Take Another Look

Because of the way we often see it, the coming of the Magi seems to modern hearers to be charming and quaint, with the most compelling image being that of the star appearing in the sky. Consider, however, that Matthew never actually said that there were only three men in this group of visiting dignitaries who entered Jerusalem, demanding to know the location of the child who had been born the King of the Jews. Given that they traveled from somewhere in the east, with valuable gifts, it is more likely that they came with an entourage, with a security detachment. In short, their appearance alone was enough cause to a stir in the city where Herod ruled by Roman authority, but without Divine approval.

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. … through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

We celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany this morning, although the actual date of the feast is tomorrow, January 6, the 12th Day of Christmas. I admit, the thought of preparing three sermons this weekend is more than I wanted to attempt, and the idea of having you all come out for worship on a Sunday and the Monday following during a cold snap was not something that I felt prepared to sell. So, you’ll have to wait a year or two for me to preach the text from the 2nd Sunday after Christmas from the Gospel according to Luke, if that’s ok.

The Old Testament lesson from connects to our Gospel text with these words:

Isaiah 60:1–3 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

The passage closes, in v. 6, with the following words:

Isaiah 60:6 ESV

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

Perhaps this is what took place on that evening - we assume it to be evening since, after all, the visitors mentioned seeing a star that led them from their homeland in the East. In fact, since the star didn’t actually lead them to Jerusalem, they came, however, because that was the seat of authority, that was the place from where the kings in Israel ruled since David conquered the Jebusites and established his throne in Zion. When you’re looking for authority, for influence, isn’t it normal to go to the places where people of authority or influence are expected to be found?

Matthew 2:1–4 ESV

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.” 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.

Here in Gary, isn’t it normal to look to City Hall, Crown Point, Indianapolis, and, especially, Washington, D.C. for solutions to our problems here? We’ve been doing it for decades now, hoping that the next election would bring with it, the solution, the healing, the salvation that our city needs. At the recent funeral of the Hon. Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher, he was celebrated for the way he got the Federal Government to invest in his efforts to stabilize and energize this city in the wake of the sudden population, economic and industrial shifts that, coupled with the alarming impact of the growing illegal drug trade that fueled a horrific plague of violence and death. His efforts had been studied and largely followed by each administration that followed him, such that the most promising career paths in this city have been those of grant writer, lawyer, and politician/government employee. To truly view Gary as a city in desperate straits, one would have to avoid looking at the City Hall parking lot, which has a fair amount of Mercedes Benz and BMW automobiles filling the assigned slots. But if you want to talk to the people who seemingly would know what’s important, where else would you go?

Matthew 2:4–6 ESV

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.’ ”

Matthew 2:5–6 ESV

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.’ ”

Matthew 2:1–4 ESV

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.” 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.

Not in Jerusalem, but in Bethlehem. Not because human power assembled there, but because the Word of the Lord said so. The Word of the Lord elevated Bethlehem in Judah, a plaec that we describe in the Christmas hymn as “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The town, whose name is derived from the Hebrew “Beth Lechem,” (בֵּית לֶחֶם) meaning “house of bread,”

William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 174.

was described in a 2017 National Geographic article by Simon Worrall entitled, “The Little Town of Bethlehem Has a Surprising History,” with the following:

Bethlehem is a collection of very fertile villages that grows almonds and, more importantly, olives for oil. It’s so fertile because Bethlehem sits on an enormous aquifer, which eventually became the water source for Jerusalem in around 200 BCE. There were so many Jewish pilgrims coming to Jerusalem that the city couldn’t cope. The older water supply was contaminated by the animals slaughtered in the temple. They needed fresh water and this came from Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was built specifically to sit on top of the aquifer and be the defensive military installation guarding the whole infrastructure. It’s a fortress town amongst a series of villages, which is why the Bible always talks about the best tasting water coming from Bethlehem.

That’s what Bethlehem is: a place that guards the water. About 2,300 years ago, they built a reservoir. Over the course of history another three gigantic reservoirs were built just to the south of Bethlehem, which became known as Solomon’s Pools. They’re still there. - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/12/bethlehem-christ-birth-blincoe/

Bethlehem was important, but not because of the people of prestige who went about their moving and shaking there. It was important because it was literally the source of living water for Jerusalem. With Christ’s birth, it would become, in its fullness, what its natural situation prophesied.

What was Bethlehem on that day? At first, to Herod, it was only interesting for the water it could deliver to him and Jerusalem. To the Magi, it was vital because they “saw His star in its rising, and came to worship Him.” To the chief priests and scribes of the people, God’s Word declared it to be the birthplace of a Messiah who they had lost interest in finding.

God’s Word does two things when it encounters us: it reveals who we are, and shows us what God has for us. It explains to us what the signs and wonders truly mean, how to understand God’s interventions in our lives in the way that He intends us to understand them.

Matthew 2:7–12 ESV

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.” 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. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Apart from God’s Word, the Magi might have went away disappointed, thinking that they had gone on a “fool’s errand.” Apart from God’s Word, Herod and his court might have escaped the judgment that we now assess him, and would have remained extolled for his great buildings.

Apart from God’s Word, the Church would be seen as a social entity, judged on the basis of its ability to marshal influence and deploy resources to assist people in getting help or finding stability, having “their best life now.” It’s influence would be associated with its size and, for most congregations, that would be viewed as small.

God’s Word declares that the Church is more than that. The Church, according to God’s Word, is the Bride of Christ, where the pure Gospel is proclaimed and the life giving sacraments are distributed. The Church is the Kingdom of God manifested on earth, where the Great Commandment is the Mission Statement, and the Great Commission is the Vision Statement. The Church is the Body of Christ, where Christ is seen as we go about in word and deed, showing the truth of “Emmanuel – God-With-Us,” and the objective reality that you are forgiven is brought home to you so that you can “taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the one who puts trust in Him,” as you hear His Gospel and eat His Body and drink His Blood, receiving for you, the forgiveness of sins. The Church is where you are set free to “go in peace, serve the Lord” without fear of failure because of the weakness of your flesh, sharing in the revelation that the Lord spoke to Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This is the meaning of Epiphany: the presence of Christ, found in a place that seems almost nothing, and yet is everything. The revelation of Christ for you, causing you to worship and give of yourself, not in order to appease His wrath, but in response to His loving gift of Himself to you and for you. Not just the child in a house, surrounded by gold, frankincense and myrrh, but the Man, surrounded by His people, hanging on a cross, then standing before His disciples, risen from the dead! This is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God! He is for you, and He is risen. HE is risen indeed, Hallelujah!

So let the peace of God, that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.