Text: Matthew 2: 1-12
This is a special day for the Eastern Orthodox churches. This weekend is their Christmas celebration. Why? Just to be different from the West? No. They time their celebration with the visit of the Magi. For good reason. Think about it. Most of us are Gentiles. We are not Jews descended of Abraham. But think of the night of Jesus’ birth, the night we call Christmas. Who was there? Mary and Joseph were both Jews. To whom did the angel tell the good news. Jewish shepherds. Bethlehem was a Jewish town. And our Savior was born a Jew, circumcised on the 8th day according to the Law of Moses.
So we might be left to wonder. All this is nice. But I’m a Gentile. Am I included in what God did? Was the Christ born also for me? So you can see why the visit of the Magi is sometimes called the Gentile Christmas. In them, God demonstrates to you and me. He IS for you.
Of course, we call this day Epiphany. The Epiphany of our Lord. Remember what the word means. Epiphany means to make clear, unmistakable. And what does this season make clear? That the child born to Mary, the child who grew up and matured like you and me is also true God from all eternity. That’s so important for us to know as we gather around the cross of Jesus Christ. Epiphany reminds us who it was that suffered and died for us. The visit of the Magi is one of those epiphanies. Think about it. What happens here. Why did they come? The star, not seen before. His star. The Epiphany Star. How blessed we are to hear the story.
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.” Let’s make sure we know where we’re at. Jesus was born. Eight days later, he was circumcised and given the name Jesus. Forty days after his birth, Mary and Joseph took the Child to the temple to make an offering for both Mary and her son. There Simeon would take the child up in his arms and rejoice. Then they returned to Bethlehem where it seems they stayed for a time. Maybe they wanted to avoid the ugliness they had experienced in Nazareth because of Mary’s unwed pregnancy. In any case, what happens now is a long time after away in a manger, no crib for a bed. Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus are staying in a house unaware of what is going on in Jerusalem.
Behold. Matthew writes. He’s telling us. This is something unexpected. Look here. Behold! What are the Magi doing here in Jerusalem? They are sure far away from home. Magi or wise men were astrologers from places we call Iran or Iraq today. They studied the stars and interpreted dreams. They were rich and influential. Kings turned to them for counsel. What are they doing here?
But it wasn’t just their presence that was so surprising. It was the reason they gave for their coming. We’re seeking your newborn King. We’ve seen his star. We’ve come to worship him. Where is he? To them, Jerusalem seemed like a good place to start.
That star today captures people’s imagination. Some say it was a convergence of planets that shown brightly. Others believe what I do. Just what the Scripture says. It was a star, not just any star, but HIS star. A star that moved these men to travel hundreds of miles to search for and worship this Child.
But how did they make that connection? God does not tell us. So it must not be important for us to know. What is important is that we look to the One the Epiphany star was about and come like these men. Ready to worship this King.
But there was another king not so happy to hear this news. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; … King Herod was not a Jew and yet he was their King. The Romans had put him into power against the wishes of the people. So Herod lived in fear of people plotting to overthrow him. He was so paranoid that he killed his wife and son when he suspected them. Well now along come these Magi asking: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?
It says here, Herod was troubled. Literally he was shook up. His adrenaline was flowing. His stomach was churning. And back then when ruthless King Herod got upset, you got upset too. Well Herod was lot of things. He had built the temple, one of the wonders of the ancient world. He was a great orator. But above all else, he knew how to protect this throne. He would not let another take his crown.
Of course, Herod did not know what kind of King had been born into the world. This was not a king who had come to sit in Herods’ palace or anyone else’s. He had not come to replace Herod and rule over that small strip of land called Judah. And unlike Herod, this was not a king who would compel the allegiance of people with threats of crucifixion and prison. Rather this King would win the hearts of people by his amazing love What did the angel tell Joseph, You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. For this King would not put people up on crosses. Instead He would be lifted up on a cross for us all.
But Herod only saw a threat: 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.’ ” Here God had given this Word of prophecy so his people could watch for the Christ. But how was Herod about to use this Word? To target his victim. Do you see the irony? Right in the middle of this ugly conspiracy, God’s Word speaks to us and confirms for us who this Child was. It makes me think of Psalm 2. The kings of the earth take their stand …against the Lord and his Anointed one…The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. ( 2,4)
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.” Herod is now ready to hatch his plot. The magi will unwittingly serve Herod by helping him to know when the child was born and where he could be found. That I may worship him Herod says.
Herod had anything but worship in mind for the Christ child. But this is the world we live in. How many a person has used the guise of worship or religion as a cover for evil? Sadly we think of the priest or pastor who gains the trust of a child to do terrible things. We think of the priest or pastor who gains the trust of his congregation and then holds up a different truth which is no truth at all. In Nazi Germany, they did not ban the church. They co opted it to serve to serve their evil purposes. Just like Herod. Bring me word, that I may 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. Behold. Matthew says it again. There’s that epiphany star. How does God use it now? To lead them and then have it stand right over the place. Here’s the one you are looking for. Here’s the One you and I need to be looking for in our lives. In His Word. In his Holy Supper. For he is way, the truth and the life.
But wait, Lord. They’re going to go back to tell Herod. Wait Lord. Don’t send them there! we might say if we didn’t know better. For this all seems to be heading to a very sad end. Yet many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Prov19:21) It did here and it will in your life too. Our problem is that we see only the little picture. We see the battles won and lost, we see the troubles that come into our lives, but we can’t see the outcome. Yet we know it. In Christ, we know it. And even now in this fallen, dying world, he has promised to make all things work for our good.
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. Imagine their joy at seeing the star. These Gentiles had traveled 100’s of miles. It makes me think of some I have known over the years. When some won’t even cross the street or get out of bed to come to church , this couple traveled 70 miles each way. And sometimes they came twice a week to worship their Savior.
Now picture the scene. The house rented by this poor couple was much different from the king’s palaces these Magi were accustomed to. Yet they enter the house in humble awe. Imagine Mary and Joseph watching as these men bow down before this child with their faces to floor and then rise to open their gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Gold was a gift for a king. Frankincense was used by the priests as they prayed in the temple. And myrrh. That was used to prepare a body for burial. What did these men have in mind when they offered these gifts? We can’t really say much more than honoring the Child.
But God’s words now tells us how appropriate these gifts were. Gold to honor the King of kings born for us all. Frankincense for the Son who brings our prayers before God the Father in heaven. And myrhh. Myrhh for the One who would go to his death for us all.
What a special moment! But where was this all leading? 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. They disappeared off the radar screen of history. Wouldn’t you like to know what followed? I would. What did they do? Who did they tell? How did their lives change?
And yet, I think that’s the way they would have wanted it. That come away from here not thinking about these men. Instead where that epiphany star led them. To the Child, our Lord and Savior. The one born, then lived, died and rose again for us Gentiles too. To him be glory forever and ever Amen.