After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. From Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany is the liturgical season marked by Jesus revealing himself not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. It’s a time when the Church has historically looked at what it means to be a disciple of God who takes the good news into all the world. This year, FBCM will be celebrating these themes by studying well-known “light bulb moments” found in scripture–these moments when God unexpectedly breaks into the world and changes everything. Through these stories, we hope to be reminded of how God is breaking into our world here in Muncie, IN, and how we can come alongside God’s presence to be better neighbors that share our lives and God’s love with them.
This week we begin a series titled, Light Bulb Moments, and the message is titled “When God Shows Up, Rulers Bow Down.” Our Scripture, Matthew 2:1-12, tells us a familiar story about the Wise Men or Magi. The Magi came to see a prophesied king but instead, they encountered God, the light of the world. Who were the Magi? Were they wise men, scholars, kings, astrologers, or something else? What did they expect to find and what did they encounter that prompted them to bow down before an infant? This Sunday we will gather and discover what these Magi sought, what they found, and what that means for us and our neighbors.