Epiphany greetings to you in our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ!

This day (January 6) is a remembrance of great significance for the Christian Church. It was no fanciful tale, although it sure sounds like one. It was no small affair, although one could easily fail to see the significance of it all. It was a real, historic event that had an impact upon countless people. And the impact continues on and on and on….

What do you think? Read Matthew 2:1-12. Examine what’s really happening in the text. Some key points to be made are:
1.) Jesus was born during the reign of a certain mad man whose name was Herod. He was a ferocious, evil king–with uncontrollable envy and jealously running in his blood.

2.) Wise men (Magi) from far, far away in the east (perhaps modern day Iraq), who were familiar with Old Testament prophecy, were watching for a celestial invitation so that they could load up their camels with food, supplies, and expensive gifts and travel hundreds of miles to wherever that “heavenly light”–that special star–would lead them. (Imagine a roving star to follow, and with a very clear direction and purpose intended.)

3.) The star leads them first to the city of Jerusalem. The wise men come knocking on the door of Herod’s palace. And then comes the question that sent Herod and the whole city into a major uproar: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him?” (Mt. 2:2) “What do you mean ANOTHER king has been born? Who is this King? Where is He?”

4.) The answer is provided by the Jewish chief priests and scribes, saying: “According to God’s prophet Micah, the place that you are looking for is a little town called Bethlehem–just a few miles away from here.”

5.) King Herod, while seething with anger and jealousy within, deceitfully lays out his proposition: “Once you have found Him, let me know where, so that I too may go and worship Him.” King Herod had other intentions though, as we find in Matthew 2:13-16.

6.) Leaving Herod’s palace, as soon as they stepped out into the night-time air, they looked up, and there was that special star. And they rejoiced greatly at seeing it. And they followed it right to Bethlehem and to the very place where the Child Jesus was–for the star pinpointed His exact location–marking the very house that He was in with His mother, Mary, and perhaps, too, His father, Joseph.

7.) They fall down before Jesus and worship and adore Him. And they presented to Him gifts ideal for a king: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

8.) After worshiping the KIng–their Savior, they were warned by God in a dream that they stay away from Herod. And they traveled back to their far away land by another route.

God brought these Gentiles (non-Jews) to Jesus–to see Him, to know Him, to worship Him, to treasure Him–to trust in Him. For He is the promised-One. He is the Christ! He is God-with-us (Immanuel)! He is the one true HOPE and LIGHT for the world lost in darkness and sin. For Jesus is Savior for all. And God, in a very special way, revealed Him even to some wise men from a land far, far away. Truly amazing! And what a blessed foretaste this is of His Gospel to be proclaimed throughout the world, so that the world would know Jesus, trust in Him, and be saved.

Rejoice with the wise men and all who believed that this toddler Jesus was the Son of God who came to save us from our sins. Rejoice in the Light of God’s mercy upon you because of this Jesus who suffered and died for you, but then rose again–that you would have complete forgiveness of sins and His gift of eternal life. In the brightness of His Light, come and worship Him and bring Him your gifts!

A blessed Epiphany to you all!

In the name of Jesus; Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Get ready for the Youth Grinder Sale coming on Sunday, February 1st. Tickets will be available this coming Sunday. May this grinder sale be another blessing for our youth. Thanks in advance for participating.

Our Revelation Bible studies resume this week: Wednesday at 10:00AM, Thursday at 6:00PM, and Sunday (11th) at 10:30AM.

There will be a planning meeting for the Youth Grinder Sale this Sunday after Bible study and Sunday School. After the meeting, the youth and parents will bag up the recyclables.

The youth are going to FLIGHT in Southington on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00PM.

Jr. Confirmation Class resumes this evening at 6:30PM.

Choir will meet Thursday at 7:00PM.

A new Janitorial Calendar for January has been posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

SERVING THE LORD THIS WEEK:

Ushers: Rich Clukey
Brian Lassy
Elder: Jeff Sonstroem
Altar: Laurie Sonstroem
Acolyte: Desiree LaFontaine
Coffee: Jeanne Nicholls

Once again, may you have a blessed Epiphany!

Pastor Kotila