January 6th, Matthew 2

SERMON: JANUARY 6, 2019
MATTHEW 2:1-12

Welcome to the first Sunday in 2019!  Today is the day we celebrate the “Epiphany of the Lord,” which commemorates the visitation of the Magi who came to pay homage to the Christ child, the Messiah.  Today is also commonly called “The Festival of the Kings,” although in most likely hood they were not kings.  It is more likely that they belonged to a priestly group called the Zoroastrianans who were known for paying attention to the stars, and who had an international reputation for astrology, which was in that time highly regarded as a science. There may, also, have been more of them as the Bible does not tell us that there were only three.  We just draw that conclusion because we are told that there were three gifts.

If you notice, Matthew did not give the Magi names.  Kings or not, they are only supporting actors in the story. In the end they follow the true King of Kings, and only His name is important; our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet, there are important things that we can learn from the Magi.  In fact, there are a lot of legends that have grown up around the story of the Magi.  Although we sing, “we three kings of orient are,” there is no evidence that these wise men were kings from the orient, and although every nativity set includes camels and the three magi with their gifts, they would not have been at the manger in the inn with the shepherds because of the amount of time it too for them to travel there.  This is not to say, that we should remove them from the manger scene, but to understand that their part in the story is important and there is much that we can learn from them..

The story of the Magi is one that shows us clearly how God works through a variety of people.  Here are the Magi who practiced another religion and were scientist, and God used them and their knowledge of the stars to bring them to Christ.  God also used them to let King Herod, and the chief religious’ leaders, in on the news that the Messiah had been born.

Have you ever noticed how God reaches out to all people everywhere, no matter whether they are rich or poor, or even of the Christian religion?  First, God announced the birth of the Christ child on Christmas through sending the angels to the shepherds who were tending their sheep in the fields.  It didn’t matter that the shepherds were not rich or that they smelled strongly of sweat, dirt and sheep, they were favored by God to learn of the Messiah’s birth long before others became aware of it.   Then God reaches out to the Magi via a star on Epiphany, and through them to the political and religious authorities of God’s own people; just as God reaches out through to each of us and through us to others.  This morning we heard a good example of this in our WOW story. When we least expect it, God uses us in ways that we never dreamed of.

The Magi, or Wise Men, are also a wonderful example of spiritual diligence, for following the star would not have been easy. They did not say “presto” and arrive at the stable.  In fact, it is estimated that it took up to two years for them to get to baby Jesus, who would then have been a toddler.  Yet, they persevered through cold of night, heat of day, sand storms and all the other dangers such as robbers and such, not to say the resources it would have taken to make such a journey. .  It is clear that they traveled at great costs and risk to worship Jesus.  This begs each of us to ask ourselves and search our hearts as to whether we too have that kind of spiritual diligence to find Christ, serve Him, and to worship Him on a daily basis.

Have you ever noticed the number of examples in the Bible of people of faith?  People from all walks of life.  There is no doubt that the Magi in the Christmas story are fine examples of faith. They most likely knew of the prophesy in the Old Testament that a Messiah would be born.  But it was faith alone, that led them to follow the star, and keep following it even though the scribes and priests they told about it along the way were unbelieving.  And it was faith that made them fall on their knees to worship the Christ Child.  In fact, they made the whole journey on faith.  They believed in Christ even though they had never seen Him until they reached their destination.  We are reminded that in John 20:29, Jesus said to Thomas, “because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Clearly, God does whatever it takes to reach out to all people no matter what their status here on earth, just as He reached out to the shepherds tending their flocks and the Magi who would have had a high social standing.  God loves each of us so much that He sent His only son, to be born in a stable, to reach out to His children here on earth, and ultimately die on the cross for our sins.  Ultimately, Jesus draws all people to himself as he is lifted up on the cross. In Christ Jesus, no one is beyond God’s embrace.

As we leave here this morning, at the beginning of this new year, may the faith and the diligence of the wise men inspire each of to greater service to Christ.  Although the world may appear that it is getting crazier and crazier as we move on in time, let us not forget that God is still in control, and works on His on-time line.  Let us hold our heads up high, and publicly claim Christ as our own, proclaiming His message of hope and love to those around us.  Let us not forget Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, and His resurrection.  As a popular bumper sticker says, “Wise Men Still Seek Him!”

Amen