Drawn to the Light

Dr. Richard J. Henderson January 6, 2008

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Isaiah 60: 1-6
Matthew 2: 1-12

Introduction

Today is the Epiphany of the Lord. It is a significant celebration in the church, but virtually unknown in our culture. Everybody knows Christmas, even if our society has tried to change it into "the holidays." Incidentally, the political correctness of addressing Christmas came to its most ridiculous this year with a gift from Nordstrom's which said on the outside "to open on holiday morning!"

I think we are still in a situation where people know what Christmas is, but ask someone on the street what Epiphany is, and you will surely get a blank stare or bewildered groping for an answer.

Epiphany means "manifestation." It is the revealing of Jesus to the world. It's showing in this child what God has done in the world.

Epiphany is the twelfth day of the 12 days of Christmas. This year it happens that Epiphany falls on a Sunday, so that we get to celebrate this event in worship.

In our early days, the Novi Ministers Association used to collect live Christmas trees and stack them in the lot behind the Lutheran church. On Epiphany evening we would burn the trees and sing the Epiphany hymns we are singing today. After a few years the fire department got a little nervous about these large open fires, and fewer people showed up to freeze outside singing hymns, so that we finally gave it up. But it was a good remembrance of an important holy day.

Specifically, Epiphany is a celebration of the coming of the wise men to see the baby Jesus. These Magi were foreigners, who came from the east and worshipped little Jesus. They were not Jews (and of course, not Christians), but by following the bright star the Son of God was revealed to them. Because they made that journey, Jesus was manifested to them.

I

In some ways we are like those Magi. In many ways we are not like them. We are not astrologers or magic men from the east. (Magi come from the word for magic.) We don't come riding camels, and while we may put a significant contribution in the offering plate, it isn't exactly gold, frankincense or myrrh.

We are similar to them though, in that God has revealed himself to us, probably not in a bright star shining over Bethlehem, but in one way or another. However subtle or obvious, God has shown himself to us.

And Jesus draws us to himself as the wise men were drawn to Jesus. God called to the wise men through their area of expertise - which was the stars - and helped them find Jesus. So God calls each of us, through whatever interests or means God can to help us see his son. The wise men were captivated by that bright star and risked a great deal to follow where it led them. So, we too are drawn, but we have to set out to follow where God leads us. We aren't asked just to believe in Jesus, but to follow Jesus. Following means actively going where Jesus leads us, which involves a lot more risk. As the saying goes, "Wise men still seek him."

When the wise men arrive at their destination they are filled with joy. Their long journey has been worthwhile and they are so grateful to see the King of the Jews. They bow down and worship him. Then they offer the gifts they have brought to him.

That worshipping of the wise men is like the worship we do here. We come in joy, thankful for what Jesus means in our lives and celebrating the ways in which he has made our lives more meaningful and whole. And we worship, or pay homage, when we gather here. We also bring our gifts to honor him.

II

But who were these Magi, and how do they fit into the story of what Jesus did? They aren't mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. We never hear about them again after the leave Bethlehem.

Magi were part of a "wisdom movement" that was popular when Jesus was born. These were people who tried to discover and then teach about the principles that govern the world and our lives. They specialized in practical knowledge that would help a person in everyday life. The wisdom literature of the Jewish tradition is found in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and parts of the Psalms.

But these Magi weren't believers. They weren't part of our religious tradition, but were in fact, pagans. Incidentally, nothing in the gospel says that there were three of them. In spite of popular understanding - and the hymn we sing today - Matthew doesn't tell us how many there were. They brought three gifts so we have assumed that there must have been three, but nothing says that. Centuries later the "three" will be given names; but the gospel doesn't name them.

The important fact is that they are not believers. They are outsiders.

III

Among the first witnesses to see Jesus are people who are outside of the faith. In the early Christian church there was a heated debate about whether Christianity was only for the Jews or if Gentiles and other non-believers should hear the good news. If Jesus was the Messiah, should those who didn't know about a messiah be told about Jesus?

Peter felt the gospel was for the Jews. Paul took the gospel to the gentiles. At one point they had a confrontation about this issue, and Peter agreed that the good news should go out to everyone.

The arrival of the Magi shows that the word about Jesus went out to outsiders and non-believers from the very beginning. Among the first to see Jesus are people who were pagans, foreigners, outsiders.

Matthew reinforces this message when at the end of his gospel Jesus tells the disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you."

Conclusion

We can learn from the Magi. As they sensed God's message and followed it, so can we. As they ventured beyond the safety and comfort of their lives - beyond the boundaries of homeland and beyond the reach of convenience - to follow God's lead, so can we. As they took risks to find the truth, so can you and I. As they came and worshipped the Messiah, so can we.

As God led them to the Son of God, so God leads you and me.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2008