Coming to Jesus - 1/6/08

Epiphany – a revealing or manifestation.  At first was God’s manifestation at Jesus’ baptism.  Now celebrates God’s manifestation to the Gentiles of Christ’s coming and the Magi coming to worship.  12 days after Christmas. 

Magi – probably coming from Persia (Iran), they were in the east and traveled west, don’t know how many.  They probably arrived over a year after the birth.  It doesn’t really matter how many or where they came from.  What is important was their desire to come to Jesus.  They were willing to leave their home, family, occupations, to take the time and make the effort to come to see Jesus.

Their journey coming to Jesus is not unlike our own.

The star – God started with what was familiar to the magi, spoke to them in a way they would understand.  They used human reason and experience.  Brought them to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem.  God is willing to meet us where we are and speak to us in a way we will understand.  We often try to use our reason and experience in responding to God, but it doesn’t quite get us where we want to go.

The Scripture – taught them the truth about the Messiah, brought them to Bethlehem.  We too must turn to the Scripture in order to come to Christ.