Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm
72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
EPIPHANY
The word
“epiphany” refers to a manifestation of a divine being; and also means an
illumination, or insight, into the essence of something.
Jesus is God
Incarnate, the manifestation of a divine being—God among us to rescue us from
the darkness of sin and death. Jesus gives us insight into the essence of
God—Loving Creator and Savior.
We need an epiphany.
We live in darkness. It is not always clear that God is loving, nor do we always
feel saved. The decline of faith around us signifies the power of darkness.
Truth is silenced by political correctness. Hopelessness manifests in myriad
ways. Many of us are lonely in our core, wounded and hurt, hungry for the
Healing Light. This is what drove those wise men many miles because they had
heard the testimony of the stars: a king is born. When they finally find Jesus
they rejoice, but in the darkness Herod waits to destroy the child.
Isaiah
proclaims hope in God’s Light—but let us hear his voice to understand our
predicament.
Isaiah 58-59
spells out the problem. (p533)
(58:1)“Shout
out do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! (God tells the
prophet) Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their
sins.” YHWH rejects their pious
practices as a faith devoid of justice.
(58:6-11) “IF
you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then
your light shall rise in the darkness. The Lord will guide
you…and satisfy your needs.”
(59:1-2)
See…your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins
have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” God finds no truth, no
justice—so He vows to come among us Himself.
(59:9)
In Isaiah
60, God comes like the rising sun to begin the new day. Jerusalem also shines,
drawing the peoples of the world to her. God’s holy city will be the habitation
of all who love, trust and obey Him.
“Rise, shine
for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For
darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the people, but the Lord
will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to
your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn….the wealth of the nations
shall come to you…they shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the
praise of the Lord.” Matthew 2 tells us that the wisemen brought their wealth,
they made gifts of gold and frankincense. God Himself has come among us in
Jesus. The light of God, the glory of God is here in His flesh. But there is
one other gift, myrrh. It is not until Matthew 26 that we understand why the
myrrh is included. In the house of Simon a woman came and poured a jar of myrrh
on Jesus’ head as He sat at table. Jesus says, “by pouring this myrrh on my body
she has prepared Me for burial.” The darkness will consume Jesus, He dies to
save us, but the Son will rise. Darkness will be defeated by the Light of God:
Jesus. This is the essential meaning of Epiphany. Repent and Believe the Good
News.
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