The Epiphany of Jesus Christ

The Rev. Tommy Thompson

Epiphany 2012 Year B

Matthew 2:1-12

Well the 12 days of Christmas has come to a close, yet we aren’t finished celebrating!  Isn’t that something? We need more time...more time to take the fullness of what’s happening here seriously...to savor it...to welcome it...to become what it is making us.

During these twelve days we have focused upon the baby born in the cave.  We have reveled in the thought that in this baby, born in a cave amongst animals and shepherds is the fullness of the Godhead.  That takes a few days to wrap your head around you know.  God is fully present in a real human being --even the most vulnerable of human beings.  The God of Israel is revealed to be one who will be one with His people through all aspects of human life and by so doing, redeem them from sin and death.  This is big stuff!  We surely need twelve days to rejoice...to be light...to celebrate... God has taken human flesh upon Himself for us and our salvation. 

But the more it sinks in...maybe after around 12 days of celebration...then something happens -- THE Epiphany!

The Old Testament prepared us well for this day.  But the people of God weren’t keeping vigil for it to happen.  God was coming...and you know how God is when he makes an entrance...he surprises us all...he upsets the normal flow of business...you’d think the people of God would be looking in those strange places by now, right?  Places where human reason and yes, even religion, would expect to be found by God.  

I mean the prophets said there’s something pretty special about Bethlehem...that it was one of the little clans of Judah...and from that little insignificant clan, one would come forth for the Father who is to rule in Israel...and this one’s origins are from old -- the ancient of days!  

But who was out keeping vigil in Bethlehem?  No one...their attention was turned toward  the big places like Rome.

So why should we expect the story to do anything but throw worldly minds a holy curve ball now?  So far God makes the grandest entry he’s ever made into His creation and he does so through a poor, young, unmarried but engaged Virgin named Mary...a mere teenager.  He made His appearance, not in Rome or Jerusalem, but in an insignificant little place--Bethlehem -- a ‘little’ clan of Judah..and he does so around animals and shepherds...  And since the Jewish people had no room for him to be born into their lives...the earth at least offered a cave to the Unapproachable One! 

Based on what’s happened so far in this story, there is absolutely no reason for us to think that the story will eventually line up with cultural or religious expectations.  If we have been attentive to the prophets, which would be unlike those of the first century Jewish world, we might expect what will happen next...but we, too, easily gloss over the story and continue to travel the same path we’ve always traveled -- the road the world teaches us to travel.  

I wonder though...I wonder if King Herod knew of some of these prophetic writings?  I wonder if he had read Isaiah 60 at some point.  Maybe he hoped for this to happen...

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

I could imagine King Herod hearing this... “Now this is good news...the nations streaming to me...to bring me the abundance of the sea...the wealth of the nations...Let the multitude of camels come and bring my gold and frankincense!”  Based on what we know of this man Herod, this would not surprise me at all...it would not surprise me if this were the only writing from the prophets he was aware of...because he believed it were for his benefit.

I can just see it now...the camels approaching...with a surprise riding on top...star gazers...the Jewish people were suspicious of these people and believed their religious worship of the stars to be an abomination.  But even with these religious Persian astrologers, known as magi, in the caravan, I wonder if he thought : “Yes, the Jewish people see this as an abomination...but what if...what if they are bringing me my gifts!?  What if they are coming to see the King of the Jews -- King Herod?”  Herod’s day just might be getting even better!

But then he hears about what these Persian astrologers are really doing...they’ve been hard at work studying, watching, and calculating the skies...and something very significant has happened...so significant that they travel a very far distance, likely on foot and on camels, from Persia, following this unique star to determine where it would lead them.  Now...that sounds like God at work doesn’t it...leading people somewhere while they don’t know where they’re going...they just have a strong sense that something bigger than themselves is at work here...so they follow and trust they will be led to something life-giving and good.

And their studies, the observation of the sky and one particular star, has led them to believe that a child has been born king of the Jews.  They have been led to the greater Jerusalem area not to pay homage to the one who everyone calls King -- Herod...but no, one that has just been born -- and they still do not even know who or where exactly this child-born-king is.  

Can you imagine Herod’s rage?  Herod, like the Roman emperor didn’t like competition!  He was known to be quite violent to those who stood in the way of his dreams and aspirations coming to fruition.  If foreigners are gonna show up on my turf they better be paying me homage...they better realize that I and I only am King of this region ... who is this child they seek?!  

Herod was so bent out of shape he called for ALL the chief priests and ALL the scribes...he wanted answers...could it be true?  Do I have competition?  Where is this King of the Jews-- the Messiah -- to be born?  and they told him, 

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for it has been written by the prophet:  ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’  

Now it’s time to stomp out those who stand in King Herod’s way...so he devised a clever , devious plan.  He secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  The he sent them to Bethlehem saying, ‘Go and search diligently for this child; and when you find him, bring me word so that i may also go and pay him homage.’

So the Persian astrologers went...the star led them to the place where it finally stopped.  And behold, the Epiphany of all Epiphanies occurred.  Those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to worship and adore the Christ!  As soon as they saw that the star had stopped the text says “They were overwhelmed with joy.”  Another one of those indications God is work...and they entered the place where the child and Mary were and they adored Him--they knelt down and paid him homage...opening their treasure chests full of the world’s wealth and offered not Herod but Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

And after this manifestation of the One true God to those who were before worshipping the stars, the magi left for their own country but by another road.  Yes, it was because God has made them aware of Herod’s evil scheme to take care of his new competition, but on a deeper and spiritual level--because when The Manifestation of God happens in our lives, we no longer travel the roads we used to travel...our lives begin to travel a new path...the path that leads to cross and resurrection -- to everlasting life in the kingdom of the Christ -- the real King of Jerusalem and the entire cosmos!  

Star gazers from Persia!?  Those aren’t Jewish people.  Quickly after the Messiah is born in Bethlehem of Judah the story already turns toward mission...that which the people of Israel have not accomplished in their many years of being set apart with this mission is being accomplished in the first few days of the Son of God’s incarnation in human flesh!  God is serious about the Jewish people being the light of the world...serious about this mission business...he wastes no time -- The Sun of Righteousness shines brightly and draws the nations to His light!  

I hope the Epiphany is happening for you after 12 days of celebration.  This good news of great joy is indeed for all people.  The uncontainable joy that we experience at his cradle is meant to eventually propel us away from the cradle and into the world with the good news for all to hear and come and see and experience for themselves!  

No Jewish person would’ve thunk that the first to experience the manifestation of God in the Child Jesus would be those sinful worshippers of the stars from Persia and not someone from the inside!  The people on the inside are busy trying to extinguish the light -- for it will reveal their sin and injustice...but the least likely are streaming to the light.

How is God using His baptized to be the star in the night sky?  How are you being a conduit through which His light shines bright to lead any peoples who might be gazing into that sky searching for meaning, for purpose, for that something greater than themselves that God’s prevenient grace is calling to their attention --to the hope of all the world -- Jesus Christ our life and our salvation!?   No matter who they are, no matter what color they are, no matter what or who they represent.

I hope The Epiphany is an wake up call for God’s people who continue to exclude ... who represent the sin of Herod more than the joy of the outsiders who are welcomed in.  I hope and I pray that The Epiphany leads our lives to be manifestations of the Jesus Christ for a world that gropes in darkness.  

Your Nativity, O Christ our God,

Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!

For by it, those who worshipped the stars,

Were taught by a Star to adore You,

The Sun of Righteousness,

And to know You, the Orient from on High.

O Lord, glory to You!

Amen.