HB & GD 30-12-07
Epiphany Mt 2: 1-23
I’d like to look at the Epiphany story this morning
Story: The Readers’ Digest once asked this question: Have you ever imagined what would have happened if there had been three wise women instead of three wise men at the Epiphany?
They suggested that if there had been three wise women:
1. They would have asked for directions to the stable locally instead of going to King Herod.
2. They would have arrived on time and helped deliver the baby
3. They would have cleaned the stable and brought practical for the family to eat – like a casserole.
4. And there would have been peace on earth!”
1. Why did God reveal Jesus to the Magi?
We know the story of the Magi coming to worship Jesus very well.
But have you ever stopped to wonder why God revealed Jesus to the Magi and not the “Good and the Great” personified by King Herod
1.1 Who were the Magi
Very little is known about the Magi.
Matthew doesn’t even record how many of them there were.
All the Bible tells us is that they came from the East to Jerusalem.
It is generally accepted that “the Magi were a priestly caste from Persia once a mighty country where modern Iran and Iraq are now located.”
They were probably astrologers
In the second century, a church father named Tertullian suggested that these men were kings because the Old Testament had predicted that kings would come to worship the Christ.
Tertullian also concluded that there were three kings based on the number of gifts mentioned, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In the sixth century, someone decided that their names were Melchior, Baltazar and Gaspar.
And the term Magi is the base from which our modern words “magician” and “magistrate” are derived.
The Magi, in the eyes of the Jewish people to whom St. Matthew wrote his Gospel , had two strikes against them.
1. 1. 1 The first strike against the Magi was that they were Gentiles – Persians to be precise. After all weren’t the Jews alone God’s chosen people.
1. 1.2 But the second and more important strike was that they were astrologers. And astrology was expressly forbidden – on pain of death – in the OT. (see Dt 18:9-14)
2. So why did God reveal himself to astrologers?
I can think of three reasons why God revealed Himself to the Magi.
2.1. Gospel for all nations
Firstly God revealed Jesus to the Magi to show us that the Gospel - that Jesus’ birth heralded - is for all nations.
It is not just to the select few righteous people in the world.
We don’t have to wait until we are living a “morally good life” before God seeks us out.
If moral perfection was God’s criteria, I doubt any of us would be sitting in church today.
God accepts us “warts and all” – and these Magi, I am sure, had big warts!!!
2. 2. The Magi sought Jesus
The second reason - that I think God revealed Jesus to the Magi - was that the Magi were SEEKING God, as best they knew how.
The Magi sought Christ out to worship him.
God honours a spirit within a person that SEEKS God.
We won’t get everything right – but if we have a right heart God will honour us
And God reached out to the Magi – where they were – by a Star.
But that wasn’t a chance Star – God had ordained and it had been prophesied over a millenium earlier by Balaam the prophet when he said – referring to Jesus:
17 "I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near.
A Star will come out of Jacob;
a sceptre will rise out of Israel. (Nu. 24:17 NIV)
2.3. The Attitude of the Magi
My third reason why God revealed Jesus to the Magi was that they had a number of right attitudes.
2. 3.1 They obeyed the leadings of God
The first of these right attitudes was that they were obedient to the guidance of God. They weren’t too big to follow the star. As St. Matthew records them saying:
“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Mt. 2:2)
They weren’t star gazers – they put their beliefs into action.
And even though they didn’t know the destination they were prepared to step out in faith.
Following the leading of the Lord can be quite risky and it can be time consuming.
The Magi probably had to go from Persia to Jerusalem – a journey of a good 1000 miles – on foot and travelling with camels.
It could well have taken several months. But they persevered over dangerous territory too – with bandits everywhere.
I wonder if I would have been prepared to follow a star for so long?
2. 3. 2. Attitude 2 - They sought Jesus for the right reasons
The second right attitude that the Magi had was that they came “to worship him” (Mt. 2:2).
It’s quite a challenge isn’t it? Do I come to church to worship Jesus – or for some other reason?
2.3.3 Attitude 3 - They gave Jesus of the very best that they had.
The third right attitude that the Magi had was that they brought the very best they had.
They bought costly gifts to Jesus
2.3.3.1. Gold
Gold indicated Kingship. What is more fitting than gold for a King!
If Jesus is to be the King in my life, then I am challenged by the thought: What gold can I bring to Jesus today?
What do I hold onto as precious that I can give to the Lord?
2.3.3.2. Frankincense
Why did the Magi give frankincense to Jesus?
Frankincense was an ingredient used by the priests in temple worship to blend with the smell of the sacrifices. Frankincense was brought to symbolise worship.
If we wish to worship God, Jesus wants us to offer up our lives as a sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom 12:1).
What is the frankincense that we can offer Jesus today?
2. 3.3.3. Myrrh
In Jesus’ time, people used Myrrh to embalm their dead. A thoughtless gift, you might say for a baby shower?
Not for this baby. These Magi knew that Jesus was born to die.
Hebrews 10:10 says, "And … we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Myrrh reminds me that Jesus came to die on a Cross – to bring all of us into a new relationship with God.
In return Christ expects us to die to our old selfish desires and take on the desires of God.
St. Paul put it well when he said in Galatians 2:21
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”
2.3.4 Attitude 4 – They did what God called them to do.
The final attitude that I can find commendable about the wise men was that they did what God called them to do.
Mt. 2:12 is often omitted – and is certainly overlooked - in an Epiphany carol service but we over look it at our peril
“Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way”
What a challenge to us – simply to do what God wants us to do and not count the cost. If Herod had caught up with the wise men, he would have had their heads.
There are times in life when God calls us – and we must respond – regardless of the cost.
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(Contrast that with the attitude of the Jewish leadership.
King Herod sought Jesus out - to kill him.
And the chief priests and scribes were - at best – ambivalent to Christ, if not hostile.
We all know the story well of King Herod and the slaughtering the innocents in Bethlehem.
3. King Herod
But who was King Herod and why did he feel so threatened?
Herod the Great lived from 73 BC 73 to 4 BC
He was made king of the Judea by the Romans as a client king
Herod is known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and other parts of the ancient world.
His most famous project was the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, sometimes referred to as Herod’s Temple.
He also built the fortresses at
Herodion,
Machaereus (probably the fortress where John the Baptist was held by Herod’s son Herod Antipater) and
the mountain fortress of Masada.
Herod also built the imposing seaport of Caesarea.
Herod was however an insecure man – and saw a conspiracy around every corner.
He was married ten times – and even executed his favourite wife the Hasmonean princess Marianme I because he suspected her of treason
But it wasn’t just his wives who were in danger of Herod’s megalomania.
Herod executed two of his sons Aristobulus (in 7 BC) and Antipater, in 4 BC because he suspected them of conspiracy against him.
When the Emperor Augustus heard of these
executions, he remarked that it would be preferable to be Herod’s pig (hus) than his son (huios) - a very insulting remark to any Jew.
Herod probably died of a cancer-like affection called Fournier’s gangrene, which was made more acute by the problem of Herod’s succession, and the factional strife in his family.
Interestingly Herod was an Edomite and although he converted to Judaism – he was not considered a true Jew.
Perhaps he felt the threat of Jesus because of an Old Testament prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah
He will wipe out you Moabites and destroy those tribes who live in the desert. 18Israel will conquer Edom and capture the land of that enemy nation. (Nu. 24:17-19 CEV).
Why Herod was so scared of Jesus, we will
never really know.
Did he really believe that the little baby Jesus could overthrow his kingdom by force of arms?
Or was he simply paranoid against any perceived threat?
Whatever the real reason, the challenge of the Magi TO US today is this.
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If we want to hear from God we need come to in worship to Jesus rather than in fear.
We are challenged to make Jesus Lord of our lives – rather than fear losing control over our destiny
Perhaps all this is summed up in the words of a poster which read
Good Morning, This Is God! I will be handling your schedule today.
If I need your help, I’ll let you know – otherwise have a Good Day.
Let us close with a prayer
Heavenly Father, when I think of the gifts the wise men brought:
1. Gold – let me bring to Jesus what I hold precious
2. Frankincense – let me bring Christ my true worship
3. Myrrh – let me die to self and live for You, day by day
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
Amen
