Royal Games
Mathew 2:1-12
This morning we are going over one of the Good verses Evil stories that are all through the bible. We are talking about a clash of kings, sort of. We have at least 3 kings involved and it could be 5 or more.
There are a lot of holes in the story because we are just not told by Matthew or any other Gospel writer, the details. Much of what we learn about the situation comes from Roman History and records other than the Bible directly.
The dates that have been set: the date of birth and going to and from Egypt all come from guesses based on a statement about Herod’s death being between an eclipse and a Passover celebration. Astronomers do some heavy math and tie it all to our calendar.
It is widely believed that our nativity scene confuses us about the timeline. The arrival of the Magi probably happens about two years after the birth if Jesus. The hints in scripture are entered the house, the child and then Later Herod’s choice to have boys 2 years and under murdered.
This morning I want to talk about the kings involved. Herod the Great: The delightful little man was hated by the Jews because of his successful alliance with Rome. He had been appointed king by the Roman Senate in 40 BC. (Roman History) When he was appointed he asked for the Title - King of the Jews.
So when the Magi came looking for the one born - King of the Jews was a direct threat to Herod.
Herod was paranoid at least and more likely insane. We believed everyone was out to get him. He had three of his sons, his wife and his mother-in-law put to death because he saw them as threats to his power. He had untold numbers of others killed and groups of 3000 killed just to demonstrate his power and to keep control.
Generally he was not a nice guy. He was only half Jewish and the Jews didn’t accept him, though he did receive some favor of the Jews because he rebuilt the Temple.
He was a terrific architect. His cities are always described and being magnificent. He build shrines the his murdered family members, I guess he missed them. Many of the buildings and systems he designed and build were feats of engineering that were beautiful and advanced in the technology of the day.
Even with all the physical things he did that were good for the kingdom (his). He knew he was unpopular in Galilee, and all of Jedua. When he was close to death he wanted to make sure there would be mourning when he died. To make sure, he ordered some of Jerusalem’s most distinguished citizens to be arrested on trumped up charges and sentenced to death.
Their execution was to take place the minute he died.
It ends up that the order was never carried out. Someone changed the orders or realized that if he was dead then his order may not have authority.
Over all his was a kingdom based on cruelty and fear.
--The next king or kings are the ones we call the Wise men or Magi
Very little is known about them 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. And so it is more than likely they were NOT Jews.
Tradition has it that they were Magi from Persia, once a mighty country where modern Iran and Iraq are now.
What is known about the names and number comes from legends and what exactly Magi were is pulled from history about the Persian kings.
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 him.
He also concluded that there were three kings based on the number of gifts mentioned, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Popular myth calls them astrologers, it is generally accepted that “the Magi were a priestly caste (in the Persian Empire). Called the Meads.
The Meads - Magi worshipped the elements of fire, air, earth and water, especially fire.
The only temples they had were fire temples, generally on the roofs of houses, where they kept fires burning day and night – a bit like the Eternal Flame in Arlington Cemetery over President John Kennedy’s grave.
And the term Magi is the base from which both of our modern words “magician” and “magistrate” come from. Which seems like very different meanings.
Have you ever wondered how these Magi had a clue that the star would signal a king would be born to the Jews?
Remember the Babylonians carried the Jewish people off in slavery. Some of the Jews stayed behind, and shared bits and pieces of the Jewish faith and history. It is theorized that the ones that stayed behind kept alive the story of the messiah and the sign of his coming.
The Magi were historians of a sort, keeping up with the stories and prophecies of other peoples. I would guess that were great at their version of “Trivial Pursuit.”
---The third King, Jesus, an infant, a helpless child. No army, on real means of protection especially against powerful people.
It is interesting that the one title used about Jesus in the story is that of King of the Jews. It is a title used about Jesus at the beginning of his life and also at the end.
The important connection with this king is that some came to Worship and another came to eliminate him. Different reactions to the news that the prophesy of a king being fulfilled.
The Magi came a long way from their homes and great expense the bow down. They acknowledge the authority of a child.
What would make these men of power and wealth and a completely foreign culture have the slightest interest in a child? Did they have fear of what he would become?
We don’t have any clues in the bible or any other resource. All I can say is that must have been some star. It must have been something like had never been seen before. It must have been a clear sign from God.
On the other hand, how about Mr. Popular, King Herod the Great, King of the Jews. He was the most powerful person in the region, he had wealth and the complete backing of Rome. He killed off people in large numbers to keep control of the Jews.
What made him feel threatened by a child, what make him so desperate to eliminate the little boy that he would kill maybe hundreds or even thousands of boys just in case?
There was almost no chance that the boy could threaten his position because of the age difference alone. He was between 67 and 70 at his death and Jesus was between 2 and 4.
I guess he was different than the Magi, he had a problem with authority.
This whole section of scripture is more that just a struggle of kings for power. It is a definition of Good and evil because the only struggle is in the kings hearts and minds. The story is about the reaction to God’s invitation, a different relationship with the king, with God. The messiah was to be more than a savior to the Jews.
About two years before, The Shepard’s, were invited. They would have probably been Jewish, if you were to ask them. They were not likely to have gone to church much or even ever. They were the unwashed workers that smelled bad and their manners were less that acceptable and they probably used bad language. But the Angels invited them to see the child first.
About that time, the magi saw a new star and figured out what it meant. Perhaps even had been watching for it. They packed up the camels, went to the ATM and set out to see and worship the New king.
But, they were not any more perfect or ready to stand before the king than the shepards: it is pretty unlikely that they had been in prayer for the messiah to come. They probably worshiped other Gods. But they were also invited to come and see, the sign was a star, comet something fantastic. Something that just made them feel that had to make the trip. They were not the chosen people, not Jewish but Gentiles, much less worthy than even Shepard’s. But, they were willing to respond to an invitation.
So who or what does Herod Represent, Herod was half Jewish, he claimed his heritage when it was convenient. He must not have studied his bible, because he did not know the prophecy, he did not know his God.
Herod is one who learned of the event and saw it as a threat. He thought that the invitation meant that he could not have any more fun, or that if he acknowledged that authority of someone higher it made him less.
Herod is one of many that rejects the Good news. Not all people that reject Jesus are as powerful or violent, so sometimes you can’t tell by looking.
Over all it is easy to see in Roman History and the Bible that Herod’s actions were crazy and harsh and mean. But if you only look at some resources you might find historians telling you about his good side and his compassion.
For example: During a famine in 25 B.C., Herod melted down a gold plate he owned to use to purchase corn to feed the starving people. (Barclay, p. 19)
He rebuilt cities, improved water and sanitation and improved the over all economy. He even started the rebuilding the temple of the Jews.
The Story of the magi is a story about really accepting an invitation and having a true reaction. When you meet the king, the light of the world, you are changed.
The Magi’s gifts:
Gold – the suitable gift for a king. Represents power
Frankincense – Used by priest , burned at prayer time to mingle with the prayers.
Mir – Used at burial – in preparation of the body. Christ was to die to save us and we are to die to self for him
Today the Christian Calendar We celebrate Epiphany. The sharing of the light to the gentiles. That sharing of the salvation offered through Jesus was not just with the Jews but with all that accept the invitation and bow to the authority of God by bowing to a seeming powerless king.
Have you seen the light?
All Glory be to God!
