The Rest of the Story

OK, I'm getting behind in posting sermons again. I' am up to 2012, though. I guess that's a plus. I might have found a way to get the audio up. I'm using a download site and the audio will be up for 5 days. Below is a link to my New Year's Day sermon. I don't have the text. I did something a little different that day and just wrote an outline. Judge the results for yourself. I'll add the outline below the audio link. Let me know if it doesn't work.

The Rest of the Story

·        Today is Epiphany Sunday. Celebrate Epiphany

·       What is Epiphany? You may know, maybe not.

·       Also called Theophany – refers to divine appearing

·       Means “vision of God.” Celebration of God the Son coming in Jesus Christ.

·       Diff. traditions & in history celebrate diff. things.

·       Baptism, Birth, First miracle.

·       First mentioned in 361 AD as Jesus birth & Cana

·       In the western tradition assoc. w/ visit of Magi

·       Specifically revelation of G through J to Gentiles.

·       Different celebrations around the world.

·       Feasts & traditions – Take down Christmas dec.

·       Manitou Springs, CO – Great Fruitcake Toss. Dress as fools & kings, tossing competiotion.

·       Louisiana – marks the beginning of Carnival. Balls & Parades begin. King Cake. Parts of the cake represent gifts of Magi. Ends w/ Mardi Gras celebration before Ash Wed.

·       Germany – Sternsinger, group of young people. Dress as wise men. Visit homes & sing. Offered treats, they collect money for charities. Traditional home blessing. Date & M, C, B over door.

·       Over the years epiphany came to mean a sudden idea or realization into meaning of something.

·       Ah-ha moment. That’s our focus this morning

·       3 stories of people in contact w/ Jesus. & change

·       Luke 2:22-40, Matthew 2:1-12

·       Magi. Traditionally in Nativity scene & pageants

·       We don’t know exactly when the visited, but they visited a house, not stable. Months, maybe 2 yrs.

·       Travelled from Iran – 1000 miles. About 50 days

·       Melchior, Caspar, Balthazar.

·       Gifts given signifigance. Gold – royalty, incense – diety, myrrh – death.

·       Expensive gifts – Flight to Egypt

·       Priests, Zoroastrianism. Studied the stars.

·       At the time, it was one of largest religions.

·       Official religion of Persian Empire & kings, Cyrus

·       They were from Persia, Jews were exiled in Babylon & Persians took over. Cyrus the Great let Jews go.

·       Probably knew messianic prophecies. Knew of signs

·       Set out, met Herod. Herod called priests. They didn’t know about Messiah. Magi knew, priests & scribes, no. despite having scriptures.

·       Told them where to go. Herod – tell me where he is

·       Simeon – told he would see Messiah. When he does he rejoices & praises God. Joy!

·       Anna – widowed for 60 years. Spent all day every day in Temple. Saw Jesus & left praising God.

·       Each had their own epiphany. They all experienced Jesus and all went away changed.

·       We’re not told of specific change w/ Simeon & Anna, but their tone seems different.

·       Simeon seems sad. Purposeless.

·       Anna also sad. Lonely.

·       Each come away joyful. They have seen Messiah

·       The Magi were changed.

·       After they met Jesus we’re told they returned home a different way.

·       Maybe a different road, maybe they were different.

·       Meeting Jesus changed their direction.

·       We long for the same experience, to meet Mess.

·       That is what we want. Worship should be encounter w/ God. It should change us.

·       Should change us. Evertime.

·       Resolutions. We resolve to change.

·       Resolve to come ready to meet Jesus. Ready to be changed. Ready to show others Jesus & change ‘em