In the movie Ben Hur, one of the Persian Magi who worshiped Christ in Bethlehem, returned to Judea 30 years later to see the adult messiah-king.  The old Magi mentioned to Ben Hur that the Christ was close to him in age and and was geographically close to them.  He added, “Our lives will never be the same again.”

The traditional Feast of Epiphany (January) celebrates the “epiphany” of the Magi when they saw the Christ as a suckling baby. “Epiphany” means a manifestation or revelation or “illumination.” When Christwas as a baby in the manger. had no means of illuminating grown men except to be himself, the Christ.  And what was He?  He was God Almighty, the second person of the Trinity incarnate in human flesh.  The unveiling of this truth to the Magi of the was the epiphany.  They bowed and worshiped the new born messiah-king.

The Father’.s act of sending His son into the world gave the world new light.  Might God  also enlighten us as we bow before the miracle of the Incarnation presented to us as a baby in a manger.  We might then have an “epiphany” when we realize that he is in reality the son of God.  When we realize that the Christ child is, “..the brightness of His (God’s glory) and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:2) we shall be illuminated indeed and shall want to kneel and worship him as the Magi did.

The Twelve days of Christmas

Subsequent to the party, they had a hangover, a headache and bitter regrets at the feast of Epiphany, one of the holiest days of the year. Was this not the worst of times to worship the Christ child and discover his holiness and his deity? Not at all. He left heaven’s glory to enter this world’s dismal gloom and was born in a putrid, filthy and stinky stable. The holy one of heaven plunged into our vile circumstances to save polluted sinners – some of whom were repenting of their knavery after the twelve day yuletide party. They may have reflected that he came to save he come precisely to save blackguards like them. In like manner let our Christmas regrets be followed by Christmas times of epiphany and redemption.

The Epihany is a light shining in the darkness.

He gives light to every man

“In Him was life and the light was the life of men….That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:1)

This verse implies that Christ as the Word was the Light of the World before He was born in Bethlehem. Every person, receives some light from Him, whether he knows it or not. The phrase “coming into the word,” refers to the Light Giver who was now coming into the world through the Incarnation to give light to all. He had been giving light to the world. He was coming into the world to bring more light- light for everyone.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwelling the land of the shadow of death, on them has light shined…For unto us a child. is born, Unto us a son is given. “(Isaiah 9) Before the child (the great light) was born the world was a dark place. Therefore, I conclude that the by the act of being born Christ shined a great light into the world. I suppose that all people everywhere sensed that something had changed for the better. Millions might have had an inexplicable rush of joy.

For unto us a child is born… and His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace.

Fred Hutchinson 12/11/09