<“When Holidays Collide: Epiphany”
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. EPIPHANY: A PERIOD OF WONDER
A. RESPONSE OF THE WISE MEN
Mt 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem . . .
1. EVENTS
2. TIME
3. ORIGIN
4. DESTINATION
B. RESPONSE TO PROPHECY
Mt 2:2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
1. INQUIRY
2. MOTIVE (Num 24:17)
II. EPIPHANY: A PAUSE FOR WORRY
A. RESPONSE OF HEROD
Mt 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.
1. TROUBLED
2. TURMOIL
B. RESPONSE OF THE JEWS
Mt 2:4-8 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
1. QUESTION
2. ANSWER (Mic 5:2)
3. CIRCUMSTANCES
III. EPIPHANY: A PATTERN FOR WORSHIP
A. RESPONSE TO THE MESSIAH
Mt 2:9-12 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
1. CONTINUED
2. COMING
3. LEAVING
B. RESPONSE TO EPIPHANY
1. REACTIONS (illustrative of all people)
2. PRIORITIES (compared earlier visit of the shepherds (Lk 2:15-20)
3. EXAMPLE from the wisdom of these wise men
4. LESSONS