Have you ever wondered why "Epiphany" is a holiday on your Grace for the Moment, Anne Geddes, or Calvin & Hobbs Calendar? Well, here is the reason...
Many people don't really understand that Christmas isn't just December 25th. It's actually a little longer than that when you celebrate Epiphany! This slightly under-celebrated holiday is the day we get to celebrate the Magi coming to see Baby Jesus!
**Disclaimer: Magi (or "wise men") are not Kings. So, the song "We Three Kings" is actually Biblically incorrect. And, there weren't necessarily three of them, there were "many" of them, according to Luke. But, there were three gifts, so it makes it nice to think that everyone brought a gift, right? Finally, Jesus wasn't necessarily a baby anymore since the Magi went to a house. So, Jesus could have been a toddler or even a child by then. Interesting stuff, huh?**
The point of the Magi visiting isn't necessarily because they brought gifts or that those gifts foreshadowed Jesus' life and death (frankincense & myrrh). It's who the Magi were.
Those wise men, drawn to Jesus by a star (original GPS by the way), were Gentiles. Back in the day, the Jewish community believed that their Messiah would only come for them & nobody else. Gentiles were considered unclean & untouchable. There's no way their Messiah would be accepting of those Gentiles (which means "dog" in Hebrew, by the way). The fact that not only did Jesus welcome the Magi to come to Him, but that God even led them is amazing! God wanted the Savior to be accessible to ALL people, not just the Jews. And, He's still there for ALL of His people.
Christmas is about the Savior who came to live with us, but Epiphany makes it darn certain that our Savior came for everyone.
Even though Epiphany has come & gone, we can still rejoice in knowing that Jesus came to save you & me, no matter who you are or where you've been. He still came to live here, die here, & rise again for us all!
Happy Epiphany Everyone!
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