Matthew 2:1-12: "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.' 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."'
"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.' 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. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way."
Ephesians 1:9: "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ"
John 18:36-37: "36 Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.' 37 Then Pilate said to him, 'So you are a king? Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.'"
John 1:29: "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
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The text is public domain:
The star proclaims the King is here;
But, Herod, why this senseless fear?
For He who offers heav'nly birth
Seeks not the kingdoms of this earth.
The eastern sages saw from far
And followed on His guiding star;
And, led by light, to light they trod
And by their gifts confessed their God.
Within the Jordan's sacred flood
The heav'nly Lamb in meekness stood
That He, of whom no sin was known,
Might cleanse His people from their own.
And oh, what miracle divine,
When water reddened into wine!
He spoke the word, and forth it flowed
In streams that nature ne'er bestowed.
For this His glad epiphany
All glory, Jesus, be to Thee,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit evermore.
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The first four verses are neatly divided by Biblical sources. The first two verses come from the Matthew 2 text, with the first also incorporating John 18:36-37 ("Seeks not the kingdoms of this earth"); the third from John 1:29 (and also Jesus' baptism [related more fully in Matthew 3:13-17 and Mark 1:9-11]); and the fourth from John 2:1-11 (Jesus' turning water to wine at the wedding at Cana).
The only way in which I can see the Ephesians text within the hymn is if these events (the adoration of the magi, Jesus' baptism, and the changing of water into wine) are examples of ways in which Christ is "set forth." This seems to make sense with the first line of the last verse: "For this His glad epiphany."
The only way in which I can see the Ephesians text within the hymn is if these events (the adoration of the magi, Jesus' baptism, and the changing of water into wine) are examples of ways in which Christ is "set forth." This seems to make sense with the first line of the last verse: "For this His glad epiphany."
