Sixth Day of the New Year

The Grace Of Theophany

Today we celebrate Epiphany Day, also known as Theophany or The Three Kings Day. Epiphany means "manifestation" as it commemorates the first time the Divinity of our Lord Jesus manifested itself through the visit of the Magi, also known as the Wise Men, or the Three Kings.

What then is theophany? In simple understanding, theophany means the visible manifestation or appearance of God to a person or persons. In Old Testament times, such a manifestation or showing was extremely feared, and for any person to have an Epiphany or Theophany, it meant death. Remember Samson’s parents, who only realised their theophany after the fact?

This all takes place with the promise of birth to a couple who have no offspring. But after they both receive the showing of God in visible form, this is what Manoah says to his wife. We are doomed to die! We have seen God! Judges 13: 22. The response of his wife is timely and most enlightening for us on this celebration day. If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this. Judges 13: 23b.

On the second day of this New Year, in the meditation headed, ‘The Grace of Indwelling’, I made this statement. “The Magi are the people who represent the sincere, honest and true believers, who earnestly seek Jesus to worship Him and offer themselves to Him.” If by faith, you have accepted the proof that God has included you in Nativity, then by faith also, accept the fact He has included you in Theophany.

In response to Manoah’s fears about having this manifestation or theophany of God, I said that his wife’s answer was timely and most enlightening. It is timely for your present season, whatever it is. The enlightening comes in our own theophany, our epiphany, our own manifestation of Immanuel, as we are shown our covenant promise of Blessing and Vindication. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Psalm 24: 5.

In the Light of Blessing

– Just as God uses a Star to light the path of the Magi, who do not know the way to the Living Word, born to them, so too I see Samson’s mother. I see her as the Star God uses to light the path for her husband, a person who does not know the Way to the Living Word. Have you been overwhelmed by your visual manifestations of the Lord during these last few weeks? At the end of this first week, do you feel a bit afraid of the Lord and lost in the light of all that you have seen and heard? That’s okay, for so did Manoah in his fear of the Lord and so too did the Magi in their not knowing the way to the Lord. Don’t be afraid. You have been blessed to be able to come to this Living Word.

In the Light of Vindication

– Just as God accepts gifts from the hands of the Magi, who offer themselves in humble surrender, as they bow in honour, adoration, and worship to God present with them Incarnate, so too Manoah and his wife. Has not God accepted the offerings from their hands as they too gave respect, honour and adoration to God, present with them, in the form of His angel? Here is even more enlightenment for me. Will you receive it too? I’m shown that in God’s acceptance of their human gifts, made with their human hands, both the Magi and Manoah and his wife have known the vindication of the Lord God. Apart from them being sinners, has not God vindicated them from seasons of fear, ignorance, deceit, and pride?

My friends, you have come to the end of one total week, the first week, of the New Year 2024. This final day is our celebration of the Grace of Theophany. God has sent you His Living Word as your Epiphany. As we offer the gifts of our minds and wills to the Sovereign Lord God, we conclude with this hymn of praise to God, this Doxology.