Today (January 6th) is Epiphany and is the start to the season of Epiphany. After the Advent season (the 4 weeks before Christmas) and the Christmas season (December 25th-January 5th), we enter the season of Epiphany. Now Epiphany is a season of Ordinary Time that runs from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, where we transition to the season of Lent. On Epiphany, we celebrate the Wise Men reaching Jesus.
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Devotion:
FINALLY!!! The wise men finally made it to Jesus in the progressive nativity. We close out the Christmas season as we start the season of Epiphany.
In our Scripture reading, once more, the first 8 verses are provided for context, but we will be focusing on verses 9-12. The Magi reached the child they had been searching for. When they came to His house and saw Mary with the child, they bowed down as they worshiped Him. They gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Magi listened to a warning they got in a dream, so they did not go back to Herod to tell him where to find the king of the Jews.
Did you know that the Wise Men (or the Magi) weren't at the manger in the Nativity story? They aren't even mentioned in Luke's account at all! Why is this important? Does it really matter if we have the Magi at the manger or at the house? Is it important if Jesus was a baby or a child when they arrived? Since Herod had all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem killed, it is commonly believed that Jesus could have been two when the Magi arrived! It is important to separate out biblical truth from cultural interpretations. We need to be sure that we are believing what the Bible says on a topic and obeying what the Bible commands instead of what our culture believes the Bible says or commands. Every culture around the world attempts to view Scripture through the lens of their culture as they interpret the Bible through what their culture teaches and values, but as Christians, we need to be sure that we are doing the opposite. We need to be interpreting our culture through the lens of Scripture. We need to weigh what our culture teaches and values against what the Bible commands, and then follow the Bible. No one is immune to being influenced by their culture, so this is something we all must do throughout our lives.
Specifically about the Magi, our culture rushes to Christmas each year and then quickly moves on. The Christmas decorations and displays go up earlier and earlier each year, but on December 26th, stores flip to their Valentine's displays. As Christians, we have waited through the Advent season for Christmas to arrive, so when Christmas does arrive, we celebrate it for the next 12 days, until Epiphany arrives to close the Christmas season. It is counter-cultural to wait to bring the Magi to meet Jesus.
When we rush to place them in Bethlehem, we bypass the two years Mary, Joseph, and Jesus lived in Bethlehem. They would have lived in community with other mothers. The children killed by Herod might have been Jesus' playmates while the mothers visited over tea. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus did not stay in Bethlehem for a night before fleeing to Egypt. They lived there for two years in relationship and community with those around them. It is reasonable to presume that they knew the families who were shattered by Herod's soldiers. Did they try to warn their friends to join them in their flight? Did they think if Jesus wasn't there all the other children would be fine? Did they ever encounter those families again? Scripture is silent on these musings and so these questions are left unanswered.
Does it matter thematically if the Magi were at the manger or the house? Maybe not.
Does it matter if we view the genocide of the male toddlers in Bethlehem through the lens of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus living in that community, in relationship with other families, for two years? I think it does.
Does it matter if we can recognize ways that our culture changes the stories, commands, and lessons in the Bible? ABSOLUTELY. If we cannot recognize the ways our culture twists Scripture, then we will be at risk of following a false gospel instead of following Jesus Christ.
Now you may be thinking that I played "For the Beauty of the Earth" just now, but that is incorrect. I played "As With Gladness Men of Old", which just so happens to use the same melody as "For the Beauty of the Earth", but I was most distinctly thinking the lyrics of "As With Gladness Men of Old" while playing.
Disclaimer: Like "O Holy Night", this song also places the Magi at the manger, but we can just substitute "house" for "manger-bed" and "manger" to make it biblically accurate.
I love the prayers in this song: "may we evermore be led to thee", "may we ever seek the mercy-seat", "may we...all our costliest treasures bring...to thee", "keep us in the narrow way", and "may we sing Alleluias to our King". These are petitions that we are praying to God as we are singing.
Challenge:
Take some time to read through these articles and slideshows that identify "Bible verses that aren't in the Bible" or the cultural values that got painted with the veneer of Christianity, even though they aren't in the Bible. One, Two, Three, Four, and Five. Then sit with the questions below. Grab a journal and slowly answer each question.
Which expressions were you surprised weren't in the Bible?
Were you already aware that any of these expressions weren't biblical?
How does Scriptural context impact the meaning of a verse or passage? (i.e. the meaning of Philippians 4:13)
Is it important to be certain that we are believing the things that the Bible teaches instead of believing something our culture tells us is biblical? Why?
Is it dangerous to unquestioningly accept what our culture tells us is biblical? Why?
What parts of the Bible offend you? What is offensive about those parts?
What parts of the Bible confuse you? What sources can you use to learn more about these confusing areas?
Do you typically take a verse (or part of a verse) and apply it to yourself without considering A) the context of the verse in the larger passage or B) the meaning of the writing to the original audience?
The Magi/Wise Men arrive
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