Epiphany – The Magi have Arrived!

Sermon Title: “The Magi Have Arrived”

Good News Statement: God Uses Us because God has Chosen Us

Preached: Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 2:1-12 Today’s scripture reading comes from the words of Matthew’s Gospel, which tells of Magi (or Wise Men) following a star from the east to the new born Messiah in Bethlehem. Along their travels, they visit King Herod who orders them to return to the palace with news of the Messiah, but they instead choose not to return to King Herod. The Magi, although not religious and are not followers of God’s word, still follow the demands of God: they do what was right and not what was easy. The Magi remind us that God uses who God chooses. Our reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Two, Verses One thru Twelve. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding to your life.

The Visit of the Magi

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘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.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

Happy Epiphany Sunday! Epiphany is a special but sometimes over looked day on the Christian calendar. Gifts aren’t handed out to commemorate this day. Candles aren’t blown out, cakes aren’t made fireworks are not on display, and people aren’t staying up until midnight the night before to celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is just another day for some people, but for us—for those who have chosen to follower Christ—it is a special day because it commemorates and celebrates the Magi visiting Mary and Joseph in a house a few years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan river, and the wedding at Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine. Epiphany is a special day.

The word “epiphany,” from the Greek word epiphaneia, means appearance or manifestation. Specifically, it means “manifestation from above.” (Epi – above; phaneia – manifestation) Epiphany reveals to us the appearance and manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as a symbolic measure of what the Apostle Paul notes in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” It is also living proof that what the angels told the Shepherds is true: “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

Epiphany, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary refers to “an experience of a sudden and striking realization” that can be experienced by all people. Jesus Christ appeared for all people: not for a select few, not for a specific group, and not for a partial town. God became flesh—incarnate—so that He, through Jesus Christ, His Son, would appear before all people (Philippians 2:7).  In addition to the Shepherds, who “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (Luke 2:17), the Magi (or Three Wise Men) find themselves at the scene of Christ’s birth a few years later charged to do the same thing.

The Magi saw the epiphany of Jesus Christ because they chose to follow a star and listen to the words of God. The Magi saw the epiphany of Jesus Christ because they chose what was right and not what was easy. The Magi saw the epiphany of Jesus Christ because who God uses, God has chosen. On this Epiphany Sunday, I invite you to consider the story of the Magi and remind yourself that who God uses, God has chosen for a specific reason.

Body:

Several years ago there was a beautiful little girl in the hospital at Vanderbilt University. She came from a wealthy family, and her family showered her with expensive gifts. There were great overstuffed toys, dolls, a doll house, and games of every description. The mother, who was well known in social circles, brought something new every time she came to see her daughter. She never stayed long when she came, because she was due at a luncheon or party, but she never failed to bring a gift.

One day the little girl was particularly unhappy in the midst of all her fine gifts, and held desperately to her mother as the mother was attempting to leave and not be late to a charity bazaar. The mother tried to divert the daughter’s attention by interesting her in the new toy she had brought that day. “Mommy,” cried the little girl, “I want you.” Surrounded by gifts, she wanted the most important thing of all, her mother’s presence.

This is a sorrowful story because it contains a nugget of truth about many of us. We have all been guilty of trying to cover up our absence with gifts or excuses. We think a gift will solve all problems and the one receiving that gift will forget about our absence and actions. But sometimes that doesn’t work. I wonder what would happen in our lives if we committed ourselves this Epiphany Sunday and the beginning of a new year to strive each day throughout this year to give the most basic gift of all—the love and devotion of our hearts, the appearance of ourselves to those who need us.

The Magi, wealthy people from the east who are not believers of God’s words and who study the stars, made their presence known before Jesus Christ because Christ needed them and they needed Christ. They came bearing gifts, but their best gift was their presence. Jesus saw them for who they were and who God had chosen them to become. The power of presence is sometimes underrated because it seems simple; but to tell you the truth, it can be the best gift because it does offer love and devotion. Being present is the best gift of all because not only is your life changed but so is the life of the one whom you are with. The Magi’s presence may not have changed the world, but it was the right thing to do because it proved that they were open to receive and hear the words of God. Even in their own beliefs, they saw the power and message of Christ. However, we must ask ourselves, “Who exactly are these Wise Men or Magi?”

Movement One: Who are these “Wise Men”?

Have you noticed that in every manger scene there always three Magi, even though Scripture never tells the number of Magi visiting the Holy Family? Perhaps people were making connections between the Magi and the gifts: three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—therefore, three Magi; and these gifts represented Jesus’ humanity, Jesus’ divinity, and Jesus’ death]. Some scholars speculated that an entire group traveled together instead of just three individuals.

Rachel Billups, in her book An Unlikely Advent, does a good job with describing these Wise Men. She states, “And these magi were not exactly kings. History has a couple of descriptors for magi, either Persian fire gods or astrologers. The Greek word for magi, ‘magos,’ can mean wise men, astrologers, priests, but also magicians or sorcerers as well. Some scholars connect the magi to the Zoroastrian tradition–a tradition focused on the never-ending battle between good and evil. These magi are not religious insiders. They are not church peeps. The magi have no political power in Judea, and they certainly do not have religious ties to the people. The magi are outsiders” (pp. 75-76, italics added).

Furthermore, we really don’t know the names of the Magi because the Bible doesn’t tell us. In fact, the Bible is silent on how many Wise Men visited Jesus. However, tradition has it that the three Wise Men who came to seek and honor the infant Jesus were named Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. The three Wise Men, also known as Magi, were men belonging to various educated classes. They were of noble birth, educated, wealthy, and influential. They were philosophers, the counselors of rulers, learned in all the wisdom of the ancient East. The Wise Men who came seeking the Christ child were not idolaters; they were upright men of integrity who possibly may have studied the ancient Hebrew literature.

For example the Wise Men probably found curiosity in the words of Balaam: “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17, NKJV). They certainly were acquainted with the prophecy of Micah: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2, NKJV; see also Matthew 2:5, 6). The Wise Men were aware of the ancient texts and traditions which is why they were attracted to the mysterious light that appeared in the sky which became a luminous star that persisted in the western heavens (see Matthew 2:1, 2). Impressed with its import, the Wise Men turned once more to the sacred scrolls. As they tried to understand the meaning of the sacred writings, they determined to go in search of the Messiah not knowing exactly where they were going.

From Scripture, we aren’t given a lot of information about the Wise Men or Magi or priests or Kings that travelled from the east and followed a star. However, what is given to us is important to remember. “[The Wise Men] are not religious insiders. They are not church [people]. The [Wise Men] have no political power in Judea, and they certainly do not have religious ties to the people. The Wise Men are outsiders” (Billups, pg. 76). The Wise Men did not believe in God but were invited to see Jesus. The Wise Men weren’t doers of the Word, but still had faith to follow the star of our God. The Wise Men were wealthy people, but still found their way to an insignificant town to see a poor and lowly family. The Wise Men represent the reality that God invites all to the manger and all to the table regardless of one’s background and past. Who God invites is who God seeks to receive “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). If God invites all to the manger scene and to the table, then what holds us back from doing the same?

The Wise Men, whether three or many, teach us a valuable lesson. They teach us that even those who we don’t think God is speaking to are actually receiving a message from God. Even those who don’t believe or aren’t faithful, are still receiving some sort of message from God. Even those who sin, who backslide, who are lost, who doubt, who are uncertain, who aren’t perfect, who question, who disagree with us, are still receiving a message from God. It is not our place to judge who can and cannot receive a message from God. It’s not our place to deny someone from approaching the stable. It’s not our right to tell someone “no” when God is telling them “yes.” That’s God’s work and God’s work alone. God chooses who God wants to use to share the message of Christ. The Wise Men, religious outsiders found Jesus Christ and they did so not by doing what was easy but by doing what was right.

Movement Two: We are Called to Do What is Right, not What is Easy

In life, we often choose the easy path. We don’t like change, so we stay in our rut. We don’t like to be challenged, so we keep our mind closed rather than opened. We are afraid of seeing two different sides of a coin, so we make a coin that has the same image on both sides. We like the easy path because it is comfortable. Needless to say, sometimes the easy path is not the right path. The Wise Men have provided us with an example of choosing the right path and not the easy path.

The Wise Men went to Jerusalem and asked about the born king. They said they had seen His star rise in the East. The Magi were astrologers, people who observed and studied the stars. Apparently some heavenly brilliance had spoken to the Magi which they interpreted as the entry of a king into the world. The Magi came looking for Jesus but they came late, perhaps as much as two years after His birth. The word that Matthew used to refer to the one born king is the word for child; whereas, Luke’s reference is to an infant. This suggests that Jesus was beyond one year of age when the Magi arrived in Jerusalem. A second indication that Jesus may have been a year or more old at this time is Herod’s decree that all male children two years of age and younger in Bethlehem and its neighborhoods be killed. Herod was taking no chances in getting rid of one who he feared would overtake his throne.

Herod solicited the help of the Magi in locating this child born king. Rather than the Magi seeking Herod, he sought them. He requested their aid under the pretense that he, too, wished to worship Him. For some reason the Magi did not believe Herod was being honest about his intentions. Perhaps Herod’s reputation had preceded him. Maybe it was through their encounter with Herod that they sensed insincerity and were suspicious of Herod’s motives. Whatever aroused them, the Magi’s suspicions were focused in a dream through which they were instructed to return home from Bethlehem by another road rather than traveling through Jerusalem. When Herod realized what had happened he was furious. That was when he sent out the murder decree and put a price on the head of every two-year-old and younger boy living in and around Bethlehem.

Matthew notes, “Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road” (Matthew 2:7-9, 12).

Notice in our text, that the Magi disobeyed the orders of an earthly King. They disobeyed the orders to return to King Herod with news of where the child is located. Disobeying the King during the time of Jesus was punishment by death: beheading, crucifixion, or in the case of Daniel being thrown in a Lion’s den. The Magi are certainly wise enough to obey orders given by proper authority, but they didn’t. Knowing the risk of not returning to King Herod, which would have been the easy path, they chose to disobey his orders and chose the right path. How many of you would be bold enough to act like the Magi—disobeying orders—knowing the severe consequences?

The Magi remind me of my older brother Michael when he was in High School. One night after winning a rather big game, a majority of the baseball team went to someone’s house to have a good time. My brother decided to head home instead. He got a call in the early hours of the morning to go pick up a few of his teammates from the party. He knew that my parents wouldn’t approve of him going to a party on a school night, but he snuck out of the house anyways. When he got home, he ran into my dad who was getting ready to leave for work. You all can probably imagine how that conversation went.

Instead of doing what was easy—obeying the laws of my parents and staying home—my brother did the right thing and made sure some of his teammates got home safely. The Magi knew the consequences of their decided actions, but they chose to follow the commands of some higher power that appeared to them in a dream—quite possibly a higher power that they themselves didn’t believe in. The easy path is called easy for a reason: it doesn’t require much. The right path, on the other hand, is the path that requires faith and trust and encouragement and determination and willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone. The right path is the path of Jesus.

God didn’t empty Himself, to be made incarnate, because He found it to be easy and comforting. No, God became flesh because He knew we needed to witness the right path in human form. Jesus’ work wasn’t easy: he dealt with sinners, people who yelled at him, Pharisees that wouldn’t leave him alone, religious leaders seeking to put him to death, individuals who demanded his attention day-in and day-out, unfaithful and not-well understood disciples, and temptation from the Devil. Jesus didn’t walk this earth because he was seeking an easy way out. He walked this earth seeking to do the right thing. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

By choosing to do what was right, Jesus exemplified what we are taught to follow every day of our life. Jesus said, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbors as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). We all know these commandments are tough to do: they aren’t always easy to follow. However, Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him but it is the right thing to do.

The Magi teach us that we are called to do what is right in the sight of the Lord. If we want to be true disciples of Jesus, if we want to be able to follow the star, then we must be willing to choose the right path and continue to choose the right path when things get tough. It is going to be tempting to choose the easy path—to stay in a rut and avoid change—but that is not the path of Jesus Christ. The Magi, not knowing who God fully is, have chosen  to avoid the easy path, risk their lives, to save Christ. What are you willing to do to make sure the message of Christ stays alive? Are you willing to go pick up teammates in the early hours of the morning even though you know that you are going to get in trouble? Are you willing to choose the right path even though the easy path is right there? Following Jesus isn’t easy, but it certainly is rewarding!

Movement Three: God Uses Who God Chooses

For our final lesson from the Magi, I revert back to a quote by Rachel Billups. She wrote, “[The Wise Men] are not religious insiders. They are not church [people]. The [Wise Men] have no political power in Judea, and they certainly do not have religious ties to the people. The Wise Men are outsiders” (pg. 76). What I am about to say is probably the one thing that I pray you remember from today’s message. The Magi teach us, God uses who God chooses.

The Magi weren’t faithful doers of the word, but God chose them and used them. The Magi worshipped another god, but God chose them and used them. The Magi were wealthy and filled with wisdom and weren’t poor like the shepherds, but God chose them and used them. The Magi weren’t from the Judea region, but God chose them and used them. The Magi appeared before the King that wanted to kill Jesus, but God chose them and used them. The Magi weren’t perfect people, but God chose them and used them. God chose and used the Magi for the sake of continuing the good news just like He has chosen you.

God has chosen you. As a matter of fact, God has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). We don’t have to be perfect to be chosen by God, we just have to be willing to follow Him, to carry our cross. We don’t have to have all the answers, the right words to say, the correct actions to do, we just have to be willing to follow Him. We can even sin from time to time, and God will still choose us because He has a plan for us—a plan to use us to do extraordinary things. God has chosen you and He plans to use you for the sake of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. But are you willing to allow Him to use you like He used the Wise Men—to choose the right path, and to find your way to the stable?

You may be telling yourself, “Why would God choose me? Why would God want to use me to do His work on earth as it is in heaven?” My response is, “Why wouldn’t God want to choose and use you?” Why wouldn’t God want to choose and use what He has created in His image? Why wouldn’t God want to choose and use what He has “fearfully and wonderfully” made (Psalm 139:13-14)? God doesn’t deny His creation; it’s His creation that denies Him. So, why wouldn’t God want to use you when He created you?

The Magi were chosen by God. They were not satisfied with looking at the star and admiring it; they did something about the star, and set out and followed it. They persevered in their search and in following after the star. They were not discouraged in the search by clergy and doubtful religious leaders. They rejoiced at the star. When they arrived at the destination the star led them to, they entered in. When they entered in, they worshipped. They sensed an urgency to worship Him now and not wait until later. The Magi were chosen by God to follow that star and they were used by God to help others follow that star to Jesus Christ—to help others worship him. Why has God chosen you, and how is God using you to lead others to Christ?

Conclusion:

Returning to the story of that little girl in the hospital who was seeking her mother’s presence rather than overstuffed toys, dolls, and games, to whom do we need to be giving our presence? It may be to our children that we need to give ourselves rather than substituting things. It may be to our spouses who often are taken for granted. It may be we need to give ourselves to our friends and acquaintances. We may need to give ourselves to those who are not like us, who are ill, who are in need, or even who are lost and need to be found. There are many people with whom we can share ourselves. The simple gift of ourselves, our undivided time and presence, is the finest thing we have to give. And when we give ourselves in love for the benefit of another, we will indeed be manifesting the presence of God in the world, we will be creating our own epiphany. Truly, this is good news for everybody! The Magi, wealthy people from the east who are non-believers of God’s words and who study the stars, made their presence known before Jesus Christ because Christ needed them and they needed Christ.

The story of the Magi is more than three or more unknown individuals travelling from the east while following a star and appearing before the child, Jesus Christ, in a home in Jerusalem. The story of the Magi is more than the presentation of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The story of the Magi is more than people disobeying the orders of an earthly King to follow the orders of the heavenly King. The story of the Magi is more than realizing that wealthy individuals worshipped a child born to two lowly and poor parents. The story of the Magi is about realizing that God calls upon all kinds of people to do extraordinary things as He changes their life.

The Magi saw the epiphany—the manifestation—of Jesus Christ because they chose to follow a star and listen to the words of God. The Magi saw the epiphany of Jesus Christ because they chose what was right and not what was easy. The Magi saw the epiphany of Jesus Christ because who God uses, God has chosen. On this Epiphany Sunday, I invite you to consider the story of the Magi and remind yourself that who God uses, God has chosen for a specific reason. How will you live out the story of the Magi in your life as you remind yourself that God has chosen you and has a plan for you today, tomorrow, and every day? Are you willing to follow the star? Let it be so…

Communion:

When Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room, as he offered them his body—the bread—and the blood of the new covenant—the wine—he reminded each them that God chose them and that the time has come to allow God to use them to share the good news with those far and near. Gathered around this table the disciples then and the disciples now—you and I—are granted the blessing of being refilled with love and grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as we ask for forgiveness and do our best to fulfill the plans that have been laid before us. May this sacred meal renew you, make you whole, and remind you that you have been chosen by God.

 

Benediction:

God has chosen you, and God will use you because He has a plan for you. May you allow God to help you choose the right path and lead you to Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go remembering that you have been chosen by God to do wonderful things. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.