For Epiphany Sunday, we study how the coming of the Wise Men travel to see and adorn baby Jesus as the Christ. In just twelve verses, we see quite the juxtaposition of old, worn paths being re-authored by new light. For instance, the Wise Men literally followed the light of a star in search of a new king.

As soon as the world catches their breath at the birth of Jesus, a chorus of angels sing! Scripture says, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven / and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” This act of worship demands our attention and our repetition.

As Christians, we have every reason to show the world what it means to be thankful.

Our sins do not keep us from God. We used to think they did but not anymore. Jesus’ “blood” (used as a metaphor), allows us the freedom to approach the sanctuary of God with boldness and confidence because the love of Jesus is greater than our sin. 

Part of the weekly and monthly rhythms of early Christians was to make sacrifices in the Temple for sins. Sacrificing animals to atone for wrongdoing is an ancient practice; one in which Jesus has made obsolete. We don’t need to sacrifice animals since Jesus is the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

The role of priest in Antiquity must be understood. They stood in the gaps for people’s sins and their right relationships with the community. Their role was of the most importance. Yet, Jesus is even greater. Even more important. This sermon will illustrate how. 

Sabbath should not be optional. It reallocates and reorients our energies back to a more sustainable lifestyle . . . but not everyone participates in Sabbath. Instead, we work. We do more. We go to work early and stay late. But Sabbath brings us back to a relationship with Jesus . . . and according to the preacher in Hebrews, Jesus should be greater than our work. 

“In many fashions and many fractions, God speaks.” This is the opening to the Book of Hebrews. It sets the stage for how God operates in the world in order to position that Jesus is the new way in which God communicates and engages in human lives. This sermon explores the effort of the preacher in Hebrews and sets the stage for how Jesus is greatest, clearest manifestation of God’s engagement in the world.  

“If anyone among you wanders from the truth and is bought back by another,” . . . they will be saved together. In other words . . . our lives are intricately connected and woven together, so much that when we are suffering, we can call on both God and our neighbors for help, and we can do it in prayer.

The true sages of our day live out of a wisdom that is from “above." Wisdom from “below” is bitter, envious, boastful, and full of false truths. Wisdom from above is gentle, peaceable, and bears no trace of partiality. To live with wisdom, we must learn of mercy that is gentle. 

Our words are used to cut people down and drown people out. Our tongues are like tameless beasts used to both praise the Lord and curse our neighbor. This ought not to be so. For us to live with mercy, we must learn to control the parts of us that seek mercilessness.