The Epiphany of our Lord

Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Series: Epiphany 00 ILCW - C
Theme: The Epiphany Star
Place: Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Myrtle Beach, SC
Date: January 3, 2010

To them light meant everything. It wasn’t a utility bill. It wasn’t something you got by flipping on a switch. It wasn’t a convenience. To them, light meant life. Light meant safety. Light meant warmth. Without light crops didn’t grow. Without light robbers and criminals would have free reign. Without light winters would be long and deadly.

But it wasn’t just that. To them light meant inspiration. You see back in those days before the television, the internet, the radio, the night sky provided the richest viewing experience possible. It was an endless source of joy a as they pursued greater and greater knowledge about the night sky. They traced the corky movements of the planets; marveled at many colors of the stars; drew what they could see of the surface of the moon, even traced the constellations of the sky.

But you know, one night, these men who were shrouded in darkness saw a new star. One they had never seen before. But how did they make the connection between this unique astral phenomenon which they saw back where they lived and the one who has been born king of the Jews? After all, they arrived in Jerusalem telling people, We have seen his star in the East.

It just so happened that 580 years or so before the star appeared, the Israelites had been taken captive from their homeland to Babylon. While in captivity, it’s not beyond reason to think that many of the Israelites shared what they believed about a coming Deliverer with their neighbors. They had been told that by the prophets - A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17), a prediction from God that a great king would come from the Israelites.

Could it be the wise men made a connection between that prophecy, the star in the sky they saw, and a king born in the land of Israel? I mean they didn’t follow the star in order to find a new earthly ruler. They had plenty of those guys to go around, and certainly they had kings in the homeland. These wise men must have been looking for something more. Could it be they had heard this king to be born of a virgin would do more than issue decrees and laws, lead an army of soldiers into battle, and build highways? Could it be they heard he wouldn’t just try, but would fulfill God’s laws, lead the hosts of heaven into battle against Satan, and build a highway to heaven? Could it be these wise men were spiritually wise, sensing the need for spiritual deliverance? Could it be they must have felt the “ouch” inside that you and I get when God sticks the needle of his strict demands right into the self-inflated balloon of our self-centered hearts. Could it be these men knew their heaven-gazing; star-observing wouldn’t mean a thing without God’s rescue from the consequences of their sin? For without that rescue they’d be looking not up at light but down at flames! Their status in society, comfy condos, and two-camel-garage wouldn’t mean a thing if the God who made the sky put a bulls-eye on their backs.

But the star that appeared meant a king! A rescuer! A deliver was born in Bethlehem! Why else would these wise men make about a thousand mile trek to track him down? Why else would they make such an effort to follow the star? What else would make that star such a joy to follow, other than that it would lead to the Savior? What else would make that star such a joy to follow, other than that thirty-three years after a star appeared to the Magi, Jesus appeared to people who came to finish off his funeral. But there was no funeral. He was and is alive to shed the light of his love on your life and mine so that we don’t have to live in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death. Yes, my friends the Epiphany Star is a joy to follow. But that’s not all. The Epiphany Star is an honor to worship

The king that the wise men visited in Jerusalem wanted to be called “Herod the Great.” Sure, he ran an efficient government, rid the countryside of bandits, made peace with the oppressive Roman rulers, gave the people rest from war, and even ordered the rebuilding of the temple complex. But there was one thing Herod could not stand. It was the thought of a rival. Even at the slightest hint of rebellion, history books tell us he murdered seven close relatives, including his wife and two sons.

Can you imagine how his blood must have begun to boil when he heard some people were looking for a new-born king? Sure he knew the people longed for a Deliverer. But that would mean a threat to Herod. A possible rebellion by the people? Something had to be done to squash the threat.
Yet, when the wise men visited Herod, they probably bowed in respect. Perhaps having heard of his reputation? Probably didn’t want to have the king upset at them. I mean if he could give an order to execute his own wife and sons, he certainly had the power to arrest and torture these strangers who were spreading rumors about a new king.

But when the wise men saw the real Star of Bethlehem, they had no such fears. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. No fear of being beaten into submission. No hiding their faults and failures. This Star was born to wipe the slate clean. This King was an honor to worship. You see while Herod want to assassinate an earthly rival, the Magi wanted to adore the heavenly Ruler. While Herod wanted to break his knees, the Magi wished to bend their knees.

Do you know anyone who is turned off to organized religion because it got his or her throat as a child? Do you know someone only goes to church occasionally as sort of a good luck practice? Do you know anyone who says, “Why do I need to go to church? I’m a nice person. My life is going well. I don’t need that stuff!” How sad! Been there yourself?

My friends, the Epiphany Star changes that and fills us with a thrill. He has dispelled the dark sentence of doom that hung over our heads because we were spiritually still-born. He shines his light of love into every corner where we hide in fear of getting whomped by God. He brightens the path we walk all the way to heaven’s gates. He is our King, but he doesn’t shove his power down our throats. He elevates us to royal status as God’s dear children. It is an honor to worship him. And there’s one more thing.

The Epiphany Star makes it a privilege to give. I wonder whether the wise men felt obligated to present King Herod with gifts. We don’t know. But we do know that the wise men opened their treasures and presented [the baby Jesus] with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Joyful hearts full of God’s promise fulfilled prompted them to give treasures to their Savior. The source of their joy was the recipient of their riches. Their Savior had been revealed to them. They responded with reverent joy. Not because Joseph stood at the door with his arms crossed collecting an admission fee? The wise men were not being forced to “hand it over!” They brought their gifts out of sheer gratitude for what God had done for them. He had appeared to shed light on their lives. He had come to remove their sin. It was no burden or duty or obligation to offer gifts. This Epiphany Star named Jesus made it a privilege to give.

Did you make New Year’s resolutions? “I’m going to lose weight!” “I’m going to get in shape!” “I’m going to get a handle on my credit card debt.” “I’m going to spend more time with my family!” “I’m going to work a little more efficiently!”Look at what God has done for you through the Epiphany Star, named Jesus! He said, “I’m not going to leave you in devil-darkness. I’m going to bring you into the light of my love. It’s not an occasional flash of light or a strobe light. The light of my love will shine on you forever.” That love from God leads us to make resolutions like “I’m going to read my Bible more,” “I’m going to set aside more time to serve my God and others,” “I’m going to offer a more generous and joyful amount of my income to the Lord this year than last.” “I’m going to do this because has made it a privilege for me to give.”

To us, the light means everything. It wasn’t a utility bill. It isn’t something you got by flipping on a switch. It isn’t a convenience. He is our life, our safety, our security, our Savior. He is our Epiphany Star who is a joy to follow, an honor to worship, who makes it a privilege to give.