Epiphany – What Does This Mean?

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. It is the culmination of not only the Christmas season, but indeed is the culmination of everything we’ve been anticipating since the beginning of Advent. Here’s what I mean: Advent begins in Holy Week. We hear about Jesus entering Jerusalem on the First Day of the Week, making his way to the cross. We anticipate the celebration of our Lord’s birth, and watch for his return in glory. And even in a season of repentance, we have joy in what the coming of our Lord gives: forgiveness, life, and salvation.

On Epiphany, we hear that people who are in the dark see a sign. They see the light. Specifically, they see a star. The significant thing about this is not just the sign, but who it was that saw the sign. While angels announce the birth of Jesus to Jewish shepherds in the fields on Christmas, God reveals the birth of the Messiah to Gentiles as well. For this, he causes a sign in the sky. He chooses to reveal the birth of Christ to some men who would recognize it. And so some Magi from the east see it.

We find the word for Magi in the second chapter of Daniel. After Daniel interprets a dream of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, the king made him governor of the whole province of Babylon and the prince of the governors over all the wise men (magi) of Babylon. Because of Daniel and the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, the Magi knew something of the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. And so when they see the star, they know that it means the King of the Jews have been born.

But why is this important? Why make a big deal out of some men who are not Jewish to see a sign and come to the Lord? Because Jesus was sent as the Savior of Israel. He even says so himself: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Before that, when he sends out the seventy-two, he tells them to only go Israel and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans.

So why, at the birth of Jesus, does God give Gentiles a sign? Why give them the star? Because of the promise he made to Abram Thousands of years before. “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God chose Abram to be the father of his chosen people. The people who would become Israel. And it is through these people that God promised to deliver all mankind from the darkness of their sin and death. And while there are a few examples of Gentiles becoming a part of the people of Israel in the Old Testament, they were largely alienated from God, worshipping their false gods. And so it isn’t surprising that the people of Israel often assumed and acted as if they were the only ones that God actually cared about.

In the book of Acts, Peter comes to realize that salvation is also for the Gentiles only after a vision and witnessing the Holy Spirit fall upon the house of Cornelius. And St. Paul writes that the revealed mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Already at the birth of Jesus, God is drawing Gentiles to himself. These magi see the star and come to Jerusalem to worship the newborn king. And this tells us that, even though they know something about this new king, they did not have full understanding. They knew enough prophecy to know what the sign meant, but they didn’t know enough Scripture to know where the birth would occur.

When Wise Men find where he was to be born, they set out. They see the sign once again and follow it to the Christ. Once there, they behold the child. And these magi, the Wise Men bow down and worship him. Indeed, these men have stepped out of darkness and behold the Light. They bring gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They return to their homes, and you have to think they spread the message, a good news about this Christ Child.

At the Fall, the world was cast into darkness. This is a darkness that you and I were born into. Yet even in the fall into darkness, we were promised redemption. As Abram is called out of his home to journey to an unknown land, he is told all would be blessed through him. King David is promised a Son who would sit on his throne forever. Isaiah prophesies that “darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.”

The magi saw the sign in the sky and followed it to Jesus. Our Lord followed his course, and at the proper time, was lifted up on the cross, upon the tree. The sign of one who is cursed, but the sign of our redemption. By the work of Christ, we have been brought out of darkness and into the light. In the waters of baptism, the sign of the cross is applied to you and you are made a found sheep of the house of Israel. And now, sitting under the light of the Word, you hear and joyously receive his good news of your redemption. And in the sign of the Body and Blood, you feast upon the food that gives life, forgiveness, and salvation.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD