The Lesson of the Ephany
Recently,
a friend asked me what is the Epiphany? He asked because the church he attends
does not celebrate this holiday. In an attempt to answer his questions, and perhaps
others, I decided to dedicate this blog to the Epiphany.
Epiphany,
(from Greek epiphaneia, “manifestation”) is a Christian holiday commemorating the
first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it
occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his
first miracle, at Cana in Galilee. Epiphany is one of the three
principal and oldest festival days of the Christian church (the
other two are Easter and Christmas). Anglicans, Catholics,
Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, and other Western churches observe the
feast on January 6.
The
festival originated in the Eastern church, where it at first included a
commemoration of Christ’s birth. In Rome, by 354, Christ’s birth was being
celebrated on December 25 (Christmas), and later in the 4th century, the church
in Rome began celebrating Epiphany on January 6. In the Western church, the
festival primarily commemorates the visit by the Magi to the infant Jesus,
which is seen as evidence that Christ, the Jewish Messiah, came also for the
salvation of Gentiles. In the East, it primarily commemorates the baptism of
Jesus and celebrates the revelation that the incarnate Christ was both fully
God and fully man.
In the
West, the evening preceding Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. The time between
December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Epiphany is
celebrated with special pastries in many countries, and children often receive
small gifts in their shoes in honor of the Magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus.
The holiday also has a number of traditions involving water as a reflection of
Jesus’ baptism, including the blessing of houses with holy water.
Subsequent
traditions embellished the narrative. As early as the 3rd century, they were
considered to be kings, probably interpreted as the fulfillment of the prophecy
in Psalms 72:11 (“May all kings fall down before him”). In about the 8th
century, the names of three Magi—Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa—appear in a
chronicle known as the Excerpta Latina Barbari. They have become known most
commonly as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper). According to Western
church tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia or
sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of
India.
The Magi
came from "the East," likely ancient Babylon or Persia
(modern-day Iran), a region known for astrology, where Daniel previously
served as chief of the Magi under Nebuchadnezzar, making it plausible they knew
his prophecies, including messianic ones like the "star coming out of
Jacob," which guided their long journey to find Jesus. While the Bible
doesn't specify their exact homeland, Persia is a common scholarly consensus
due to the historical connection and the term Magi itself.
Connection
to Daniel
While the
Bible does not explicitly state that the specific Magi who visited Jesus were
directly taught by Daniel, there is a strong scholarly theory connecting them
to his influence.
Daniel's
Role: The prophet Daniel held a high office in the Babylonian court around 600
years before Jesus' birth, where he was made the "chief prefect over all
the wise men of Babylon" (Daniel 2:48).
Passing
Down Prophecy:
In his position of authority, Daniel would have made his prophecies and
knowledge of the Jewish scriptures known to the magi class. It is highly
probable that the messianic prophecies, including the timing of the Messiah's
arrival and the prophecy of a "star out of Jacob" (Numbers 24:17),
were preserved and passed down among the magi, leading them to recognize the
sign in the heavens centuries later.
Thus, the
Magi who followed the star were likely acting on knowledge that originated from
the prophet Daniel's teachings and writings, preserved through generations. For
those who have experienced the frost of many winters, it is important for us to
teach those in our circle of acquaintance the lessons we have learned. So what do we learn from the Epiphany? Well, some of the lessons are:
1. Jesus is manifested as GOD's light to all people, teaching us to seek GOD, and follow divine guidance even when life is difficult.
2. Often, you will find GOD in unexpected places.
3. Seek GOD actively.
4. Offer our best selves in worship.
Several
years ago, a student wanted to make a tie rack for their grandfather. So, we
went to the shop and:
- I helped them draw out the
design.
- I had oak lumber to use.
- I had sandpaper and dowel
rods.
- I had gloves, rags, and
brushes.
- I had hangers so he could
place them wherever he wanted.
- I had stain and finish so she
could finish it when completed.
We had
everything they needed to build an heirloom. I planned on us working in the
morning and sanding the project. Next, they would apply the stain, then we
would go eat lunch. The next day, we could apply the lacquer, bringing the
project to a high finish. But the student had another idea/dream for the
project. Now they built it close to the plan, but here was the difference. They
wanted to paint it black. Now, remember I purchased oak lumber, which is one of
the costliest of lumber species. And my student was going to paint it black.
Now, as they began to work, they began to be anxious and speed up the process, and the cuts were not exact. The holes for the dowel rods were not
incrementally placed. They did not spend the time sanding the project. Now we
come to the paint; they took the same amount of time painting as they did
sanding. Now, I admit that the tie rack is possibly their grandfather’s greatest
treasure. My point is that the finished product was not a shadow of what it could
have been. Isn’t that the way we are?
- GOD has a dream for you.
- GOD is the grand designer.
- GOD has unlimited resources.
- GOD has taken everything into account that we need.
Yet, what
do we do? We reject his designs and follow our design.
We put no
thought into the resources; all we want to do is move on to something else.
As I began
to put my thoughts on paper, I prayed and searched the scriptures for a ray of
hope. I longed for something positive to remind me, and hopefully you, of all
that is just and true in humanity. Then I heard in my heart as clearly as you
are listening to me. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and
stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather
your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you
people were unwilling! “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all”
(Isaiah 53:6).
Have you
ever wondered why GOD refers to us as sheep? Sheep were domesticated by humans
around 10,000 BC. They were among the first animals domesticated. Sheep are
precocial, gregarious animals. Precocial means they have a high degree of
independence at birth. Gregarious means they flock together or like to be with
a group. Sheep are social animals. The most important reason they like to flock
together is for protection. Sheep are timid, nervous, and easily frightened
animals and for the most part defenseless against predators such as wolves and
wild dogs. Their only means of survival is to flock together in large numbers
and to run away from predators. For this reason, shepherds are able to use dogs
to move sheep around. For you see, sheep will consider the dog a predator,
flock together for protection, and move away from the danger. Now, here is
something that really hurts my pride, sheep rank in intelligence just below the
pig. Sheep react to situations they encounter using instincts that have
developed; they perform as they always have. Sheep see in color. The average
sheep has a field of vision of 270 degrees; however, they have poor depth
perception. For this reason, sheep will avoid shadows or harsh contrasts
between light and dark. They will move towards the light. Sheep have an
excellent sense of hearing. They are more sensitive to high-frequency noise
than humans and get scared by loud noises. When sheep are on their back, they
will need to be helped, because they can't get up from a prone or dead level
position.
I am a very competitive person by nature; perhaps you are. No one likes to lose. Second place is equal to a 1st place looser in my book of rules. One of the most difficult lessons I have learned is:
In the grand scheme of life, it
does not matter who wins. What matters is how we played the game. Were we active players or content to sit on the bench? Did we follow the rules, or were we comfortable skirting the sidelines (actively trying to break the rules).
If you
want to win, then discover the dream GOD has for you. Surround yourself with
wise counsel who have your best interests at heart. Then remember each day:
- Titles and honors are
fleeting; be meek
- Talent is God-given; be
humble
- Fame is man-given; be
thankful
- Conceit is self-serving; be
careful
I have
often imagined how Jesus must have felt the first time he beheld Jerusalem,
that great city, teeming with more people than the little town of Nazareth. In
the gospel of John, it says Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem three times
during his earthly ministry. It is highly likely Jesus would have been to
Jerusalem far more often. Jesus’s last visit would change the world.
“And they
come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them
that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the
moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer
that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught,
saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations
the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Mark 15-17
I have
thought a lot about the actions which caused Jesus to cleanse the Temple, and
with ignominy in my heart, I admit there have been a few occasions where I
wanted to react as Jesus did that day. I now understand the Temple represents
the minds of the people of Israel, for you see, they had permitted their minds
to become a “den of thieves.” Gentlemen, the money changers had become thieves
of prayer. I struggled with verse 16, why would Jesus prevent the carrying of
any vessel? The word for vessel referred to an item connected with cooking or connected with the sale of their articles of merchandise. Therefore, Jesus
did not want the Temple to become a thoroughfare by condoning the carrying of
any vessel that was for common use, or any sort of burden.
I submit
for your consideration that many of our homes, schools, and churches have become
thoroughfares. Many have allowed an open-door policy to ensue. Our homes,
schools, and churches are not for social entertainment, though they are social.
Each place is a sanctuary and a refuge. In 1934, a poem influenced one of the
greatest philosophers I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. When I
became a teacher, I placed this poem on my desk.
No written word, no spoken plea
Can teach our youth what they
should be
Nor all the books on all the
shelves
It’s what the teachers are
themselves
Today, as
we begin the year 2026, we find ourselves in a rolling tide of despotism. Do you want something positive in your life? Follow GOD’s Dream. What specific dream
are you chasing? Perhaps it may be a hobby; your dream may be much more. God
has ordained you for something specific. It may be a dream within a dream. It
may be your calling to take up the mantle from someone else’s dream, to share
as Daniel did with the Magi, who passed the lessons/prophecy down to the next
generation. Remember, life is one continual marathon/ripple effect. Maybe your
dream is yet to be revealed, and all you need to do is share your faith, to
attend a men’s prayer retreat, or attend a mission trip for Salkehatchie Summer
Service, or volunteer to teach a bible study, or volunteer to teach Vacation
Bible School, or volunteer to be a Lay reader, or use your gift and sing in the
choir. The key to finding your dream/purpose begins with surrender, trust, and
obedience. GOD will reveal your dream. All we need to do is be a testimony for
Jesus Christ and the many blessings he has established in our lives and follow his
dream for our lives. The Holy Spirit will take it from there.
When you
have the opportunity, share what you believe, like I did when asked about the Epiphany.
In total, it was 30 seconds out of my life with a friend. This action caused me
to write a poem entitled 30 Seconds.
30
Seconds
While traveling upon the level of
time
Do not seek that which you can
never keep
Rather seek that which you can
never lose
Through applying the plumb of
rectitude
And the square of virtue in all
that you say and do
The challenge in our pilgrimage of
life
Is to help others and ease the
strife
So with a ray of hope, when
opportunity beckons
Pause and give the gift of 30
seconds
I have
been asked several times why I wanted to be a teacher. I have thought a lot
about that question over the last 33 years. It is the same reason I attend
church and teach Bible studies. You see, each day when I enter my classroom, there
waiting for instruction are future mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. Each are
builders, and though I may never see the family, house, building, bridge, school,
hospital, cathedral, or church they may build, I can say, “We labored and studied
together one day chasing a dream,” and that has made all the difference in my
life."
In HIS service
Soli
Deo Gloria
