Prepared To See

By Lisa Short, GPS Pastoral Assistant

We know the story of the birth of Jesus and the manger and Mary and Joseph and the shepherds, right? In the church year the 12^th day after Christmas (you know, the one where your true love brings you Twelve Drummers Drumming, Eleven Pipers Piping, Ten Lords a Leaping…) is the day we typically focus on the importance of the 3 wise men. This day is called “Epiphany”, meaning “revelation”, because it was the day that the wise men revealed to the world that Jesus was the promised king.

Imagine what Mary and Joseph thought when this group of men bearing gifts arrived at the stable. Coming “from the east” (maybe Persia) and a distinctly different culture, they would have dressed differently, talked differently and behaved differently from Mary and Joseph. I find it remarkable that Mary and Joseph welcomed them into their home – these strange men, speaking of their son as a king, pressing gold and other expensive gifts into their hands, gifts that were suitable for royalty – and wanting to see the baby. What were Mary and Joseph to do with gold and frankincense and myrrh? Mary and Joseph were peasants, they perhaps wondered what use those gifts could possibly be. Certainly the presence of these strangers who fell down to worship their son bringing gifts fit for royalty must have given them much to think about. And, certainly, it gives us much to think about: even the wise men with their gold, frankincense and myrrh couldn’t possibly match the gift that God gave us at Christmas – gift of a savior who would die for our sins and give us eternal life!

So, how was it that these wise men were the ones to make this profound revelation of Jesus as king? I think it was because they were prepared to see. The wise men must have been studying the skies for some time to recognize that the star in the east was an unusual occurrence with astronomical importance. They must also have been studying the scriptures to recognize that this unusual astronomical occurrence had theological importance as well. They were prepared to see the truth. While chance favors the prepared mind, God’s truth favors the prepared heart.

For those of us willing to see, whose eyes are open for God’s glory, God illuminates our lives with his truth, sometimes in very surprising ways. We can learn from these wise men: if you are looking for what God is revealing to you by studying scripture you are likely to see it. If you are listening for God’s voice through prayer you are likely to hear it. God’s truth is revealed to us over and over again when we are open to see and hear it. Open your heart to his word, his work, and his son, the truth and the light: Jesus!