Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, the manifestation of Jesus as Lord and Savior to the Magi. Here is the account according to the book of Matthew.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
The Solemnity of the Epiphany deserves more of our attention. It is a special day for us. It is the day when God made clear that salvation was not just for the children of Israel, His chosen people, but for everyone in the world. This is the day God revealed Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. This is the day when we became “coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6)
This great Solemnity of the Epiphany is a good time for us to contemplate our own quest to find Jesus and to consider what gifts we have to offer Him. It is a day to thank God for including us in His plan for salvation. And it is a day to recognize how our lives reflect the radiant light of Christ to the world in which we live.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
The Solemnity of the Epiphany deserves more of our attention. It is a special day for us. It is the day when God made clear that salvation was not just for the children of Israel, His chosen people, but for everyone in the world. This is the day God revealed Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. This is the day when we became “coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6)
This great Solemnity of the Epiphany is a good time for us to contemplate our own quest to find Jesus and to consider what gifts we have to offer Him. It is a day to thank God for including us in His plan for salvation. And it is a day to recognize how our lives reflect the radiant light of Christ to the world in which we live.
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Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
1 Chronicles 16:23