Epiphany

There are several elements in the nativity scenes we see and in the carols that we sing that could be said to have used dramatic license – despite the clues in the Gospel passages. For example, when the magi reach Jesus He is no longer a baby in a manger in a stable but a child with his
mother in a house. (It is probable that Joseph, at the time of the magi’s visit, was at work), the shepherds were no longer there. They had visited when Jesus was a baby and then returned from whence they came, spreading the good news as they went. And if we shut out the images of these nativity scenes that we are so familiar with and just concentrate on the Gospel passages then we gain a clearer understanding and see the different responses to Jesus.

Herod displayed an open hatred and hostility toward Jesus. He wanted Jesus dead and slaughtered many children in an attempt to achieve this. The chief priests and the scribes were indifferent toward Jesus; they were more concerned about their status and their religious respectability.

But the wise men sought out Jesus and worshipped Him – even at great cost. If we then compare the visit of the wise men to the earlier visit of the shepherds, documented in Luke, we can discern that:
Jesus came to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.
Jesus came to the humble and ignorant first, then the honourable and learned.
Jesus came to the poor first, then the rich.

There are also lessons we can learn from the wise men such as not being satisfied with merely looking at the star and admiring it; the wise men did something about the star, and set out and followed it. They persevered in their search and in following after the star. They were not discouraged in the search by Herod or the doubtful religious leaders. They rejoiced at the star and when they arrived at the destination the star led them to, they entered in and worshipped with a sense of urgency to worship Jesus immediately and not wait to a later time. When they
worshipped, it was to give something – not empty-handed adoration.

There is a wonderful pattern to be seen: “Those who look for Jesus will see him: those who truly see him will worship him: those who worship him will consecrate their substance to him.”