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.

Yet even though this is the work of Christ in our behalf, how He broke the chains, destroyed the power of the enemy, how He set His people free, how He brought a new life, He says, “Never again will sin have dominion over you.  Never again will death have control.  Never again will you be in bondage and fear and shame.”  He brought into the world and into mankind a new life.  He destroyed the things that were holding us down: the curse, the condemnation, and the slavery.  He didn’t create us to be held in that bondage.  He created us in His image and His likeness, but our disobedience brought us to that point where we were destroying ourselves.  God’s life in us would not allow it to be destroyed and so He sends the light.  It is symbolic and it is a sign to us if only we would grasp the meaning and if only we would rise up and begin to allow the Spirit to speak to us.

If we would come beyond our surface living and dig deeply in the meaning and the purpose, we would find that we have been given new light.  When that light shines, the darkness flees.  The darkness has no power to rise against the darkness.  Darkness has never overcome light.  Light always destroys the power of darkness and causes it to flee.  The ability of darkness to have any power at all is simply when the light burns out, is no longer shining, and no longer kept burning— when the source is depleted and so the darkness moves in because the light goes away.  But the light that Christ gave is more powerful than the darkness; and in our lives, if only we would keep the light burning, the darkness cannot consume us.  That’s what the light was and that’s what it was meant to be.  When it spoke, the sign was given. It will not allow the enemy to overcome.  This is why Isaiah in his prophecy in Isaiah 60 speaks to us, “Arise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”  He’s speaking not to the people at that time because it had not happened yet; this was prophecy.  That which was to come: the light, the star that shone in the skies on that night when Christ was born.  A light that came upon mankind; it came upon the whole world, the very glory of God being manifest toward man because He was going to set man free, He was going to give man new life.  And He was going to say the darkness will cover the earth.  “Deep darkness the peoples but the Lord has risen upon you and His glory will appear upon you.”  He’s talking to us as God’s people that even though around us in the world there may be those who will hold to the darkness and not let their light shine, the light that God has given to us is greater than the darkness.  As Isaiah says to us, “Arise shine, let your light shine.  Let your light come forth.  Let the glory of the Lord be seen in you.”

Do we have this comprehension that His glory has been given to us?  That this light is meant to bring forth that which will change the attitude of man, where that men will no longer sense or feel the failure but instead will understand that God’s love is greater than their own failure and weaknesses?  This is the light.  This is Epiphany: a manifestation.  God had promised.  He had spoken through the prophets for generations, “Now is the time for the fulfillment of that prophecy to be fulfilled.”  So the light comes to shine in the darkness to set the people free.  He says, “All that you’ve lost is going to be restored for the Holy One of Israel has glorified you.”  Do we understand?  Do we grasp the meaning of being glorified by God?  Do we understand the fact that He has taken away the sin and the iniquity?  Or do we listen to the things around us and pay attention to the surface of life and allow it to keep us in such bondage that we don’t realize that far beneath all of this, God has given us a new foundation that is built upon solid rock?

It cannot be changed.  God does not lie.  God does not fail.  God does not forsake.  When He says that He has brought a light to the whole world, it is and has been given to the whole world.  The Scripture says He is the Savior of all.  But yet we say, “Well, this person’s not saved and that person’s not saved…” But what has God said?  We literally call Christ a liar because we don’t accept what He has done.  We think we’re the judge.  We think we’re the one that stands back and points our finger at others, when in reality we’re supposed to be a light.  We’re supposed to be the one who brings the understanding, the hope, and that light in the lives of others so that they will realize the gift they’ve been given so others may rise in the midst of light to bring forth the glory of God.

Paul tells us in the writing of Ephesians that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body and fellow partakers of the promises of Christ.  It’s not just for the Jews; it’s for everyone.  And it tells us, “Go and tell the unfathomable riches of Christ!”  Reveal them through our lives!  Not murmuring and complaining, not seeing the problems, not judging and condemning others but instead, revealing the riches that Christ has given to us and bringing hope to the world – this is what the church is assigned to do.

Do we see the signs?  The New Testament talks to us in Matthew where it says that when you hear the signs about rumors of war, famine and earthquakes and all these things, don’t worry for this is not the end.  These are just birth pangs.  And yet when we listen to the news and hear about this happening in Mindanao, Iraq or Afghanistan, we begin to become fearful and anxious rather than realizing that we are on the verge of something great.  Birth is about to take place!  Yes, the things will fail because they are not of God.  Things of the world are going to pass away.  But they should not shake us.  When the economy collapses, political systems fail, armies fail and when other things go wrong, they should not shock or surprise us because Scripture says these are going to happen.  When they happen, they are birth pangs.  We’re on the verge of something great taking place.

This is God’s greatness.  His love and commitment come because we seek for Him.  Do we seek for Him?  We seek for making more money and being known because we have this particular talent, honor, and favor from man—but do we seek God’s favor?  Are we like the magi?  Are we willing to pay the price, whatever the cost, in order to know Him?  To know His purpose and to know His understanding?  Are we willing to give our all such as seen in gold, frankincense, and myrrh?  Or are we thinking that they belong to us?  Do we say, “It’s mine, I worked for it”?

We have no value for what God has given to us.  We don’t realize His generosity, sharing His divinity by putting new life in this flesh.  That which is in the Spirit will quicken this mortal flesh to life.  No longer mere men.  No longer just flesh.  But because of the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit living within us, we now have that divinity that comes from Him as a part of our life.  He who fills all in all.  How that we are brought to be a part of His provision!  Our response to all that He has done for us should be just as lavish as what He has given to us.  He gave us life; we should give back our lives to Him.  We should be willing to pay the price.

Yesterday, the priests visited a retirement facility for Roman Catholic priests.  It was quite an awesome thing, at least for me, because here were men that had given their whole life to spread the Gospel and bring the word of hope.  None of them were Filipinos; they were all foreigners and they were all almost 90.  They have given 60 years of their life or more to spread the gospel and give their all.  They had nothing—they had no home, no savings account, nothing.  Now they’re put into a retirement place where they just spend their days because they’re getting old and they can’t get do the things they used to do.  They’ve done their part and they gave their life.  They sacrificed their life.  They left their families.  They’ve separated themselves from the lavish ability that could be theirs.  We took food to them and they were like little children eating candy for the first time for some of them.  “Oh this bread is so great!  We don’t get bread like this.”  Yet they were happy.  They were not murmuring or complaining.  They had given what they could because Christ has given His all for them.  What a blessing, what a joy and what a challenge.  I told them, “Our priests are still like babies.  We’re still in diapers and we still use the bottle.  We aren’t there yet.”  I wasn’t putting us down.  I was simply stating the difference between 40-50 years old compared to 80-90 years old.  That’s what the Bible says: “If you don’t reach a hundred, you’re still a baby in diapers.”  We got a long way to go.  But are we ready?

This is what the challenge of Epiphany brings to us; this is what Christmas speaks to us.  God gave this life to us.  What are we doing?  Are we doing things selfishly, “just for me”?  Am I building my own kingdom and my own reputation and wanting people to recognize and glorify me?  Or am I giving of myself to such a point that I’m revealing the greatness of God?

The gifts that God has given to us, Christ within us, His Spirit within us, being members of His body—can you realize how privileged and how lavish  this is to us?  We’re not just mere men.  We’re a part of the body of Christ.  What a joy this should be to us.  What a hope we should be bringing to others.

Hopefully, the twelve days of Christmas was a time when we began to reach out to others.  Not thinking so much of ourselves, but giving that which God has given to us that others may sense and know the greatness of God.  We have a challenge and a responsibility to be a light.

This was given to us yesterday and to me it just spoke so powerfully: “Brothers and sisters, we have made the journey.  We’ve come to Christ.  Our journey has not been like the magi; we didn’t have to go through such travels and the battles; we didn’t have to bring the gold, frankincense and myrrh but we made the journey and have gotten a glimpse of the radiant incarnation: God with us.  The Word made flesh.  Our spirits tasted wholeness and we are nourished for our return.  No longer a star to guide us, we must now become light in a still darkened world.  We have to become the star.  We have to become the light.  We have to lead others.  We have to let them see what God has done in our lives.  Cease our complaining, murmuring, gossiping and attacking each other and let the love of God begin to flow through us so that we become a witness of love.  We must move with the mystery, now within us, bringing balm, healing, to a broken world.”  This is us.  God has healed us.  Most of us still struggle with receiving that which He has given us; we doubt and reject it, we choose to believe other things but yet by His stripes we were healed.  Now our task is to bring healing to the whole world, reaching beyond ourselves.

This is the message of Epiphany and this is the message of Christmas.  It’s more than just a baby in the manger; it’s a light to the darkness of a blinded world and receiving the lavishness of God’s provision.  How much do we give to God?  What is our gift to Him?  The magi didn’t know Him; the magi did not receive anything from Him and yet they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh—awesome gifts and a proclamation.

Shortly after the leaving of the magi from the home of Joseph and Mary, the angel of the Lord told Joseph, “Take Jesus and Mary to Egypt because Herod’s going to kill the young babies. You have to get out of here.”  Very possibly, the ability for them to go to Egypt and to be there for several years in order to save the life of Christ was taken care of because the magi brought gifts to Jesus.  They preserved our salvation.  It wasn’t the Jews; it was the Gentiles.  It was those that were seeking and those that wanted something and realized that something had taken place.  They gave their all and that giving saved Christ and He brought salvation to the whole world.  They weren’t selfish; they weren’t holding it for themselves. They weren’t saying, “He’s a Jew; we’re the gentile, why should we be giving to Him?”  They gave their best.  And because they gave their best, we have salvation today.

What are we doing?  Are we giving our best to the world, a system that’s failing, falling apart, and will be destroyed eventually?  Or are we giving our best to the kingdom of God?

This is Epiphany: a manifestation of the light.  “Arise, shine for your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!”  Believe, receive and respond.  Seek Him.  Find out what this light will do for you. Find out what you can do for others.  May Epiphany bring forth that glorious response from us.  May we be a light in the midst of the darkness.

Father, we thank You for Epiphany.  We thank You for Christmas.  We thank You for the light that You’ve given to us and the new life that is ours.  Father, we’ve been caught up in the system of the world.  We have failed.  We’ve been marching to a cadence that doesn’t belong to the following Christ.  We’ve followed self-centeredness and pride for ourselves; our greed and our lust have controlled us.  Yes, Father, we have claimed we have known You, proclaimed that you are the Lord of our lives.  But Father, we are like the Jews; we haven’t really dug deep to understand the fullness and the meaning of all that You’ve done.  Father, we pray that our eyes will be open.  We pray that the church would arise, become a light in the midst of the world, and proclaim the hope that comes in knowing and walking with You, finding that our deliverance is not in the system of man, not in the accumulation of wealth or fame, but it’s in our submission and seeking You and giving our all to find You.  We begin to comprehend the greatness of Your life in ours.  Father, there is no one like You.  You have blessed us with everything and we lack in nothing.  Father, may we understand and let that light shine through our lives – a sign of light, of hope, of deliverance.  We rejoice for what You’ve done for us.  Receiving that gift, may we also then give of ourselves that You would be glorified among the earth.  Father, as we celebrate this evening what we have done, may it not be to bring glory to us but may it instead be that which brings a light to a darkness, a people in darkness, that sets them free.  Let them see that there’s hope that comes from the church because of Christ, Christ in us, the Mystery, the Hope of Glory.  Father, we honor You, we bless You and we give You the praise.  May You be glorified in all we do.  May our light shine brighter and brighter and brighter and may Your glory be seen in all the earth.  Amen.