As we come to the close of the Christmas season, we hear once again the remarkable account of how, by God’s guidance and grace, the Wise Men from the East came searching for the one “who has been born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2), so that they might bow before Him and worship Him. In this event we see the beginning of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy regarding our Savior. “The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3).
While it is unlikely that these Magi were kings, they were powerful men in the world who very likely had their place in the king’s court. And yet they were more than ready to fall down before the Child Jesus and worship Him. By faith they recognized the majesty and glory of their Savior and King in the young Christ-Child.
We rejoice in the grace of God that was revealed to the Gentiles, the Wise Men being the first representatives of so many Gentiles who down through the centuries would come and worship this new-born King.
In this Epiphany season we observe how the divine glory and majesty of our Savior has been made manifest. While the Wise Men from the East recognized Jesus’ glory because the Holy Spirit opened their hearts to know and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, this revelation of His divine glory was only beginning.
Jesus is the King whom the Wise Men adored, but let no one think of Jesus as just another earthly royal. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Before Pilate, Christ Jesus witnessed the good confession (1 Timothy 6:13), telling him, “’My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’” (John 18:36-37).
Jesus testified of the truth that saves us from our sins. He came here to bring us life and salvation through His righteousness, through His sufferings and death upon the cross. It is through faith in this truth that we know not only the glory of our Redeemer King but also the peace of God that leads us to eternal life. Jesus went to the cross as our King to deliver us from our enemies. For this reason, “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). Christ is preeminent, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21).
This Epiphany season as we think upon the glory of Jesus, let us not only marvel at the glory which was revealed in Jesus’ ministry, but also joyously anticipate that glory which shall be revealed when the King of Kings once again appears — a glory “which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” .
” 1 Timothy 6:15-16 !