Sunday, January 4, 2026
The Epiphany of Our Lord (Epiphany 1A)
Text: Ephesians 3:1-12
Sermon Audio
As we gather… The word epiphany means a sudden realization or revelation. On this festival of Epiphany, we celebrate the revelation or epiphany of Jesus to the Gentiles, that is, the non-Jews. The magi came from the east to bring presents to Jesus and bowed down and worshipped him. In our Epistle text, Paul further reflects on the great blessing the revelation of Christ is to both Jews and Gentiles. The mystery of Christ, Paul writes, is that Jesus is to be the savior of the Gentiles. This is good news for us, many if not all of whom are Gentiles by ethnicity. On this day we celebrate not only the blessing of ourselves knowing Christ, but the privilege of sharing that good news with others that they too may know the peace and hope of knowing our savior Jesus Christ.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A STAR COMES OUT OF JACOB TO BRING ALL TO THE LIGHT.
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
These words are the words of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet. Now, you may be wondering who is Balaam? A little context might help.
The Israelites were east of the Promised Land, the land that would be known as Israel. They were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and the Lord was bringing them victory over the armies that were foolish enough to fight them. The people of Israel had just defeated Kings Og and Sihon. Balak the King of Moab saw what happened to them and knew he needed insurance. King Balak hired Balaam the prophet to curse the people of Israel.
Balaam does need some encouragement. The Angel of Lord meets him on the way, Balaam’s donkey can see the Lord, but not Balaam. Balaam keeps hitting the donkey, and the Angel of the Lord miraculously makes the donkey speak, asking him, “Why do you treat me so?” The Angel of the Lord appears to Balaam and reminds him only to speak the words He gives him.
Thus, Balaam when hired to curse Israel, gives three blessings to Israel instead. He even gives a fourth blessing, a bonus blessing, wherein we read, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
From the mouth of a non-Israelite comes the truth, even if it’s hard for Balak to hear. The Lord grants victory to the Israelites over the people of Moab, even when the Israelites are a long way from home, even when they’re in a dark place, the Lord shines light in the darkness to bring hope and peace.
A STAR COMES OUT OF JACOB TO BRING ALL TO THE LIGHT.
About 800 years after Balaam’s prophecy, the people of Israel were again east of the Promised Land, but by this time, Jerusalem had risen and fallen. Kings came, and kings went. The country of Babylon took many of God’s people captive, including a young man named Daniel.
Daniel was trained in Babylon with the best education. We read of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, “…God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
In one instance, King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream, and when his wise men, his magi, couldn’t interpret it, he was ready to kill them. Through God’s help, Daniel saves the day by interpreting the dream which predicted the coming of Christ whose kingdom will have no end.
Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel saying, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” From the mouth of a non-Israelite comes the truth, even Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed the temple of Jerusalem and carried the holy utensils back to Babylon for a trophy.
Daniel is promoted to the chief of the wise men. Now we can only speculate, but odds are that Daniel made Bible history part of the wise men’s curriculum. Could it be that he taught the wise men Balaam’s oracle? Even when the Israelites are a long way from home, even when they’re in a dark place, the Lord shines light in the darkness to bring hope and peace.
A STAR COMES OUT OF JACOB TO BRING ALL TO THE LIGHT.
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.””
It had been about 600 years after Daniel’s lessons with the wise men, and the people of Israel were home, but it hardly felt like home. Instead of bullies from the east, it was bullies from the west. Romans ruled Israel and things were a far cry from the good old days of King David a thousand years prior.
Yet after all these years, the lesson from Balaam had gotten out. The magi didn’t forget Daniel’s lessons. These wise men were ready to worship Jesus. “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” From the mouths of non-Israelites comes the truth, all the while, King Herod who should have known better worked to silence the truth. In his rage, King Herod would murder all boys aged 2 and younger in Bethlehem to kill this king of the Jews. But even when God’s faithful people feel a long way from home, even in the darkest of days, the Lord shines light in the darkness as the light of Christ lightens our hearts bringing hope and peace.
A STAR COMES OUT OF JACOB TO BRING ALL TO THE LIGHT.
It was only about thirty years after the wise men visited Jesus that Saul, another learned man, was east of the Promised Land. He was on the way east to Damascus to round up more of what he considered a heretical sect called Christians.
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
Now, Saul would ace any Bible trivia game. He practically knew it by heart. In that moment of confrontation, his mind must have been racing a mile a minute. Could Jesus be the one Balaam prophesied? Could Jesus be the one that Daniel predicted would come? Could Jesus be the Messiah, the long-promised savior?
We know the rest of the story, Saul would become Paul, and out of the mouth of someone who was previously a non-believer came the confession of the truth. That Jesus is the savior. The one who died for his sins. Even when Paul was a long way from home, Christ’s light shone in his heart bringing him peace and joy. The Holy Spirit would use Paul to shine that light into all corners of the inhabited world through his missionary journeys.
A STAR COMES OUT OF JACOB TO BRING ALL TO THE LIGHT.
Another thirty years later, Paul would write a letter to the church in Ephesus, modern day Turkey. This was his conclusion, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
Dear friend, you may feel a long way from home. You may feel east of the Promised Land. But on this day when we observe Epiphany, know this, that the promise of Jesus Christ saving the world and forgiving their sins is for the least likely of people. Jesus was born, lived, and died for Balaam, for Nebuchadnezzar, for the wise men, for Herod, for Paul, and He died for you.
He died for you to save you from your sins. He died for you to save you from your fear of death because He will raise you up again just as He rose on Easter. He died for you so that you never have to be alone because He goes with you all the way, even now as He comes to us in His Supper. He died for you so that you may feel at home, even when your life feels helter skelter, topsy turvy, and when you feel like a stranger in a strange land.
He goes to prepare a place for you and in the meantime He has given you a church home, another place to belong when we live in a land where we are strangers and sojourners. He also gives you the light of the Gospel. The same Epiphany star that guided the wise men guides people to Himself through the Good News of His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.” Jesus is already working in the hearts of the Balaams, the Nebuchadnezzars, the wise men, the Herods, and Sauls of this world. He’s working the hearts of the people in your lives who don’t yet know Him. If the Lord granted words of blessing and praise to the likes of Balaam and Nebudchadnezzar, how much more will He give you His Holy Spirit to shine the light of the Gospel by sharing God’s Word of hope with someone in your life who needs to hear it. Amen!
The peace of God which passes all understanding guard and keep you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.