The Ultimate Manifestation Of GOD's Presence

 "When JESUS was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of king Herod, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem.  They asked, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  We saw the rising of HIS star in the East and have come to honor HIM.'

When Herod heard this, he was greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem.  He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and teachers of the law and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 

'In the town of Bethlehem in Judea', they told him, 'For this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, one who is to shepherd MY people, Israel.'

Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the precise time the star appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions, 'Go and get accurate information about the child.  As soon as you have found HIM, report to me, so that I, too, may go and honor HIM.'

After the meeting with the king, they set out.  The star that they had seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  The wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again.  They went into the house, and when they saw the child with Mary HIS mother, they knelt and worshiped HIM.  They opened their bags and offered HIM their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.

In a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way." - Matthew 2:1-12 

(The general manifestation of GOD's presence in nature and its attendant beauty has sometimes referred to as "diaphany," a Greek word meaning "to appear through," but beyond and deeper than this diaphany is the "theophany" in the history of the people of GOD.  The "Epiphany" is the ultimate manifestation and is applied to the revelation of GOD's glory in JESUS of Nazareth who becomes the complete sign of this glory.  John's Gospel has worked out this theme best.  True wisdom is to seek, find, recognize, and adore GOD's real presence in the signs and events of our times.)

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