Epiphany
What if something truly amazing was revealed to you and you were told not to tell anyone.
But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” - Matthew 12:14-21
I would think I would be bursting at the seams, eager to let everyone know the good news, and yet Jesus wants it kept secret. Why?
Today, we tend to define epiphany as "a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way" - according to Mirriam-Webster. But we know the Epiphany as a celebration of the arrival of the three wise men who recognize the manifestation of divinity in the baby Jesus.
Is it possible to know something is true but need to see it to believe it?
The visitors from afar knew what the sign of the star meant, and so they traveled to pay homage. They would come to see, but they already believed.
The followers of Jesus saw what miracles he performed and so they believed. What about us?
Do we truly believe, even when we don't see?
If we do believe, why don't we run and shout it out to everyone we meet?
Sure, people might think we are crazy if we go up to them and say, "Guess what? Jesus is divine. He came to change the world and make us children of God, heirs."
Would people not think us nuts?
Of course! But wouldn't people think it crazy for wise men to follow a star?
Jesus became one of us to show us that what we think is crazy is truly possible, and so we should live by faith, not just by our senses.
If we do that, imagine what we will discover about ourselves.
More to come...