The Eve of Epiphany

Tonight is a night for a party! Well, tonight or tomorrow night. Like Christmas when we celebrate the Light of Christ, Jesus, come to dwell among us, tonight we wait and watch and remember that on Epiphany the Light of Christ, Jesus is revealed to the Gentiles.

One of my favorite paintings is Tissot's Journey of the Magi. He paints a caravan of wise men, learned men, fitted out for the long journey to seek the child who would be born King of the Jews. Magi, the plural of the Latin word magus, studied all disciplines and within them were the Hebrew Scriptures and Astronomy. How did the Hebrew Scriptures, God's Word make its way to Babylon? Hmmm. I think, Daniel!

Israel was conquered by Babylon around 600BC and carried away the best and brightest young men. Daniel was one of them. It could be that those best and brightest passed along their knowledge of the One True God, their hope of His coming as Messiah and King, their faith in the sure promise of God's Holy Word. And, for 600 years magi, wise men, studied the Scriptures and watched the sky ... and discovering the revelation that "the heavens declare the glory of God" and that "nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising"!

Tonight, we remember that the heavens indeed declare the glory of God's Light revealed to the nations ... to the Gentiles, to those not of Jewish lineage. Tonight, we remember that a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope. In His Name ... we hope.

This presentation by Rick Larson is worth your time. In it God's plan set before the foundation of the world is revealed; in it is Hope in His Name! Happy Epiphany!