Celebration

January 6, 2010

Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, D.D.

His mercy is more than we can ever imagine. His provision is more than adequate for every need of all mankind.  Epiphany proclaims a manifestation of Christ, of God and His commitment to us.  As His church, we need to have an understanding and awareness that we have been set free and delivered.  God has brought into our lives His light; and like Him, we can walk in that assurance and hope of Christ-likeness.  So we thank, worship, and praise God.

We celebrate God’s greatness and we proclaim His goodness to mankind.  Epiphany is a manifestation.  This is what we normally talk about Epiphany: “God with us”. That’s true; it is a manifestation of God’s commitment and love to us.

The Western world sees Christmas as the coming of a baby, of Christ.  That baby eventually brings into our lives all that God wants to bring to us.  For some reason, as people, we have not grasped, understood or believed what God did through Christ.  January 6—some call it the Feast of Three Kings; it has nothing to do with the three kings, really.  It has everything to do with God’s light coming into the world – the light that changed the darkness; the light that took away the curse, the sin, and the iniquity.

It tells us in Matthew 2 that there was this light that had come as a star and the kings or magi saw this star.  But the magi were neither Jews nor Israelis; they were not God’s chosen people.  They would be what we would call Gentiles—outsiders.  Yet for some reason there was an expectation and awareness in their heart that something was going to happen.  It shows us in Scripture that they were alert, diligently watching and trying to find out what this was that was going to be.  They were “on their toes”, we might say.  They were preparing themselves to witness something they knew was coming.  They didn’t understand it completely but they knew there was an event that was about to take place.  They had heard through the great vine that something was going to take place.  And in some cases, there had come the news that a king would be born to be the King of the Jews.  In their own hearts, this was such a great event that they spent time waiting, watching, and preparing themselves for.  And on that night, probably a time of great darkness not only in the light that was missing from the world as far as the sun is concerned, but also the greatness of sin in the hearts of man, there was so much darkness.  At that moment, there came a star in the darkness of the heavens. It was a star that had never shone before; and even though that light was minimal, it had a consistency and quality in it that drew their attention.  Yes, there were other stars around but there was not a star like this star.  This star spoke something to them; it spoke to their hearts and minds.  It revealed to them, “This is what you’ve been waiting for.  This is the event that’s going to change the whole world.”  A star, yes.  But not like a star that’s ever been before.

Three magi—although we’re not sure how many they really were before.  They brought gifts together.  This is how excited they were and how much intention or feeling they had, how much they were preparing themselves to address a great event.  Something that was so awesome, an event that was taking place in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was in the midst of Israel; the people of Israel and Jerusalem were in the midst of the happening but they didn’t see the star.  They were too busy with other events in the world around them so they did not pay attention to the sign that God was giving to the world.  It was not a sign that was isolated only to Israel because here were the magi, they were Gentiles, outside of Israel but they saw the star; they saw the sign.  They were so committed to seeking it out that they began a journey with very valuable gifts that took them approximately two years to accomplish.

In tradition, we see the magi together with the shepherds at the manger scene.  That’s not correct.  It took the magi two years to make their journey. They didn’t have a jet airplane or even a bicycle. They had to walk or ride a camel or donkey and it took them two years to make the journey.  Jesus was not in a manger for two years.  The Scripture says they came to His home, where He and His mother were.  They didn’t give up their journey.  Two years—can you imagine being so diligent and so intense in your desire to find out what’s going on that you’re willing to spend two years of your time and your income to come to this place?  You’re not really certain and sure about all the events that are happening, but it’s so drawn to you and you’re so drawn to it, you will not give up. You will not turn back even if it costs, even if it is painful and difficult.  We’re not going to turn back.

They came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is this King that is born?  The King of the Jews?”  It caused quite a commotion in Jerusalem because Herod was intimidated and threatened with the event that would take place.  But it was not the Jews that were coming to find Him; it was the Gentiles.  The Jews had begun to walk in a different cadence; they were following the patterns of the world, of sin, of self-centeredness.  They were not walking in the principles God had given them.  And so the event was taking place, a declaration was being made, a sign was being given, and they were missing out on the whole event.  But it was the Gentiles, the magi, who would listen, who would see, who would allow in their hearts the drawing of this great event that had meaning to them.

They come to Jesus with great provision – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  These are extremely valuable and costly gifts.  These were their gifts to Christ.  This whole event says so much if only we would allow the Spirit to quicken us.  It is sad that in today’s society, we live very shallow lives.  We don’t pay attention to meaning and to principles.  We don’t have the value of setting the course and direction and paying a price to get something that’s valuable to us.  The magi speak to us and tell us how valuable it is to know, hear and understand the signs that God gives, and to be so willing to pay the price – whatever the price may be to seek out and find fulfillment in that which He gives.  They speak of how important it is to understand its meaning and value, to grasp the fullness of it and realize that this is that which is extremely valuable and precious, and present ourselves also as a lavish gift back to Him who has given so much to us.  For two years, the magi carried the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  For two years, they carried this burden to present to this Christ child.  They didn’t understand the whole story but to us, they speak and share with us the value of seeking Christ, the value of seeking the lavish gifts that He bestowed upon us and understanding that He broke the darkness with that small light, a star.  And that star—unusual, unique, and never seen before, destroyed the power of darkness, sin, hell, death, and the grave, and it would never again be able to rise back to a controlling position.