Epiphany

It's Epiphany this Tuesday- when we celebrate the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus. Today I was preaching at an Anglican church, and as the story of the wise men was the Gospel reading, I took that as my subject.

What I find particularly interesting is that although many Christmas cards have a picture of three wise men on camels going through the desert following a star, the Bible doesn't actually say that's what happened. They go to King Herod and enquire where the new king is. They say, "We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him." It doesn't say they followed the star, only that they saw it. In fact, if they did follow the star, it led them astray! For they went to Jerusalem, but Jesus wasn't born there.

If you know the story, you will know that Herod summons the Jewish religious leaders and asks them where the Messiah is to be born. They reply "Bethlehem" and quote Micah in the Old Testament who prophesies about him and his birthplace.

So, off they go, and we read they are overjoyed because the star they saw in the east is there again! And it goes before them. But they don't need it to follow, because they know they are going to Bethlehem because that's what the Bible says!

So, one of the morals of this story must be, if you want guidance, don't follow the stars but read your Bible!