Mark 1:4-11 A New Year – a New Start
So, here we are at the start of a New Year! It’s mind-boggling to think that it is now more than 2000 years since the birth of Jesus Immanuel (God-With-Us) there in Bethlehem; more than 2000 years have passed since the visit of the of the shepherds, and over 2000 years since the long journey of the Magi, who travelled all that way from the East.
Last Tuesday we celebrated Epiphany - the travelling, and the visit, of the Magi to the baby Jesus. I have to admit that I am still reflecting upon that journey and visit, even though we are in the second weekend of the New Year now! It’s just such an amazing story, made in such faith and trust!
Epiphany means ‘appearance’ or ‘showing’, and by it we remember how God’s promise of renewed hope and light for the world was revealed to ALL people in the world. For we remember that the Magi were not of the Jewish faith, but of (it is thought) a Persian mystic tradition which placed great importance on reading the ‘signs’ in the skies, to tell them about important events to come.
So it is that Matthew’s Gospel (2:1-11) tells us how the Magi from the East had seen that special star in the night skies, and how they interpreted this to be a sign heralding an event of great importance for all people, for all time to come. A star they felt they had to follow as it travelled westward in the skies, so they could find out what the nature of this event would be. For they knew the star announced the birth of a New King, and that his coming would mean great change (perhaps upheavals) in the lives of a great many people.
What sort of world did these mysterious travellers find as they journeyed through Judea, and set foot in the little Town of Bethlehem, where the star seemed to rest? On their way they had paid a visit to the royal palace, as they had assumed (as we might have too!) that the new king would be born there. But instead they found King Herod, who was so jealous in guarding his position and status, and was so suspicious of the motives of others – including those closest to him – that he trusted no-one. Indeed, he had had two of his own sons executed because he thought they would try to usurp his power and crown. Herod listened very carefully to the Magi as they shared their insight and news with him. He seemed very interested too, and wanted the travellers to return to him to tell him the precise location of the New King’s birth, so he too could go and pay homage – or so he said!
Overall, the world of the West that the Magi found was badly in need of change. The people of God were living under the oppression of the Roman Empire, and many of the kings of Judea (like Herod) were power-crazy politicians who looked to their own welfare, over and above that of the people. They were corrupt servants, not of God, but of Rome.
The people, on the other hand, were generally poor – and getting poorer. They were becoming very influenced by the ‘materialism’ that the pagan lifestyle of Rome offered, and many were becoming indifferent to the ‘true faith’ of Judaism. There were wars and rumours of wars; there were radicalised, revolutionary groups who sought to further their own ends by the use of violence and terror; many people became innocent victims to the inhumanity of others. Land had been, and was continuing to be, robbed from the people by the more powerful oppressor. Certainly, their time was in need of great change – they needed a new spirit of hope, justice and peace in their lives.
For the Magi, the star in the sky was a sign indicating the possibility of such change. A New King who would bring peace with justice, new hope and renewed faith into the lives of His people. And when they found the new-born child, there in the manger, they offered him their gifts: gold (indicating his royal status); frankincense (indicating the power he would receive through prayer), and myrrh (the gift of bitter, extremely long-lasting perfume, indicating the eternal reign that would be His). Yes, there in that humble dwelling lay the New King who would make possible such great change in the hearts of people, from that time onwards. The birth of the Holy One of God, news of which would spread from Bethlehem that day, and continue to the corners of the world, beginning with the Magi from the east as they secretly went on their way and began their long journey home.
So, for us today, perhaps we can relate to the world as it was found by the Magi, that eventful day. As we look at our world, we see examples of the same corruption, the same self-seeking, power-crazed individuals and governments. We see the same violence and oppression perpetrated by one people against another. We have met with wars, and heard of rumours of wars, in our own time. Some things do not change, it seems.
Yet change is what is needed – now as in the time of Jesus’ birth. And change is what we have the chance of this New Year. A new sense of the spirit of hope; of peace with justice, of renewed compassion and love, towards all people. God was, and continues to be, revealed in the life and teaching of Jesus, the Word-made-Flesh, and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This we see in our verses from Mark’s Gospel. Some 30 years after his birth, Jesus is baptised by John, and the Holy Spirit is SEEN to be active and working in his life. The Voice of God is heard to speak of pleasure and love in Jesus and the renewal made possible for us through Jesus’ baptism (’repentance’ speaking of change of heart, of life direction). God’s Holy Spirit is still there – here amongst us – to show us the ways of God, the ways of change-for-the-better. If only we would be open to the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and listen!
For being open to the Holy Spirit’s inspiration means we need to repent. Like in John’s baptism, our (and the world’s) old life needs to be washed away, and change brought about in-line with the will and purpose of God – and our commitment in faith to see it happen!
You know, I remember that at the eve and dawning of the new Millennium, Christians and people of other world faiths joined together in the spirit of such faith as the Millennium Resolution was recited:
Let there be respect for the earth,
Peace for its people,
Love in our lives,
Delight in the good,
Forgiveness for past wrongs and, from now on,
A new start.
Here lays, in faith, the possibility of real change, and a ‘new start’. A new desire for peace with justice, forgiveness, and love for all people is revealed as the will and desire of God for us – and all people – today. Just as the love of God was revealed to the Magi (and hence to the whole world) over 2000 years ago through the birth of Jesus, God’s will and purpose continues to be revealed to us – if we would but ‘repent’ and be open to God’s Holy Spirit. It is a matter of sadness that the Millennium Resolution still needs so badly to be heard –and acted upon - today. What will we do about it! Amen.
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Disclaimer: I have been privileged to share with God’s people, for more than ten years since my Ordination, many, many sermons and Bible studies. As so often, preachers ‘absorb’ words and other insights without knowing or remembering their original source. If any of the above seems somehow ‘familiar’, please accept my humble apologies – I have not wittingly reproduced any writing as my own that should be otherwise acknowledged.
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