From the Pastor’s Desk

Merry Christmas!

We in the Christian Church get to say these words until January 6th. That is because we celebrate 12 days of Christmas which begins on December 25th. The 12th day of Christmas is the time to celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is when we focus on the story of the Wise Men.

Contrary to the common depictions of the Christmas story, the wise men probably did not arrive at seeing Jesus until he was about 2 years old. Even though it is cute to dress up 3 small boys and give them 3 gifts to lay at the feet of the baby Jesus, this is not historically accurate. We also don’t know how many wise men (or astrologers) came. There were 3 gifts but we are never given a number for the people.

Epiphany is important because it celebrates how Christ came for the whole world and not just for the town of Bethlehem or the nation of Israel. Jesus came for all of us.

Of course, after the wise men encounter Jesus they do not tell King Herod where he is. Herod is furious at these wise men and orders all children 2 years and younger to be killed. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus then flee to Egypt where Jesus becomes a Middle Eastern refugee.

So where would we find the baby Jesus today after Herod’s edict? Where would we find the baby and his family if today they were also refugees fleeing a tyrannical government in the Middle East? Where would we find that baby Jesus today?

Peace, Sam

Devotional: Read Matthew 2:1-23

In this part of the Christmas story, the Wise Men (or Magi) come from modern day Iran or Iraq and search for the one born king of the Jews. The birth of a new king terrified King Herod. He is fearful that this baby will usurp his power so he has all of the young boys killed.

• Where do you see people today who carry out violence because they fear loss of power?

After the “killing of the innocents,” an angel appears to Joseph and warns him to flee to another country as a refugee.

• Does this story impact the way you look at modern day refugees?
• Is the story of Jesus fleeing his homeland due to persecution an appropriate story to guide what we believe about foreign refugees? If not, what story is better?