Epiphany Sunday
God in the Flesh
Epiphany comes from two Greek words basically meaning to
shine upon, to reveal, or to appear or manifest. At this place in scripture,
the Epiphany celebrates God’s revealing or manifesting of Jesus’ identity as
true God, Messiah, and Savior of the world.
From The Journey (A
bible for seeking God and understanding life)
Reasons to Believe:
Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet
Micah wrote that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5: 2) When the
Maji and King Herod wanted to know where the new king would be born, the Jewish
leaders who knew the passage well were able to tell them. Detailed predictions
like these, show that the Bible is unlike any other religious book in the world.
Jesus is the only holy founder of a major world religion whose birthplace was
prophesied hundreds of years in advance of his birth.
Today “wise” men and women continue to seek the word of God,
and strive to live as Jesus lived. The Maji (wise men) who followed the star
and found the Christ child, were a great example of ignoring worldly directions
to protect the sanctity of the Lord. Herod told them to find the child and
report back to him so he too could go and worship the child. Knowing that the
intentions of the king were not to worship but to harm the baby, they did not
comply with his command.
Each day of our lives we are faced with worldly choices that
can result in dishonoring the word of God. We can choose to ignore the negative
forces in this world for the honor and glory of His name, or we can weaken and
comply. Though we may falter along the way, and it is difficult to remain
strong, it is “wise.”
Read/Listen to Matthew 2:1-12
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