Epiphany

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.' After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:1-2, 9b-11

Today is Epiphany, the day traditionally observed as the day the Wise Men (Magi) visited the baby Jesus. It is a day of feasting and celebrating, and in the Eastern and Greek Orthodox churches, it is the the day that they observe Christmas. In some of the Advent and Christmas devotions I've been reading, there is an emphasis on the fact that these wise men, most likely astrologers from Persia (modern day Iraq and Iran), were pagan, yet worshipped this new king. These devotional writers are pointing out that this was the precedent of how the Jews refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but others, like the Samaritans, and even the Romans, acknowledged Jesus' kingship. 

Let's look at Luke 17:11-19. Jesus is passing between Samaria and Galilee, and is approached by ten lepers, all of whom he heals. Yet only one of them, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus and praise God for his being healed. Or what about Matthew 8:5-9, when a Roman centurion approaches Jesus, asking for the healing of his servant, and saying to Jesus "..but only say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus commends the centurion for his faith, even saying that there was no one in Israel that had a faith such as this man's. 

Timothy Keller, in his book "Hidden Christmas", points out that Matthew's extensive genealogy of Jesus, which is the entire first chapter of Matthew's Gospel, takes great effort to show that in Jesus' lineage there are non-Jews listed, as well as women. I used to believe that Matthew spent so much effort on Jesus' genealogy to show Jesus' Jewishness - to establish Jesus as the true King of Israel. But as I read Keller's book, and re-read Matthew 1, and Luke 17, and Matthew 8, I see a bigger story in Matthew's Gospel: while Jesus came as the Messiah, and came to Israel, the message of hope, of peace, of joy, of love - and salvation - was not meant just for the Jews: it is for all of us. 

Just as those Wise Men sought out the new king, so may we all seek Him, and give the gift of our hearts, our minds - all of who we are, both the good and the bad, the clean and the soiled. 

Merry Christmas!