Category: Turn Your Radio On 2025

January 9, 2025

Broadcast

                           Epiphany - Part 4
                            Matthew 2:9-11
                              01/09/2025


        9    After listening to the king, they went on their
             way. And behold, the star that they had seen when
             it rose went before them until it came to rest
             over the place where the child was.
        10   When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly
             with great joy.
        11   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.  (ESV)

        The Wise Men from the east were seeking the King of the
   Jews.  Having learned of the prophecy by Micah, they took their
   leave of Herod in Jerusalem and traveled to Bethlehem.

        After listening to the king, they went on their way.
        And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose
        went before them until it came to rest over the place
        where the child was.  When they saw the star, they
        rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  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.


        Was the star the Magi followed a rare conjunction of planets
   or other stellar bodies?  Was the star a miracle which will never
   be repeated?  We don't know, but many theologians and astronomers
   have proposed different answers to this question.  We will leave
   speculation about the star to some other occasion.

        The gifts brought by the Magi were a testimony about the
   Child.  Gold is the perfect gift to pay tribute to a king, and
   Jesus is certainly the King of Creation.  Frankincense gives a
   pleasing odor as it burns, the smoke rising.  Often incense is
   likened to the prayers of the faithful to God, as the Psalmist
   said, ``Let my prayers rise before you as incense.''[1] Myrrh is
   used to embalm a body before burial.

        The gifts proclaimed that Jesus is the King, true God, who
   will die for His people.

        May our Lord grant that we recognize the Infant of Bethlehem
   as confessed by the Wise Men who sought Him.  Amen.

January 8, 2025

Broadcast

                           Epiphany - Part 3
                             Matthew 2:7-8
                              01/08/2025


        7    Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and
             ascertained from them what time the star had
             appeared.
        8    And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ``Go and
             search diligently for the child, and when you have
             found him, bring me word, that I too may come and
             worship him.''  (ESV)

        Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem seeking the King of
   the Jews.  Being astronomers and astrologers, they looked to the
   heavens to discern what would be happening on earth.  God, in His
   wisdom, did not disappoint them, but showed them a clear sign
   which pointed to the birth of the Messiah.

        Eager to find the One foretold, the One of whom their
   predecessors had heard about from Daniel and other Jewish
   captives, the Magi traveled to Jerusalem.  There, the scribes and
   chief priests pointed them to the prophet Micah and his
   prediction that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

        Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and
        ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
        And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ``Go and search
        diligently for the child, and when you have found him,
        bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.''


        The Magi, who were not aware of local politics in Judea,
   heard the request of Herod.  This seemed a reasonable request.
   When they heard where the Child was to be born, they left the
   city, vowing to return with the good news.

        May our Lord grant us the faith to seek the Child of
   Bethlehem for our eternal blessing.  Amen.

January 7, 2025

Broadcast

                           Epiphany - Part 2
                             Matthew 2:3-6
                              01/07/2025


        3    When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled,
             and all Jerusalem with him;
        4    and assembling all the chief priests and scribes
             of the people, he inquired of them where the
             Christ was to be born.
        5    They told him, ``In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it
             is written by the prophet:
        6    `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are
             by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for
             from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my
             people Israel.'''  (ESV)

        Yesterday, the Feast of the Epiphany, we began the story of
   the Magi who sought Jesus.  Where else would you go to seek the
   King of the Jews but the capitol city, Jerusalem?  That is where
   the Wise Men asked, ``Where is He who is born the King of the
   Jews?"
        When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and
        all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief
        priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
        where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, ``In
        Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the
        prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for
        from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people
        Israel.'''


        The prophet Micah had clearly foretold the birth of the one
   for whom the Wise Men were seeking.  For years the chief priests
   and scribes had known this prophecy, which had now come true.

        We also can trust the Word of God to show us the truth where
   we find our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Only the Bible tells us of
   God's rich grace, love, and mercy.

        May our Lord grant that you find the Redeemer as you hear
   His Word.  Amen.

January 6, 2025

Broadcast

                           Epiphany - Part 1
                             Matthew 2:1-2
                              01/06/2025


        1    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,
        2    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.''  (ESV)

        Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day where the Church
   celebrates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus.  Because
   the Magi, the Wise Men, were not Jewish, today is often called
   the Gentile's Christmas.

        Epiphany comes from the Greek word which means ``dawn'' or
   ``sunrise.''  It is an unveiling, a revealing, or an appearance.
   During the Epiphany season, which lasts from January 6 to the
   Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, we see how Jesus is revealed as
   both true God and true man.

        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.''


        Since before the days of the Babylonian Captivity, six
   hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the sages of Babylon and
   Persia were astronomers.  While the children of Israel lived in
   Babylon, Daniel and several other Jews rose to positions of power
   in the court.  The Magi would have known about the prophecies of
   the Messiah, and would study the stars to seek wisdom.

        When a star appeared in the appropriate place in the sky,
   the Magi saw the sign that a new King was born in Israel.  They
   went seeking for this king.

        Please join us at Trinity this evening, at 7:00 p.m. for the
   Epiphany Service with Saint Paul, Fulda, where we will hear more
   about the Magi.  May our Lord continue to bless you with faith
   and wisdom.  Amen.