January 3, 2021 – Epiphany Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Dear Friends in Christ,
Can’t you picture the Epiphany story played out in a silent movie with the exciting music in the background? The setting exotic. The characters are royal, magical, mysterious. You’ve got the essential ingredients. You’ve got a villain in King Herod who is trying to trick the Wise Men who are dashing in their bright clothes. If we could we would be booing Herod and cheering on the Wise Men as they make their way to Jesus. Good over evil as the Magi complete their quest. We could just leave it at that and the sermon would be over, but that won’t do.
This isn’t an overboard melodrama. These are not larger-than-life characters playing their parts. There is something ordinary and real life about this narrative. The storyboard is complete so let’s watch it play out . . .
“EPIPHANY MELODRAMA”
We get right to some of the main characters right away. Wise men come to Herod looking for the one born King of the Jews. This disturbs Herod and it seems the whole city . . . the drama starts to build.
Herod is a dichotomy, which means he has many aspects to his personality. We always play up his ruthlessness and his killings of his family but as with many dictators he also did some noble things. He built the last temple. He eased people’s taxes when times got tough. He used his own wealth to feed starving people. Under the surface this guy did not respect human life. He felt power meant he had to destroy those who threatened him. Whether they did or not they had to go. And so it is with Jesus.
The Wise Men were perhaps remarkable men of their day, but by no means unique. They were philosophers and astrologers and soothsayers. These Magi may have been sincere seekers of the truth but it wasn’t their great wisdom that got them to Bethlehem.
God put the star in the sky. Did you see what they call the Christmas star in the sky two weeks ago? Didn’t it look like the star as you have always seen it or imagined it? I stood on our deck, looked southwest and marveled at this occurrence. I thought to myself, “Thank you Lord, in the midst of everything surrounding us, you shine a star as a reminder that it is your working in our daily lives that leads us on.”
That is what God did with the Wise Men. These Gentiles are led by God something that the Lord has been doing for thousands of years. The encompassing love of God for the world and every human being is played out again and again. He wants all to come to a knowledge of His truth and under the shelter of salvation in Christ.
How were they brought to Bethlehem? Not by their astrology knowledge. It was God and God alone. He spoke to them with a star, something they were looking for. What a wonderful backdrop to our melodrama. God had prepared the world for the coming of the Prince of Peace. When we are not seeking Him, He finds us. This is what the Magi were brought to see – their salvation and ours, as the Son of God had been born in the likeness of men.
Could the opposition prevail against God’s practical love? Nada. No. Herod actually enlightened these Gentiles with the truth of which he and his people were custodians – the truth of God’s Word, profitable for correction, reproof, and teaching because God inspires it. Micah centuries ago had directed people to the town of Bethlehem and the clans of Judah. The prophet still points the way for us. And God’s grace is not thwarted.
In the drama the Wise Men finally arrive and we rejoice with them. What is their response? They had great joy. Then they worshipped. Then they gave their gifts. They are not paying a price they are paying homage to a King.
This King would eventually gift us the gift of redemption, not with silver and gold, but with His holy, precious blood and innocent suffering and death. This brings us great joy day after day after day. We are part of the story. We too worship. We too give our gifts. We too have been led to the star and the main character of the melodrama – Jesus the Christ.
Many of the silent movies always had “The End.” This was so you knew when to leave. We have no such thing. This screenplay continues on. We have an eternity waiting for us. We are going to be with the star forever. That is a drama I can’t wait for, what about you?
Amen.