Follow the Star to The AppearanceIntroduction“An Appearance” of a superstar with entourage (Oprah @ The Met)Jesus with entourage Angels, Shepherds & WisemenGreek word for “Appearing”: Epi-phanero; “Epiphany”: Huge ManifestationSandwich of 2 “Appearings”: First & Final

The First AppearanceJohn 1: Word made fleshLuke 2: The entourage of Heavenly HostsMatthew 1&2: Generations 14, 14, 14 & Magi (read)Video clip: “Star of Bethlehem”Significance: 2 Timothy 1:9,10Acts 1:9-11 Look to the future return! “Get on with it” Great Commission!

The Final Appearance2 Timothy 4: 1 & 8: In view of His appearing… Longed for His appearingTitus 2: Grace has appeared… wait for appearing in glory!Revelation 19: Picture of Return on white horse

The Sandwich2 pieces of bread: physical appearances (Bethlehem, Bread of Life, Breaking Bread)

Epi-Phanero (Epiphanies)Middle? Phanero (spiritual appearances: revelation, propheies, healings, gifts)

Joel CookeJoe BrownbackMy: salvation, Faith, tap on shoulder

2 Timothy 4:8 “all who have longed for his appearing” (Loved, not longed)2 Corinthians 3:18 “with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory, we are changed from glory to glory”Unwrapping gifts are “an appearing”

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Follow the Star to The AppearanceIntroduction

In our media driven culture we use the phrase “an appearance” to describe when a superstar shows up at a public event. They usually have an entourage around them making their appearance an event in itself.(Our Oprah story at the Met)

2000 years ago “An Appearance” was made by the Bright and Morning Star, the Light of the World, when God put on flesh and became a part of His creation in the form of a baby. His appearance was attended by the entourage of the heavenly hosts, a group of lowly shepherds and 3 “wise men” from the east.

Over the past 4 weeks we have “Followed the Star” to Hope, Love, Joy & Peace. Today the star comes to rest over the newborn babe, Jesus, the Messiah, who is the consummation and fulfillment of all these longings.

There is a Biblical wording for “an appearing”. It is the Greek word, “epiphanero”, where we get our word, epiphany. It is the combination of the prefix, “epi”, meaning “intense, huge, mega, uber!” and the word “phanero” meaning “manifestation”.

So, Oprah’s appearance at the Met was a “phany”. The Messiah’s appearance in Bethlehem and the life he lived on earth for 33 & ½ years was an “Epiphany!”

Today we are going to look at “an Epiphany Sandwich”. The First Epiphany is what we celebrate in Christmas. Celebrating the fulfillment of His promise to come as our Savior and deliver us from the bondage and consequence of sin this reminds us to look forward with unwavering hope to the fulfillment of His promise to return and establish the completeness of His Kingdom rule and reign on the earth. Many call this appearing “the Second Coming of the Messiah”. I prefer to call it “the Final Coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom”! Over the course of the next few moments, I believe you will come to understand why I choose this language.

The First AppearanceJohn 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The “Epiphany”, the “appearance” was the realization of the Word of God in human form! Jesus was God’s thoughts and words manifest for all to see and know!

As I said earlier, the “Appearance” was attended by His entourage. Luke 2 records the Angelic activity surrounding His conception and birth with Angels speaking to Mary, to Joseph, to Zechariah and then the shepherds.

Matthew records the historic and world setting of His arrival. Chapter 1 establishes the timeline of His birth, letting us know that it was not incidental, but clearly pre-planned and intentional.17 “Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.”

Chapter 2 records on the world stage of Magi from the east being fully aware and expectant of His arrival. Let me read the story…

Matthew 21 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the

child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

I believe it is worth our time to take 3 minutes to watch a clip of a video called “The Star of Bethlehem” produced from the research of an attorney who used sky-mapping software to identify the stars and constellations in the sky over the middle east at the time of Jesus’ birth!

Show “The Star of Bethlehem” video clip on Youtube (5:40-8:30)

Isn’t it Amazing how precise God’s plans are? And, isn’t it amazing that seekers from outside “the chosen people of God” were more aware and watching for “the Appearing” than the people all around the very events as they happened?

The Apostle Paul in writing to his spiritual son, Timothy, points out the significance of the First Appearance. He says…

2 Timothy 1:9,109 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

I hope you caught Paul’s emphasis. This Appearance was literally, “the Game Changer”! It changed everything! This gift from God to relate to Him freely without fear of condemnation was mankind’s possession all along, but has now been revealed in this “Appearing” of our Savior, Christ Jesus! This Appearing removed the Mask of anger and rejection from their image of God and revealed the truth about who He really is! Jesus said it clearly, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father! If you know me, you know the Father!”

Acts chapter 1 tells us that after Jesus’ resurrection, he spent 40 days visiting the disciples and speaking to them about the Kingdom of God. He gave them instruction to wait in Jerusalem for God to clothe them with the power of the Holy Spirit. He then leaves them, ascending into heaven.

Acts 19 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The Final AppearanceThe disciples are left looking and longing for the return of their Messiah.

But they were given instruction to “get on with it”, they were given a commission, a mandate, a charge to keep “to go into all the world and make more disciples by preaching the good news of the first appearing”! In essence, “go get the world ready for His return, the final appearing!”

The Apostle Paul again makes the charge personal in his letter to Timothy referencing both appearances…

2 Timothy 41 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:…8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Paul again writes another spiritual son encouraging him in his charge, in light of both appearances…

Titus 211 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the

blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

And that waiting is not just a passive endurance until we are rescued! The word used here means "to receive to oneself, to grant admittance, to give access to oneself; to expect or look for”.

John’s Revelation gives us a glimpse of what that Final Appearance will look like…

Revelation 19 (Picture?)11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

What a powerful picture of victory and triumphant return!

The SandwichRemember the Sandwich I spoke of? A sandwich is usually made of 2 pieces

of bread with meat in between. Go with me here…The First and the Final Appearances are the manifestations of the Messiah

“in the flesh”, in material form. In scripture, “Bread” is a type or symbol of flesh. Bethlehem means literally “House of Bread”. In John 6, Jesus called himself, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” When we “break bread” in communion, we say, “the body of Christ which was broken for you”. I could go on, but time will not allow.

So, hear me say, there are two “appearings” of the Savior in the flesh, the first and the final! But, between these 2 pieces of bread, there are MANY appearances that He makes to our lives individually and corporately that fill the bread with meat!

These appearances come in all shapes and sizes. They may be insights and illuminations of passages of scripture that suddenly “make sense” or have personal prophetic meaning giving guidance or conviction. They may come as a dream in the night that He speaks to us or downloads of revelations or equipping.

They may come in a conversation with another person when suddenly you recognize His voice in the voice your listening to.

Our friend Joel Cooke describes one appearing he experienced when he was a “carni” who had been strung out on drugs trying to hide from the sun and the moon chasing him. He had just given his life to the Lord, but his mind was still messed up with paranoia from the drugs. He was hiding in a hotel room when suddenly, Jesus appeared at the foot of the bed, walked up to him He put his finger on his forehead. He said that he felt the most intense pain in his head that he had ever felt for just a moment. Then immediately the pain left and he was in his right mind. His thoughts were clear and his mind restored. He became an amazing preacher of the word of God. His messages were delivered in prose and power! … An Appearing!

On my birthday Monday, Joe recounted at the table how as a child he stepped into the back yard, but suddenly it was not the backyard. It was a woodshop and Jesus was working on a chair as a carpenter and they had an extended conversation together. … An Appearing!

I have shared the story many times of my salvation as a 13 year old, lying in bed and Jesus appeared to me in a vision. … An Appearring

One time under deep stress over the things happening in the church, I was in the auditorium praying, well, more like fretting. Sitting on the front row, I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I turned to see who it was and what they needed. No one was there. I heard Him say, “I love you”. That was enough. That was all that mattered. To this day, I don’t remember what the issue was. But, I know what really matters! … An Appearing.

I remember clearly sitting on the fireplace in my parents living room when I was home from college reading Romans chapter 4. I was in a season of intense spiritual hunger, we called it being “turned onto the Word”. Suddenly I saw what Faith was! I saw Abraham who against hope, in hope, believed God and it was accounted as righteousness. I saw that God was the God who called things that be not as though they were! This is how He created! And, this is how He intended us to be co-creators with Him, by Faith! It was a game-changer! An epiphany, an Appearing!

We quote 2 Timothy 4 early where the Apostle Paul is talking about his death and the crown of Righteousness awaiting him. He says, “and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”. The word “Longed for” is the word agape and actually means loved. We are looking ahead for his physical

return. But, in the interim, we are those who LOVE His appearances in our life and the changes they bring!

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul compares the glory of the ministry of the Law vs. the Spirit. The Law is represented in the veil over the face of Moses. He says,

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

When the law of performance and self-effort is removed and we can see His glory, He shows us who we are in the light of Him! And, that glory, that epiphany, that “appearing” changes us every time, more and more into the image of Christ!

We all love opening gifts, tearing off the wrapping to discover what was hidden underneath. It is makes us happy when the gift speaks specifically to who we are. We feel known and loved. It’s even better when we gave the gift and they are surprised that we knew. It’s a part of Christmas to remind us of His Appearing! Jesus is the Father’s gift to us. He was hidden under the wrapping of the Law. But now He is unwrapped and revealed as Grace and Truth!

And, He is giving us presents throughout our life of His repeated appearances! Some may be clear and obvious. Others may require us to unwrap from our legalism and fear to discover Him as the gift from the Father.

As our closing pray today, let’s sing together, O Come Emmanuel!