Epiphany

Epiphany
January 6, 2008
Matthew 2:1-12
Christ – Before and After

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Introduction: What is man’s condition before and after Christ? Consider the Wise Men of our Gospel lesson for this morning. Their lives were changed. What has happened to you before and after you have considered this baby born for us on Christmas morning? For those touched by Christ, like these wise men there is a before and an after.

I.        Before…

A.     Before the Wise Men came to Bethlehem. “they went their way” (Vs. 9) Why are they called “wise”? As in the Gospel Lesson for today, the Wise Men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them Wise Men because they made a quest for God. 

Today men are wise if they seek God in Christ. The foolish ones of this world seek other gods — power, prestige, possessions.

B.     Before we are confronted with Christ we too can be tempted to go our own way in life following our own agendas, plans and directions. We find ourselves in a New Year. What would you determine to do this year in 2008? Is Christ a part of your future? Wise Men follow guidance. They saw a result of humble acceptance of guidance; they reached the Christ-child. Moreover, Wise Men then and now worship the King.

Transition: There was life before these Wise Men confronted Christ – there was life after they met Him.

II.     After

A.     Then the Wise Men came to the child Jesus, worshiped, and gave gifts. In the Gospel for today we can see two kinds of worship. The one is a false worship based upon insincerity. Herod told the Wise Men to seek after the child, “that I too may come and worship him” (v. 8). Out of fear for his position, Herod wanted to know where the new King was born. Today worship can be a guise for evil intentions.

B.     They departed to their own country by another way. (Vs. 12)  On the other hand, there is true worship practiced by the Wise Men: “They fell down and worshiped him.”

Transition: The Wise Men’s lives were changed from before to after they had met the Christ child. How does this confrontation play out in your life today?

C.     For us today.

1.      When you bow down in worship before Christ, life is never the same again. No, the same challenges, failings and frustrations of the past year might still be ours today. But we have a relationship with a Savior who has borne our iniquities and carried our sorrows. We need not strive with Him for His desire is to carry us – and accompany us along this journey of life. Will you walk with Him this season?   

2.      Christ makes the difference in your life. These men had their lives changed – they had encountered the Christ – this is what made them wise – they were humbled in the presence of Christ and offered to Him their treasures gifts and praise.

Conclusion: Just what is the difference in your life? At Christmas we receive the gift of God in Jesus. Epiphany is the time for believers to give a return gift to God by presenting gifts to Christ, as the Wise Men did. It is noteworthy that the Wise Men gave their gifts as a part of their worship.

Giving something to God when we worship is a vital part of worship, an expression of faith and love. It should never be a collection we take in church but an offering, the offering of gifts to God in gratitude for the gift received.

Note the price of the gifts the Wise Men offered — nothing cheap: “Opening their treasures the offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (v. 11).

These gifts were meaningful, full of symbolism: gold because he was a king, frankincense because he was a priest offering the perfume of prayer, and myrrh because he was a redeemer who died to save the world. What can you offer to one who has everything?

What can humans give to God? For the affluent at Christmas, it is a problem what to give to one who has everything. The Wise Men had the answer. Their gifts were fit for a king. They offered to Him their very lives.

On mine heart imprint Your image
Blessed Jesus, King of grace,
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures
Never may Your work erase;
Let the clear inscription be;
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life, my hope’s foundation,
And my glory and salvation.[1]


+Soli Deo Gloria+