Epiphany!

I’m late writing this post today. The new year is unfolding faster than I had planned, and I come to this day unprepared.

But that’s kind of the idea behind Epiphany. We focus so much on preparation during the Advent and Christmas season that the season which follows can be lost in the shuffle of “getting back to normal.” Even at the historical birth of Christ, there was a real focus on everyone “getting back to normal” after the hustle and bustle of the census and the travel-weariness it generated. Very few people were focused on “Christmas” because Jesus was still considered one small child in a land of thousands of others. There were no Christmas traditions, no trees to un-decorate, no gift wrapping to put away for next year, no leftover cookies to finish eating. And then, twelve days after the glorious events of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we celebrate Epiphany.

Also known as Kings’ Day, or Twelfth Night, this is the date we celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Kings or Wise Men) who traveled to Bethlehem to see the newborn King of the Jews. They did not arrive at the same time as the shepherds, and the account in Matthew has them visiting Mary, Joseph, and the Baby in a house. We must assume that Joseph found better accommodations for his family as the rush of census-taking waned, and yet he wanted somewhere safe to stay while the baby was still so small. The Magi came unannounced, unexpected, and “late” in the story.

The word “Epiphany” means a revelation or manifestation of something supernatural. The shepherds had gone through an epiphany when the angels appeared to them in the fields and told them to go to the manger on Christmas Eve. But the Magi, who had been following the star for months, finally had their Epiphany upon seeing the young child several days or even weeks after His birth. We don’t know that it was actually on the twelfth day after Jesus’ birth, but at some point, the Magi arrived at their destination and saw God in the Flesh! And their lives would never “get back to normal!” And their visit was a revelation to Mary and Joseph as well. The Kings brought expensive gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. They also brought the revelation they had received about the threat of Herod and the need to leave Bethlehem. If Mary and Joseph thought the worst was over, they were shocked into action by the warning of the Magi.

And yet, we celebrate this moment in time, this further revelation that a tiny baby was going to change everything. This knowledge that the Wise Men of Old held, and we can hold today– an encounter with Jesus is a revelation of the supernatural–this baby is GOD in the FLESH, GOD with US, GOD living AMONG us, GOD dying FOR us, GOD who will RETURN to REIGN over us. Nothing will ever be “normal” after such an encounter!

And I hope that can be said for all who read this– that we have encountered the Messiah; the Holy Son of God and Son of Man–and we have been forever changed! There is no end to the season of wonder and delight; there is no need for bright lights and tinsel-topped greenery, and no need to put away the joyful trappings of what His arrival really means.

Epiphany should “sneak up” on us– any day, anywhere–it should amaze us and surprise us with Holy wonder as we encounter the reality of “Emmanuel–God with Us!” And it should cause us to respond with prayers. Not only joyful prayers and prayers of thanksgiving, but prayers in our weariness, prayers in our anticipation of days to come and trials to face. Just like the Wise Men, we may have a long and even difficult journey in 2025. But at the end of it we will encounter God– not as a sweet baby in the manger but as our Lord, as well as our constant companion, our champion, and our heart’s desire!

January 6, 2025 0

What Did Mary Know?

The song above asks, “Mary, did you know?” as it lists many things that Jesus did during his ministry on Earth. But just how much DID Mary know on that night in Bethlehem? From what we read in Luke 1, Mary knew only that this coming Child was sent by God to be the Messiah. But the angel didn’t spell out how that Messiah would be born or how Mary should be a mother to the King of Kings. The angel never promised Mary that Joseph would agree to marry her, or that her family would not disown her. The angel said nothing about a census; no warning that Mary would have to travel to Bethlehem, where there would be no room in any inn, and no safe, clean place to deliver God’s chosen one. Mary had no knowledge of the shepherds who would come from the cold and dirty fields to get a glimpse of her shivering infant. She had no idea that wise men from distant lands would present her with such impractical gifts as frankincense and myrrh, or that she would be forced to take her small son into Egyptian exile.

In fact, while the shepherds were visited by a heavenly host, glorifying and praising God; while the wise men were following an amazing star in the heavens, Mary was seemingly forgotten– giving birth in a cattle shed, tucked away in an unfamiliar, backwater town, without the comforts of her home and family (save Joseph, who was a first-time father himself!), without clean water or extra blankets, without the comforting voice of an angel reminding her that it would all turn out in the end.

I can only imagine how she might have felt. Was she frightened? Confused? She could have been angry or bitter, panicked or forlorn. She was not privy to the wonder of the angels or the star. She could have no idea of the miracles that her Son would do. And, while Simeon hinted at the piercing grief she would know at the crucifixion (see Luke 2:33-34), Mary could have no idea of the grueling death her Son would suffer.

Mary was so young. She knew so little. And yet, Luke tells us that she ” treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV).

This Advent season, I want to take time to ponder; to meditate on the promises of God, on His timing, and His provision. Mary’s journey to Bethlehem was unplanned– by her. But God had planned it from the very beginning. He KNEW there would be no room in the inn. God KNEW all that would happen– the flight to Egypt, the years of Jesus’ ministry, the betrayal and suffering to come. And God KNEW Mary! He knew her questions, He knew her heart, He knew her fears, and her limitations.

It is comforting to know that God KNEW, and that He KNOWS all that is to come in my life. When it feels like I have been forgotten or relegated to a place where there is no room, no resources, no welcome– I can remember that God is there exactly as He was for Mary and Joseph on that night long ago. Just like Mary, I can treasure those incomprehensible moments when God sends a shepherd or a wise man into my path; someone whose presence, though unexpected or even inconvenient, reminds me that God’s plans are far bigger than what I can know or imagine.

One thing Mary DID know was that she could trust God absolutely. May we ponder this truth throughout the season and treasure His promises today.

December 16, 2024 0

Chasing Epiphany

Today marks Epiphany– the day traditionally celebrating the arrival of the Magi to see the Baby Jesus. (Matthew 2:1-12) The Bible does not give us many details about the Wise Men. We don’t know if there were three or thirty. We don’t know if they all came from the same region, or if they came from many different nations and regions and met up along the journey. We only know that they had studied the skies; having seen a new and very bright star (or comet or conjunction of stars), they plotted its course across the sky and “followed” it to Israel– first to Jerusalem, and then to Bethlehem. They brought gifts fit for the king they expected to meet.

What a surprise it must have been for them to reach Jerusalem. After many days (weeks? months?) of travel, they arrived, only to be met with shock and confusion by the leaders and wise men of Israel. Hundreds of prophesies pointed to the birth of Messiah, yet the Jewish leaders were oblivious to His arrival, almost under their very noses! They were not ignorant of the prophesies– they “knew” that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Yet, they showed no interest in traveling with the other wise men to meet their own redeemer. Instead, they sent the foreigners to pay homage, while they plotted in Jerusalem to help Herod kill hundreds of innocent infants. These are the same priests, prophets, and wise men who had been studying, praying for, and waiting for the arrival of Messiah for hundreds of years. How could they have missed it?!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Epiphany is not just the name for this day of the Kings with their three gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh– it is a word that tells of a sudden realization or understanding of the essence of a truth. But how often do we chase an epiphany–pray for answers, or memorize scripture–only to miss the point? How often are we focused on the pages of history, or our computer screens, only to miss the wondrous star in the sky? Are we, like the Jewish leaders of their age, missing the Epiphany?

God is ready to show us the miracle of His Mercy, the sufficiency of His Grace, and the depths of His great Love– are we chasing an Epiphany that is right under our noses? Let’s be ready to look up, to follow the star, and to be amazed!

January 6, 2023 0

…And the Word WAS God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5; 14

Emmanuel– God WITH us. The Baby Jesus in the manger is the same Jesus on the Cross; the same Jesus who was involved in the Creation of the universe.

We love seeing the Baby Jesus in the manger. We like the idea of Jesus, the good teacher and friend. We even bow our heads to honor the Jesus of the cross. We pray to Jesus, acknowledging that He is the God-Man who came to save us from Sin. But sometimes, we get so comfortable seeing Jesus lying peacefully in the manger or serenely enduring the pain of the Cross, that we ignore His absolute Holiness and Power.

Jesus was fully human– he ate, slept, cried, felt cold, and felt pain. But He is also God– fully Divine; fully Sovereign. He doesn’t force us to worship Him– not now, anyway. Someday, though, every knee will bow, and every tongue compelled to confess that Jesus is the Ultimate Authority in Heaven and on Earth (Philippians 2:10-11). Larger than life; more permanent than history; eternally Sovereign.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

We pray to a God who is so awesome and glorious that no person can see His face and live. And yet, we pray to a God who so loved mankind that He came and walked among us, lived among us, and died among us. We look at Baby Jesus in the manger– we see the face of God. And when we look at our neighbors and friends, we look at those made in the image of God– we see those beloved of God; those Jesus came to save.

This is not new theology. This is basic Christianity. But sometimes, in the bustle of the “Season, ” we forget the wonder and the miracle that is the very reason for it all. God is NOT distant. He is not looking for reasons to reject or condemn us. He reaches out to us EXACTLY like a baby reaches out– seeking to be held close. He is as close as the person sitting next to you at the dinner table, or sharing a seat on the bus. GOD! Not a theology; not a list of do’s and don’t’s. Not an esoteric idea. A Presence; a living Christmas Present! An eternal Gift of Love! One with arms and legs; a twinkling eye and infectious smile.

In this season of Advent and Christmas, may we let the Glory of God fill us with awe and wonder. And may we let the Love of God fill us with hope and joy. May our prayers be like the sweet singing of the Angels on that Holy Night so long ago. “Glory to God in the Highest! And, on earth, Peace among those with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14).

December 16, 2022 0

The Long and Winding Road

Joseph and Mary traveled dark and dangerous roads to reach Bethlehem before the birth of the Baby Jesus. The wise men made a long journey to see the newborn king. The entire nation of Israel spent more than 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Abraham, Jacob, Jonah, the Apostle Paul…there are many tales in the Bible of long journeys to unknown destinations and unknown outcomes.

Traveling can be exciting and adventurous, but it can also be filled with detours, setbacks, and hardships. Traveling means being away from our comfort zone, our “safe” place– even if our “safe” place isn’t really safe. Travel often means going into the unknown, especially if we travel alone or travel against our own will. Where does this road lead? Who will I meet along the way? Where will I stay at night? Will I get lost? Will I get delayed? What if I get sick or hurt or attacked? Will I find my way back home? Can I feel safe in a new home, among unknown people and circumstances?

Jesus was born “away from home.” The first people to greet him were not grandparents or giddy relatives or neighbors, but shepherds– unnamed in scripture, unknown to his parents. In fact, the Bible doesn’t say much about Jesus being close to an extended family– his own small family always seemed to be on the move! Later, Joseph was told to take Mary and the child to Egypt; another long and unexpected journey, another long and winding road.

As an adult, Jesus was also “on the road” for much of his ministry. Long dusty roads leading to Galilee, or Jerusalem, Jericho, or Bethany.

At times, it can seem like our “roads” in life are long, winding, dusty paths leading to strange new places– lonely, rambling trails or busy superhighways taking us where we don’t always want to go. But we don’t need to fear traveling– even if we have to walk through the “valley of the shadow of death,” God is always with us. Just as He was with Mary and Joseph on the long road to Bethlehem, where there was no room for them in the inn. Just as He was with Jesus on the lonely path in the Garden of Gethsemane. Just as He was with Jonah in the belly of the big fish!

As we await the Advent of the Christ Child this year, it is likely that most of us have been on a long and winding road. Though many of us have been prevented from physical travel to foreign lands, we’ve traveled on an emotionally and even spiritually exhausting road in 2020. Chaos, corruption, COVID, elections, “executive orders”, economic collapse, lock-downs, lawlessness, and loneliness–we seem to have traveled a lot of miles, and most of them have been perilous and unfamiliar. But God has a plan, and a destination. The journey may not make sense right now; it is not the journey we would have planned; not the journey we would have chosen. But let us follow it to Bethlehem– to the Manger– to the Cross– and finally, HOME!

December 14, 2020 0

Tag: Baby Jesus