“An Epiphany Celebration!”

“An Epiphany Celebration!”

Matt. 2: 1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

 from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.                                                                  Matt. 2:1-12

After the 12 days of Christmas are over, do you know what happens???  It is the day of Epiphany!  Epiphany is Jan. 6^th every year and it is a Christian feast day that celebrates the visitation of the Magi to the Baby Jesus and the revelation of God to the Gentiles.  Epiphany can also be called the “Day of Lights” or “Theophany” or “A celebration of the Baptism of Christ”. 

Today, we are holding an Epiphany party.  Many of you are sermon-scarred veterans, so I figured you know the story very well by now.  We will have two groups compete for the Biblical answers about the story of Epiphany.  Let’s divide you by sections.  (North section of pews and south section of pews).  You have heard the story many times – enough to know the lines by memory.  But what is fact and what is added in by our tradition?

They have been called Wise Men, Kings, and Magi.  Which name most appropriately describes these people who followed the star to Jesus?  Raise your hand to answer.

The word “Magi” comes from the Greek word used in the New Testament “magi” which means “magician”.  However, the magic these wise people practiced was closer to what we call natural science than magic.  And because of their great wisdom and ability for natural science, Kings often hired them to be the administrator of a kingdom, thus earning the name Wise Men or Kings.  Give all these considerations, any of the names “Wise Men”, “Kings”, or “Magi” are likely appropriate.  Personally, I appreciate the more inclusive “Magi”.

True or False:  These Magi rode camels on their journey to visit the child. 

In the gospel of Matthew, which is the only gospel to carry their story, there is no specific mention of camels.  Of course, it does not say that they were not riding camels either.  The idea of camels comes from Isaiah, in the Hebrew Bible.  Many believe that Isaiah was foretelling their arrival when it was written: “the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.”  Whether or not Isaiah was retelling their arrival, it makes some historical sense that these travelers would be riding some animal to make a long-distance journey.  And, if they lived in the palace and served as administrator of the kingdom, then they would have had access and authority to use the best animals for travel available, which would have been camels.  However, I rode a camel in the desert of Jordan two years ago – and I must tell you that it was not at all comfortable!

Looking back at Isaiah, you will notice that he mentions only two gifts: gold and frankincense.  Yet, the gospel writer of Matthew indicates that there were three gifts: gold frankincense and myrrh.  Isaiah declares that they came from Midian, Ephah and Sheba.  Sheba was in North Africa.  Because of this, we often have at least one African Magi depicted in picture or nativity scenes.  But again, this is from Isaiah’s prophecy, not from the story in Matthew. 

How many Magi were there? 

Tradition says three.  The Bible does not give a definite number.  We assume that there were three because there are three gifts specifically mentioned.  Christian tradition has even given these three names: Gasper, Melchior, and Balthazar.

When did the Magi arrive upon the scene?

In our Christmas pageants and nativity stories, they are depicted as arriving on the night when Jesus was born.  In truth, they arrived a few years after Jesus’ birth (if the story of the birth is true).  Matthew says they went to a house – not a stable – to bring their gifts.  It also says that Herod ordered all the children two years and under killed based on when the Magi said the star appeared.  Anyone’s best guess is that the Magi may have traveled from one to three years following the star.

What kind of astrological phenomenon was the Star of Bethlehem?  A Meteor, A Comet, a Nova, or something else?

What we know about this so-called “star” is that it had to be visible from the East.  The Magi said they had seen his star in the East.  The star had to be high enough in the sky to be seen from a great distance.  We also know that the star had to be visible for some time, perhaps two or three years.  All the time that the Magi traveled, they followed this star.

We know that the star must have moved, or at least appeared to have moved.  Matthew writes that the star went on before them to show them specifically where Jesus was.  Somehow, this star gave the message to the Magi that a king had been born in Israel.  The scripture does not tell us how the star accomplished this or how the Magi knew; but we can ascertain that this star was special and significant like no other star they had seen in their lifetimes or had read about.

Because of what we know about the star, we can probably rule out that it was a meteor.  Meteors burn brightly, but only for a few seconds and definitely not for years. 

We may be able to rule out a comet.  Comets travel around the sun, which can take a couple of years.  However, comets come back into sight on a regular schedule and astronomers can usually tell when they were seen years ago.  There is no record which would indicate that a comet would have been visible around the time of Jesus’ birth.

The star could have been a nova.  Nova is a Greek word meaning “new star”.  A nova can become very bright in the night sky and remain bright for an exceedingly long time.  It does not move in the sky any differently than any other star.  A nova fades in brightness after a period of time.

There is increasing speculation that the “star” seen by the Magi was a conjunction of planets.  Ancient people called the planets “wandering stars”; in fact, that is what the word “planet” means: wanderer.  Jupiter and Saturn formed a near conjunction three times about the time Jesus would have been born.  In addition, these conjunctions happened about in a part of the sky supposedly known as Israel’s constellation or group of stars.

What are the colors of Epiphany?

White and gold.  They represent: celebration, newness and hope. 

What are the symbols of Epiphany?

Crowns, Gifts, Stars, Globes, Magi.

How long does Epiphany last?

Epiphany is a season that is flexible.  It always starts on Jan. 6^th, and it ends whenever Lent starts on Ash Wednesday.  But Ash Wednesday is a flexible day – determined by Easter, which is also a flexible day.  So Epiphany may last a few weeks or longer- between 4 to 9 weeks!  In New Orleans, Epiphany culminates with Mardi Gras, the night before Ash Wednesday!

What does the word and the season of Epiphany mean?

It means to “show” or “to make known” or “to reveal”. 

A few more tidbits about Epiphany: 

•  The first reference to Epiphany being celebrated is 361 CE. 
• In many South American countries today, children leave their shoes by the door the night before Epiphany, along with grass and water for the camels.  On the morning of Epiphany, they get a present, eat King’s cake, and all the Christmas decorations are put away. 
• In Holland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and that area, children go around their neighborhood in groups of three (symbolizing the Magi) singing songs and receive a coin or sweets from the neighbors.  They may carry a lantern symbolizing the star.  They may eat King’s bread or cake.
• In England, Epiphany is often celebrated with English fruitcake and there may be a bean in it instead of a baby.  The spices in the fruitcake represent the spices brought by the Magi. 
• In Russia, people celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on Epiphany.  Russians cut holes in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of the cross to bathe in the freezing water.  They jump into the Black Sea or the water near them at midnight each year on Epiphany and begin to swim in celebration. 

What does Epiphany represent to us today?

Because of their long journey from the East to worship Jesus, they represent all the Gentiles (non-Jews) and unbelievers who have come to believe in Jesus.  That is why you will find King’s Cake in Fellowship Hall today – and several someones will find a baby Jesus in their cake (one for each cake!).  So, although the Magi were not physically present in the original nativity with the baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, they belong in our nativity.  They bear witness to all of us who have journeyed through our lives searching for meaning, truth and holiness, who have come to worship Jesus and bring him our gifts. 

I told those of you who were here last week that I chose Epiphany as the season in which I was ordained.  That is why.  I wanted to acknowledge at my ordination that I was a non-Jew, an outsider, a person who – like the Magi, was on a journey to find something of meaning, something of truth and holiness – and that I wanted to join in that journey toward Jesus to bring him my gifts.