The Epiphany of our Lord: Matthew 2:1-12

January 6, 2013; The Epiphany of our Lord; Texts: Isaiah 60;1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12; Title: The Right Question Gets the Complete Answer;  Rev. Tim Beck  

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Certain questions jump up right away when we hear St. Matthew’s account of star? We saw His star… what was the star like? Matthew tells us the star was seen in the land of the Wise men and somehow “went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.” We don’t know how all that happened, despite attempts to explain it as a natural phenomenon. We just have the history of what happened. Another question is who exactly were the wise men? We perpetuate stories of an Asian, an African and a European, including stores that name them.  That’s no more certain then the song you may have sang as a child about three kings who tried to smoke a rubber cigar. They didn’t smoke rubber cigars, and we don’t know their names. Matthew doesn’t even say how many wise men came, and their location is a generic “from the east.” A bigger question is how did the wise men know the star was about a king? We can only speculate, along with the other questions. We do know the Hebrew Scriptures were distributed all over the known world, including far away Eastern lands where the Jews were exiled years before. But that doesn’t satisfy our curiosity does it?  We don’t even know what the camels looked like. And do you know what? There’s a reason such questions are left in the air. Our curiosities are not satisfied because why we’re told determines what we’re told.

          What is the most important question we can ask about this account, the one the text answers?  What does it say about the child?  These real events recorded under the inspiration of the Spirit do not intend to tell you all about camels, wise men, a star, or even King Herod and Mary. Like all of Scripture, it is focuses on one very important theme. Tell us about the child, about the promised deliverer!  The answer to that question has a name. The church calls today’s festival by that name. It is the word Epiphany.  Epiphany means to show forth. Epiphany means to reveal. What was hidden is now out in the open. What was an inscrutable mystery is plainly shown. What is revealed that even the world’s best detective could never figure out? The child! The information about a star, wise men, Herod, Mary, the gold, frankincense and myrrh tell us about who the child is. That’s the Epiphany! That’s the revelation meant not only for the people who are in this history, but also for us, and for all peoples.

          Epiphany is about the revealing of God’s good will to all peoples for all time and all the details of our text have reference to this Child. So what is revealed? “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…” Let’s start there. What name did God’s messenger tell Mary to give her baby? (Jesus) What does that name mean? (Saviour) [Luke 1:31]. How important is that? And how important is it, as St. Luke tells us that this baby had no human father, but the Holy Spirit caused him to grow in Mary’s womb; for the angel said “He shall be called the Son of the Highest, the Son of God”  (Luke 1:32, 35). What is revealed?  We have a Saviour, true man and true God. How important is that?

          Further, He was born in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. This reveals Scripture shall be fulfilled. In short, God is faithful. How important is that? Second, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea for a reason: the child is fulfilling the promise made to King David. David shall not lack an heir to his throne forever, and here is that eternal heir. Here is the rightful and righteous ruler for God’s people Israel. How important is that? And how shall He rule?  He shall shepherd my people. Here is a wonderful revealing. His rule is like a shepherd, a good shepherd. He is no talking head mayor or special interest-loving governor or cruel dictator king like Herod. Jesus is like a shepherd. He is one anointed by God to rule, whose rule is self-sacrificing love as prophesied in Isaiah. Jesus’ rule brings peace with God. He shall die for the sins of the people (Isaiah 53). He shall be a light to the           nations, and from the East shall come the praises of the Lord (Isaiah 60). Now we know why wise men came from the East, and worshipped. Scripture is fulfilled, and thank God for that, he brings salvation to the nations.

          So why did Herod lie about wanting to worship the child? Now Matthew tells us something not about the child, but because of the child. He speaks not only about the child but about those for whom He came. This too is a revealing, who receives Him and who receives Him not. He is Saviour for all, but not all are saved. We see in those who resist this shepherd king what unbelief is like. Likewise, we see in those who receive Him what faith is like. This too is for our instruction, that we all receive the child; and that those who receive recognize things about those who do not. As for Herod, we can only speculate on all the reasons he rejected the Epiphany… a political threat, jealousy, ambition, envy, his evil heart. Herod could have worshipped but only pretended to wish to do so. And he was thought to be godly, after a fashion. Do note, hypocrisy is a mark of the false church. For example, to appear godly Herod built the Jews a magnificent temple.  What is wrong with that? He built the temple to placate the Jews because Herod also built to the divine Caesar’s glory and for his own. Mixed worship is no worship at all. Was it a clue that the temple Herod built meant raised taxes in Israel?  And as the financier, Herod owned the rich vestments of the high priest, so controlled who was appointed to that office. Buying the church is the same as destroying it, among possible examples. These signs might make wise men uneasy, including signs that implied a problem with the priests and scribes. Were they not the teachers of the church, stewards awaiting the coming of the anointed one, the prophet, priest and king?  They knew where the Messiah would be born. Why didn’t they see the star? And Herod, after hearing the prophetic word, why did he secretly summon the wise men?  Herod appears devout to kill the child. That’s a clue too, for the false church seeks its will over God’s promises.

          See what unbelief when dressed in pretended righteousness, achieved. It ruled Judea. It controlled the temple and taught Israel. It also killed the innocents. How can the faithful not be overcome? Here is good news for all who believe, for the church of faith. The child lived. God’s will shall be done. He will save. The wise men were warned and left by another way. Soon Joseph was also warned in a dream to depart for Egypt, fulfilling yet another prophesy. And the martyred babes were the first witness in Jesus’ name. The Epiphany rejected by Herod was nevertheless revealed. Unbelief cannot stand before faith because the Lord will accomplish His plan. Even if the true church is squeezed from Herod’s court and rejected by the high priest and scribes, if she is weak and lives in unexpected places, she awaits the revealing. And those who received the epiphany, what joy! So wise men of the East followed the sign until they saw that star rest where the child stayed and “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
          They received the child, the Savior, a light to the nations, the king who shepherds, true God and true man in one person. These who believers rejoiced and worshiped; then these wise men, knowing the meaning of the revealing, gave gifts reflecting the prophesies of the Christ. Knowing the Scriptures they gave gold to the king, frankincense to the true High Priest and myrrh to the Shepherd who would be sacrificed as the Lamb. Risking the wrath of Herod they obeyed the Living God and left directly for their own country, rejoicing in their salvation. That’s the character of faith. It trusts the Word of God despite threats. It believes and acts according to the promise, like virgins with lamps lit, awaiting the groom to epiphany.

          Faith’s hope is not placed in power or institutions, but can find in the revealed baby infinite security and strength, as said the Lord. Faith believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things because faith does not say “my will be done” but “Thy will be done, Jesus, Saviour, King, Shepherd, Immanuel.” All that was promised by the prophets came to pass, and was manifest by both the rejection and reception of the child. Both rejection and reception shall continue until the Lord returns, for God’s messengers not only spoke to Herod, Mary, the wise men. They speak today. Matthew recorded the revelation of the Epiphany, the history of the revealing and you have it in your ears, you have it placed in your mouth. And how much more we have heard and seen. The Saviour, the Christ has come! He is revealed! How important is that?

          God revealed Himself in human flesh as our shepherd, to shepherd the Israel of faith, to establish an eternal kingdom of righteousness and peace. The epiphany of God is revealed in Jesus’ birth, life, teaching, suffering, dying, rising and ascending to give you peace with God. He revealed Himself to you in Holy Baptism, in the word that enters your ear, in His Supper of Holy Communion that in communion makes you whole. He is revealed for a reason: so that you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, your Saviour, that you have exceeding great joy. When the wise men departed they did not return empty handed. They returned, sins forgiven, carrying the gift of eternal life. You who ask the right question, “What does this say about the child” have the answer. The child shall take you with Him as His own.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Amen)