Epiphany Event 1: The Visit of the Magi and the Revelation of Jesus
Epiphany in the Bible is about revelation. It is about how God made Jesus Christ known to the world. The first major Epiphany event recorded in Scripture is the visit of the Magi. This event is not a side detail of the Christmas story. It is a key moment in which Jesus is revealed beyond Israel to the wider world.
The Magi were not Israelites. They came from the East and were outsiders to the Jewish faith. They did not belong to the covenant people, and they were not part of the religious leadership in Jerusalem. Yet God chose to reveal the birth of Jesus to them. They were guided by a star, which led them to seek the newborn child. This alone shows that God intended Jesus to be known beyond one nation.
When the Magi arrived, they did not come by accident or curiosity. They came with purpose. They sought the child who had been born King. When they found Jesus, they bowed before Him and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts were not random. Gold pointed to kingship. Frankincense was used in worship. Myrrh was associated with suffering and death. Through their actions, the Magi revealed who Jesus truly is. He is King. He is worthy of worship. He came for a purpose that would involve sacrifice.
The visit of the Magi shows that Jesus was revealed to the Gentiles from the very beginning of His life. Epiphany Event 1 makes it clear that Jesus came for the whole world. God made this known openly and intentionally. The first people to recognize Jesus as King were not rulers or priests, but seekers from afar.
This Epiphany event sets the foundation for everything that follows in the Gospel. Jesus is not hidden. He is revealed. His identity is made known so that all people, regardless of background, may come to Him. The visit of the Magi marks the first public revelation of Jesus Christ as Savior and King for the world.
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