OK all you Trekkies, you fans of everything Captain Kirk and Klingon, can you tell me when the first Star Trek episode aired? Was it in 1959, 1966, or 1971? If you answered 1966, you are correct - partially. 1966 was the year the crew of the Enterprise took off for the stars on prime time TV. But about two thousand years before that, another crew, piloting perhaps a caravan of camels, pursued a star that had heralded the birth of an amazing king. I’m talking about the magi of the Bible of course. Their star trek was no made-for-TV movie; it was a historical event – a search for a child that revealed the hearts of men. What does the magi’s search for Jesus reveal about us? Let’s find out as we take a closer look at the first ever star trek.
Who made up the cast of real life characters called the magi? Meet Captain Caspar from Qatar (show picture). No, we don’t really know whether that was one of the magi’s names though that’s what tradition suggests. And we’re not really sure that these men came from the Arabian Peninsula or somewhere near there like present-day Iraq, but it’s probable. About 600 years before Christ’s birth the Jews were exiled to this part of the world. During their 70 years there at least one Israelite rose to a position of power and influence. That individual was Daniel, the same Daniel who spent a night in the lions’ den. For 60 years Daniel held important Babylonian and Persian government posts, including Chairman of the Magi (Daniel 2:48). I can’t imagine Daniel studying the stars with his magi underlings without telling them about the true God who made the heavens and the earth. Daniel must have done more than that. He must have also told the magi about the promise God made to send a savior from sin through the Israelites. Why else would magi, 600 years later, care about the birth of a baby in Israel? Daniel’s bold witness is a reminder not to underestimate the impact of sharing our faith with our co-workers and friends. You never know how many generations of people will benefit!
So how did the magi, in what we presume was a faraway land, learn that the Savior had finally come? While angelic light had alerted shepherds outside of Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus, starlight would somehow communicate that news to the magi. Now many people think that the miraculous star was a constant companion as the magi made their way to Bethlehem. If so, why did the magi stop in Jerusalem for directions? It seems that, after announcing Jesus’ birth, the star disappeared for a time. But figuring that the King of the Jews would be born in the capital city of Jerusalem the magi headed there. You can understand their confusion then when no one in Jerusalem seemed to know anything about the birth of a king. Ironically it was the eventual enemies of Jesus: the chief priests and teachers of the law who pointed the magi in the right direction – to Bethlehem just 10 km away. But how did they know where to look for the Messiah when they didn’t even know he had been born? Simple. They checked the Bible. The teachers of the law knew that 700 years earlier the prophet Micah had written: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6).
Instructed by King Herod to make a careful search for the child, the magi set out for Bethlehem and were overjoyed when the star appeared again and directed them to the exact house where Jesus was. That house was probably not very grand considering Jesus’ step-father, Joseph, wasn’t wealthy. But we don’t hear about the magi snickering at the cheap sofa or the outdated wallpaper. Instead these men, who were used to receiving honor and respect, got down on their hands and knees and approached the Christ-child in humility. They capped their visit by offering Jesus gifts that were fit for a king. The magi’s search for Jesus revealed the hearts of true believers.
Does your approach to this morning’s worship service match that of the magi? Did you enter this building with humility, awed by the fact that Jesus, the Son of God and your Savior, was going to speak to you through your pastor? Did your lips widen into a grin as you considered how this same Jesus would be giving you his body and blood for your personalized forgiveness in the sacrament of Holy Communion? Or did you instead plop yourself down into your chair before blankly staring up at the skylight hoping that the service would be short so that you can “get on with life”?
Such an attitude declares Jesus to be an intrusion. Isn’t that what King Herod thought? When he heard about the birth of a king, he was disturbed. He wanted to be the only king of Israel. He didn’t want any rivals. But Herod was pretty good at hiding his true feelings. He was, at least, able to trick the magi into believing that he too really wanted to worship the Christ-child and would do so as soon as the magi were able to pinpoint his location. Herod may have fooled the magi but he couldn’t fool God. Nor can you. He knows when you’d rather be anywhere else than here. He knows when you’re daydreaming during the family devotion. He knows when you go through the motions of serving him because you just want others to think you’re a pretty decent person.
There was another group whose attitude towards the news of Jesus’ birth was perhaps even more shocking than Herod’s. I’m thinking of the chief priests and the teachers of the law. Why didn’t any of them go with and see the newborn king and their savior? Did they think it was enough for a pious believer to be able to recite Bible passages as they did when they told Herod where the Messiah was to be born? Martin Luther once quipped: “Faith doesn’t sit on a believer’s heart like foam on beer.” True faith is not just knowing God’s Word; it’s putting it into action - something these religious leaders failed to do on this occasion.
My heart shrinks when I think of how much I have in common with these religious leaders. Like them, I have been well trained in God’s Word. I can give prompt answers to your theological questions and even back them up with chapter and verse. I know well the Parable of the Good Samaritan, but do I eagerly and cheerfully reach out to those who need help as did the Good Samaritan? I love the Parable of the Lost Sheep, but do I willingly pursue straying members like the shepherd in that parable, or do I hope they’ll somehow “disappear off the radar” so I don’t have to bother with them anymore? And what about you, members of St. Peter’s? There aren’t a lot of Bible class questions I can stump you with, but are your Sunday answers translating into Monday actions? You know, for example, that true love is forgiving. Is that what you practice, or are you too like the unresponsive religious leaders of Jerusalem – content to know what God’s Word says but not eager to put it into practice and to pursue the Christ child?
Oh, how desperately we need Jesus’ healing touch and forgiveness for our hypocrisy! Thank God we have such forgiveness. A star once led magi to Jesus proclaiming him to be King. But there would be another star, our very own sun in fact, that proclaimed him Savior. It did that when it stopped shining on Good Friday, as if turning away in shame unable to bear the sight of its maker’s pain and rejection because of our sins. God the Father’s surging anger over our sins caused the sun to suffer a blackout as it were, but it shone again, perhaps more brightly than ever before on Easter Sunday when it revealed an empty tomb – as empty as the cup of suffering and God’s anger which Jesus drank down to the dregs so that we will never have to.
What is the proper response to Jesus’ love and forgiveness? Our text suggests an answer. When the magi were ready to leave Bethlehem, they were told in a dream to head home a different route, a route that wouldn’t take them back to King Herod as originally planned. In their continuing humility, the magi obeyed. When we return home this morning, we too will want to take a different route. If you came here angry with a neighbor, go home with forgiveness. If you arrived with bitterness due to sibling rivalry, go home and seek forgiveness. If you showed up agitated that you don’t have a nicer car, computer, or more toys, go home content that Jesus loves you and promises to provide the things you need. We can, no, we will go home a different route because, like the magi, we have seen the King. We have basked in his forgiveness. We have received his power.
You may have known that the first TV episode of Star Trek was aired in 1966, but do you know what that episode was called? It was entitled: “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” But there is no such place. Man has been everywhere – at least Jesus, the God-man has been everywhere. He’s even been to hell and back and now fills the whole universe. You don’t have to look for him or for salvation. He came looking for you and has found you. Get down on your knees then with the magi and worship this Christ with hearts full of genuine joy and action. Amen.
SERMON NOTES
Where might the magi have learned about the coming Savior from sin? What encouragement does this give as you tell others about Jesus?
While a star announced the birth of Jesus, what pointed the magi in the right direction? How can you use this truth with someone who says: “I wish God would give me a sign like he did the magi.”
The magi found the Christ-child in a (presumably) humble house, yet they approached him with great joy and humility. In what ways do we still find Jesus in humble surroundings today? Why shouldn’t that detract from our joy or humility as we approach him?
Contrast the magi’s approach to Jesus with the approach of Herod and the chief priests. How are we often like Herod? The chief priests? How can we be certain the Jesus has forgiven all these sins?
God instructed the magi to go home another way. In what sense do we want to “go home another way” as we leave from this worship service?
