Worldly Kingdoms Come and Go
This past Sunday’s message focused on Epiphany. This is a Christian celebration observed on January 6th, twelve days after Christmas.
Epiphany is the day the Church recognizes Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were represented by The Magi, whose visit to the child Jesus showed that God’s gift of the Good News is for everyone. Christianity also remembers Jesus’ baptism on this day, when His identity was revealed to mankind. Epiphany, at its core, is about God revealing Himself to the world.
The word epiphany is defined as a moment when you suddenly understand, or become conscious of, something that is very important.
An epiphany is an aha moment!
This is exactly what happened to both the wise men and King Herod in Matthew 2:1-12. Both experienced an aha moment. And both responded to that information very differently.
When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
because from you will come one who governs,
who will shepherd my people Israel.” (Verses 3-6)
Herod was afraid of what this new King meant for his place on earth. He asked the wise men to find the baby and return with the information so that he could go and “honor” Him. But we know the rest of the story. Herod wanted to kill Jesus in order to protect his own power and authority.
Herod was close to the truth, but far from God.
Herod feared this baby and what it meant for his worldly kingdom.
The wise men, on the other hand, “Entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Verses 11-12)
The wise men’s fear of the child was completely different. The fear of God is, “a profound and multifaceted theme throughout the Bible. It encompasses reverence, awe, and respect for the Almighty. It is foundational to the relationship between God and humanity, serving as both a guiding principle for righteous living and a deterrent against sin.
The ‘fear of God’ is not merely an emotion but a deep-seated reverence and awe for the Creator. It acknowledges God’s supreme power, holiness, and justice. This fear is not about being terrified of God but rather having a profound respect and honor for His authority and majesty. True wisdom and understanding start with recognizing God’s rightful place in the universe.”
Because the wise men were warned in a dream, they did not return to Herod but went home by a different way. Or as Pastor Lyle Miller would say:
“They went home way different.”
We are called to fear Jesus in the same way the wise men did. Herod was afraid of losing his worldly kingdom, and ultimately … he did.
The wise men, on the other hand, received a Heavenly Kingdom.
It’s up to us to choose which kingdom we want.
