Epiphany Day 11 We Three Kings
They made it! The kings have arrived at the home of Jesus. They brought gifts to honor the newborn King.
I probably brought them in a day early for the “epiphany” standard but I wanted them to have time to depart too before closing out this journey. I almost saved yesterday’s songs for tomorrow as they speak of going and telling the good news. But the song I have for tomorrow says something special to me. And you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what that is.
The kings or wise men have traveled for about two years to find the Baby who was born King. They have followed His star. Something special about this star is that it appeared in the same place at just the right time AT LEAST TWICE in two years. This year there was a lot of talk about the Christmas star appearing in the sky. People were claiming that it was the first time in ‘thousands of years’ that it happened ‘again’. After looking into the phenomenon I found that claim to be false. The events that create this ‘star’ happen about every 20 years but the timing of it for Christmas is rarer. Another difference is that this ‘star’ was made up of two planets in alignment; Jupiter and Saturn. These two planets drifted back apart within days. The star the wise men/kings followed may have remained for the two years. NOT a natural phenomenon.
Near the end of their journey the visitors lost sight of their guiding light. This could have been due to cloudy skies or maybe even distractions. Could it have been because of a ‘disconnect’ in their logic? Or could it have been that they were given the star at the beginning of their journey and they followed it to where they expected it would lead, from its original position? They have been following a star meant for a King and when they came to the place where a king should be, they stopped their journey. They then looked to man to supply their answers.
I believe God hid their star either physically or logically so He could alert the elite of His people to Jesus’ birth. The shepherds shared the good news with the common people, but who would believe a shepherd. Wise men, or kings, authenticating the event were more believable. It couldn’t be discounted or dismissed.
To answer the seekers the local wise men turned to God’s word. Strange how they knew where to look all along but never thought to give search. Surely they saw the star too, being so close to its stationary location, but they ignored it. God gave them pointers all along but they refused to attend to them.
Knowing where to look started the wise men/kings back on their journey. As soon as they set their minds to seeking wherever the star led, they were led right to Jesus. They DID NOT find Him in a stable. They found Him in a home with His parents. Normal everyday people who spoke nothing of royalty. Yet royalty they KNEW Him to be. And they honored Him as such.
The gifts the visitors gave to this humble family would be of great benefit to them. Right after these visitors depart, our little family has to flee in the night. No time to pack his tools. No time to prepare food for the journey. They had to grab what they could and get out fast! Hared would be seeking their Child’s life. Satan was the true seeker and Hared was his arm.
I wish God letting the leaders know wouldn’t have cost the lives of all the children in the area. I wish there was another way. I trust He cared for each and every one of them though. Their parents were the true sufferers. I cannot imagine the pain of that town. I would have been ready to inflict the same on Hared if I were them but they were a people subject to another and suffered without recourse.
Father God, I KNOW You held or will hold Hared’s feet to the fire for this act. Thank You for that. I know Your people needed to know the good news. As a nation, they still reject that news so I suppose it was more for me than them, for now. Thank You for telling me in so many ways! There is NO doubt in my mind as to Who my King is.
I worship You Lord Jesus! Thank You for ALL You have done. Thank You for all You still will do in my life and in this world. I’m looking forward to spending eternity with You. And getting into ALL my questions in our quiet spot. I hope You will show me some of Your ‘baby pictures’ too!
