Matthew 2:1-12
The One Born King!
Today is the day I get to tell you that you’ve been assembling your manger all wrong. If you’re like most people, then you’ve added extra people to the manger that were never truly there. In the manger is Mary and Joseph, and of course we have the baby Jesus. We heard on Christmas Eve the message of the angels to the shepherds. The shepherds then quickly make their way to the manger to meet this little child. Being a manger and having the shepherds come, there’s no doubt that there were animals galore all around. But there’s one last group that we all add because it’s just what we’ve always done. The three wise men never actually show up to the manger. In fact, the three wise men don’t even come until Jesus is already a toddler, about two years old. We know this because of the feast of the Holy Innocents that it’s the Wise Men who give Herod an idea about when the star appeared. Hence, we suppose that Jesus was about two by the time they arrive. For by the time the Wise Men arrive to Mary and Joseph, they’ve departed the manger and found better lodging in a house nearby. Still dwelling in Bethlehem, the Wise men find them much later than we all assume.
Today, we celebrate the epiphany of our Lord, the holy revelation of the Christ-child by the star of Bethlehem. Today is when the Wise Men come to see this little child and marvel at the mysteries of God revealed to them. As we enter this Epiphany season, this is what it’s all about, how God is revealing and pointing us to the one who came down from heaven. For today, we see the star led our way to this child, and learn:
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THAT THE TRUE KING HAS COME!
I.
Now, you would think with a star leading their way, the wise men wouldn’t need to stop and ask for directions to the place where baby Jesus was. You would think if they truly followed the star that it would take them all the way there. But of course, that’s not how star navigation worked. It gave them general navigation to the area and then it was up to the wise men to find him. For this is where the assumptions of the wise men lead them astray and cause the great harm which we discussed last week. For consider what we read, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him,” Matthew 2:1-2. Instead of going to the stable, these wise men go to the palace. Because if you’re looking for a king, where else might you suppose he would be? Thus, Herod is told straight to his face that these foreigners are coming to worship a new king. And of course, Herod doesn’t take that message too well.
For this is a reaction that we’re all too familiar with in our world. When people believe they have power and authority, it takes a whole lot to get them to give it up willingly. People don’t part with power easily. We’d rather draw up battle lines and fight for the power we still have… even if someone with true power and authority shows up at our door. And consider what power we have in our world. This is why people become defensive over their sins. “It’s my body, it’s my life, I can do what I want!” Sin makes us hyper-individualistic. Sin makes us fight for the right to sin in our lives. Just like any crown, or authority, we don’t give it up easily. We want to be the ones in charge of our lives and not have to listen to anyone… even God. Hence, God had to warn the wise men before they returned to Herod, as we read, “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way,” Matthew 2:12. When authority is challenged, there’s only ever two responses. And we see exactly these two from the people in our reading… the Wise men and Herod. For Herod drew up his battle line and was willing to slaughter innocent children just to keep his power.
II.
So, let us consider the Magi, the wise men, or whatever else you’ve heard them called. These men, often depicted as just three but could have been far more, came from power and authority. They were considered nobles, kings even in their home land. In fact, we can very likely say that these men came from Babylon, which is important to this story. For what did these men hear that caused them to travel this far for a king that wasn’t even their own? The answer is simple. It was in Babylon that Daniel prophesied concerning the coming Messiah. Daniel the prophet taught all the rulers and magistrates and leaders about the one who would be born in Israel. And so, for many centuries, the people waited… and from that word so long ago comes the faithful Magi, or wise men. These men held faithfully to the word proclaim ages ago and waited to see a sign in the heavens… the star of Bethlehem.
For you see, it was the star that told the Wise Men that this wasn’t just any noble. This baby wasn’t any average king. This was the holy one whom Daniel foretold, the ancient of Days, the Son of Man. Thus, as they heard further prophecy regarding the Christ, “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel,” Matthew 2:6. It was the star that showed them the way to Israel, but it was the Word of God that led them to Jesus. For so the star would show their way, but it was the word that taught them that this baby was truly the King of kings. This baby was one worthy of our worship and praise. This baby was Jesus who had come to save us from our sins. He came to lay down his life for us upon the cross. By his blood poured out for us, we would be freed from the power of sin. So, what do they do? They lay their presents *and crowns* at his feet. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh,” Matthew 2:11. Their gifts offered up in faith point us to who this baby will be… Gold for the King, Frankincense for the Priest, and Myrrh for the Prophet.
Understand that this is why we need no longer look towards heaven to show us the way, but rather, towards the cross. For God declared by the star that Jesus was born to save, but by the cross that salvation was accomplished for you and me. So, let us lay our crowns and sins at his feet and boldly declare that Jesus is our King and Savior! In Jesus’ name! Amen!