Epiphany

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of
King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.

—Matthew 2:1

Please check back daily during the month of December as through Christmas we’ll have an entry from The Heart of Christmas: A Devotional for the Season.

Epiphany (meaning “to reveal”) is arguably the oldest and most significant of all the Christmas traditions. It highlights the reality that due to our sin we cannot come to God; thus, God in Christ revealed Himself to us. The tradition of Epiphany, also known as “Three Kings Day” (Driekoningendag), is celebrated January 6 as recognition of the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as King. As such it corresponds to Simeon’s exultation, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2: 30–32; emphasis added).

While Epiphany provides an extraordinarily meaningful climax to the Christmas season, it is ultimately rooted in tradition. The text of Matthew 2:11 notes that at the time of visitation by the wise men, Mary and Joseph were no longer in the place of Jesus’ birth, which contained a manger. Rather, they were now in “a house.” Moreover, the meagerness of Mary’s purification offering (Luke 2:22–24; cf. Leviticus 12:2–8) suggests that forty days after the birth of Christ, the day of the offering, Joseph and his family were still living in relative poverty. According to the Levitical law, Mary’s offering—“two doves or two young pigeons”—was the prescribed purification offering for one who had become unclean through childbirth and could not afford to offer a lamb (Leviticus 12:8). Had the wise men already arrived at the time of Mary’s purification offering, their generous gifts might well have made it possible for Mary to afford a lamb, as recommended in the Levitical law. In short, while Scripture does not indicate the exact date of the visit of the wise men, there is reason to believe that the visitors from the East did not arrive until some time after the day of Mary’s purification offering, which took place forty days after the birth of Jesus.

While it is important to separate truth from traditions, we must never cease to emulate the reverence and worship for the King of kings and Lord of lords manifested by the wise men. As such, when entities suggest that the wise men gave gifts to Christ, not to one another, we should immediately recognize that they have missed the point entirely. As Scripture makes abundantly clear, giving to others (particularly those in need) is tantamount to giving to Christ (Matthew 25:31–46). On Day 18 of your trek toward the heart of Christmas, may the Epiphany tradition encourage you to use your time, talent, and treasure to make the King of kings and Lord of lords known to the nations.

Reading

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:21–32)

Questions

What is the meaning of the word Epiphany?

Why is the story of the wise men significant to us today?

Christmas Carol

The First Noel
—Traditional English Carol

The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
Who hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.