On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him…
MATTHEW 2:11 (NIV)
An epiphany is an experience of a sudden and striking realisation, often used to describe a scientific breakthrough or philosophical discovery. So when Archimedes jumped into the bath and yelled, ‘Eureka!’ he was experiencing an epiphany – an understanding of an everyday occurrence from an exciting new perspective.
In Christianity, epiphany refers to the sudden realisation that Jesus is the Son of God. One such event occurred when the Magi, or Wise Men, visited the house where Jesus was living, some time after his birth. The story is found only in Matthew’s gospel, which tells us that the unnumbered party of wise men came from the east to Jerusalem and asked “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2). This verse reveals they knew Jesus was born king of the Jews, and implies they also knew and believed in his divinity because they came ‘to worship him’.
The Biblical record says little more about these enigmatic characters, other than they were warned in a dream not to tell Herod they had found Jesus (v.12) but it is hard to believe their encounter with him was anything other than transformative. Traditional sources tell us their experience was so moving that they converted to Christianity and their belief was so strong that they later willingly embraced martyrdom.1
Perhaps you can remember your own epiphany: the moment when you suddenly realised exactly who Jesus is. Not just a man. Not just a wise teacher. Not just a person who gave up his life for the good of others. But very God.
Epiphany is a season in the Christian calendar that begins after the 12 days of Christmas and is a time to re-encounter Jesus. A time to see him through new eyes,
eyes that are enlightened by his presence. A time to immerse ourselves once more into his story and ask God to reveal things we hadn’t seen before. To remind ourselves that Jesus is the light of the world, our all in all, and to see him from an exciting new perspective.
Prayer Wonderful Father, thank you for your precious Son Jesus. Help us to see him afresh every day and be ‘transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory’. 2 Amen.