I often think the Bible accounts of the wise men visiting baby Jesus throws up many difficult questions based on shaky assumptions. Tradition says there were three and has even named them, the only evidence being that there were three gifts. Many nativity scenes show the shepherds and kings visiting together although the Matthew account suggests Jesus was visited in his house, implying that the visit happened in Nazareth.
Then there were the gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – retrospectively we can see the symbolism of these since Jesus became our King, Priest and Saviour, but I do wonder what Mary’s neighbours would imply when a caravan of rich visitors arrived at her door leaving her expensive gifts. What would the humble family do with such extravagancies without raising suspicion?
We remember these events as the festival of Epiphany on 6th January. Epiphany means a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being or more specifically in this case, ‘the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)’.
‘Manifest’ has been crowned the Cambridge English Dictionary’s word of the year for 2024. They state that the meaning of the word has changed from meaning ‘to appear or become clear’ to ‘an action of visualisation to help you achieve something that you want.’
So instead of being revelation on God’s terms it becomes on our terms for our purposes. People online use “to manifest” in the sense of: “To imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.”
Whatever controversies and questions Epiphany throws up, I am so grateful that God manifested Himself to us through the coming of His Son Jesus. It was definitely what we as humans needed but beyond our imaginations or abilities of visualisation.
As with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee – Daniel John Van Gelderen