Matthew 2:1-11
As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by the Rev. Kenneth R. Klaus, 2004
Nothing in this world, no other sight can compare with the love of God, which has come to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We have God’s Epiphany, which is serendipity. Epiphany is serendipity? Those are two words, one old and one new, that you may not have heard before. Let’s take a look at them. Let’s talk about the new one, serendipity, first. Have you ever started looking for one thing and wound up finding another, better thing? That’s serendipity.
Epiphany is a celebration to remember the baby born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Epiphany recalls how some time after Jesus was born, wise men, magi following a new heaven-sent star, showed up in Jerusalem to pay their respects to the next leader of the Jewish nation. The wise men had gone looking for one thing—an earthly king—and were led by God and a star to someone far better—a heaven-sent Savior.
Epiphany is the celebration of serendipity. We look for one thing; God supplies another. He does it all the time. The childless priest Zacharias set out to burn incense and, serendipity, ended up with a promise that his son would be the forerunner of the Savior. A Samaritan woman went to a well to draw water and, serendipity, found the Savior who gave her forgiveness and a new path to walk. Mary Magdalene sat before an open tomb and started a search to find her Teacher’s dead body. The most wondrous serendipity of all, she saw her living, death-defeating Savior.
Christ is risen indeed! Thank you, God, for our Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.
Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Promise (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).
Copyright © 2005 by Lutheran Hour Ministries
*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 16-17 Matthew 5:27-48
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