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“Rejoice exceedingly with great joy”
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10
I love Epiphany. The hustle of Advent & Christmas is over. We celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, Transfiguration of our Lord, and we sing some of my favorite hymns. The story of the Magi proclaims that this message of salvation & salvation is for the nations, which means that this salvation is for us as well.
I am glad that Epiphany comes to us in January because I really do not like winter. I am a Minnesotan from birth, but I struggle with extreme cold and the long hours of darkness. The cold is manageable with a heavier jacket, but the darkness is always a challenge no matter how much artificial light you use. Darkness literally surrounds us, almost “sticks to us” during those long dark nights.
As Christians, we hear of darkness that is often correlated in the Scriptures as a symbol of this evil world, our sinful flesh, and the work of the devil (John 1:1-3; John 3:19-21; Isaiah 9:2). The Magi more than likely would have been traveling in the dark when they saw the star. They not only were joyful to receive guidance to where the King of the Jews lived, BUT they rejoiced “EXCEEDINGLY with GREAT joy.” The Incarnate Light had come to this world to shine His salvation on us darkened sinners by His cross and empty tomb. The Lord grant us this same joy this Epiphany.
“In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus” LSB, #411 refrain.
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