On coming to
the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and
worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (New International Version)
For many Christians around
the world, yesterday, January 6, was Epiphany. It is most commonly the day on
which we observe the Wise men arriving at the home of the newborn baby Jesus.
Since the Wise men were not Jewish, their visit is more important than just the
gifts they brought to the Savior. The Wise men represent the gentiles, so they
signify that Jesus came to save everyone not just the Jews.
The word 'Epiphany' comes
from the Greek word for 'manifestation' or ‘revelation’. Thus, it is the day we
celebrate God manifesting or revealing His son Jesus to us, to all mankind.
According to Webster’s
Dictionary an epiphany can be the appearance or manifestation of a divine being,
but can also be the sudden perception of the essential nature or meaning of
something, an intuitive grasp of reality through something simple and striking,
an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure, or a revealing scene or
moment. It’s the ‘ah-ha’ moment we sometimes experience when we feel as if
we’ve see the light.
Isn’t that appropriate? As
seeing Jesus is also seeing the Light.
One other thing I discovered
in my research of epiphany is that it also commemorates the end of the
Christmas season. Some cultures believe that it is the day on which we should
remove all of our Christmas decorations and if you don’t, you need to leave
them up until next year or you will suffer bad luck. Good thing I don’t believe
in superstitions, or my Christmas decorations would have to stay up year-round.
Are your decorations all
tucked away until next year? Mine aren’t. I wish I could leave them up
year-round, not only because of their beauty, but to remind me of God’s revealing
of His Son.
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