Gifts for a Baby King

by Ken Myers

At the time of his birth, the Light of the world was acknowledged by only a handful of worshipers: a bedazzled congregation of shepherds and two pious souls, long watching and waiting for him in the temple.

A bit later, coming “from the East,” the first Gentile worshipers of Christ arrived, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that the Redeemer of Israel would be a light for the nations. These astrologers had seen a light in the sky that testified to the advent of the Light of the world. An eager expedition ensued, with the intention of paying homage to a new King. Their arrival in Judea is the first empirical evidence of the universal and global significance of a very particular and local event.

Since about the fourth century, in the Western church, the Feast of the Epiphany has commemorated the testimony implicit in the journey of the Magi, and a great deal of music has emerged from that attention. In Western churches, Epiphany has also included a celebration of Christ’s baptism and the first miracle at the wedding at Cana as well as the visit of the Magi. (In Eastern churches, Epiphany focuses on the baptism as the shining forth of God’s Trinitarian presence, as the Son assents to his humanity, the Father announces his pleasure at the Son, and the Spirit descends in the form of a symbol of peace.)

THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:

Ken Myers is the host and producer of the Mars Hill Audio Journal. Formerly an arts editor with National Public Radio, he also served as editor of Eternity, the Evangelical monthly magazine, and This World, the quarterly predecessor to First Things. He also serves as music director at All Saints Anglican Church in Ivy, Virginia. He is a contributing editor for Touchstone.

• Not a subscriber or wish to renew your subscription? Subscribe to Touchstone today for full online access. Over 30 years of publishing!

personal subscriptions

Purchase Print &
Online Subscription

Get six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for only $39.95. That's only $3.34 per month!

RENEW your print/online
subscription

Purchase
Online Subscription

Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives including pdf downloads for only $19.95. That's only $1.66 per month!

RENEW your online subscription

gift subscriptions

GIVE Print &
Online Subscription

Give six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for the reduced rate of $29.95. That's only $2.50 per month!

RENEW your gift subscription

Transactions will be processed on a secure server.

bulk subscriptions

Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.

kindle subscription

OR get a subscription to Touchstone to read on your Kindle for only $1.99 per month! (This option is KINDLE ONLY and does not include either print or online.)

Your subscription goes a long way to ensure that Touchstone is able to continue its mission of publishing quality Christian articles and commentary.