"The still, small light of the world, Jesus Christ, the infant King" Epiphany (observed) 2025

05. January 2025

Epiphany (observed)

Matthew 2:1-12

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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

The Magi had only a fragment of prophecy and a star. The Word of Promise was small and insignificant, and the star was distinguished but ignored by most. Even Herod and all of Jerusalem didn't think twice about it, at least not until the Magi showed up. It must not have been all that spectacular. No flaming comet or supernova. Just the still, small light of the world, Jesus Christ, the infant King, continued to guide those Gentile magicians to him.

They only had an obscure Word from a little-known story in Numbers, and a sign they thought confirmed that Word. That Word led them West to Judea. Micah, prophesying after the return from Babylon, had foretold the savior would come out of the suburbia of Bethlehem. Being foreigners, their knowledge is limited to what Daniel and the exiles had given them. Instead, they go to Jerusalem, where Jewish kings ought to be. “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.”

No wonder Herod and all of Jerusalem were troubled. Despite his benevolence and infrastructure building, he was ruthless and tyrannical when it came to the throne. It was said in those days that it was better to be Herod's pig than his son. Herod murdered some of his children to engineer his successor. News of a new king, born in Judea, would cause quite a stir. There cannot be two kings. We’ve been through that before.

Isaiah foretold the Messiah as explicitly as one could imagine. Micah was clear as a bell. And the hymns of David sung of this Messiah. But expectations have a way of changing. Time passes, and hopes fade. New hopes take their place, hopes built on the aspirations of man. In this case, their hopes are built on an earthly dynasty. Preferably a racist one, too, excluding the Gentile from the kingdom.

Our flesh seeks its expectations, contrary to God and His revealed Word. Perhaps we want a mighty King who is overcoming all our adversity. Or do we want a Jesus that makes our hearts glow, causing our voices to sing out in ecstatic songs of praise? Or do we want a Christ that will defeat tyranny and restore our country to its honor and glory?

Even from the witness of His birth, Christ Jesus acts in humiliation to the Godhead, being born of one of His creation, Mary, submissive to his adoptive father Joseph, earning His food by the sweat of His brow, and redeeming the world through shedding His blood. From our perspective, there's no honor or glory in the Jesus way.

Yet, that's precisely how Jesus works, not in man’s idea of glory but with a cross. Yes, He is a ruler, but His scepter is His blood. Yes, He is a shepherd of Israel, but with the wooden staff of the Roman instrument of death. The iron fist of glory gives way to the gentle tug of this shepherd's crook. Even the lost sheep, the sons of Ham and Japeth, will be gathered together with the sons of Shem through our Lord's sacrifice. Even Magi from the East, who had received but scraps of wisdom from God by the hand of Daniel, are escorted into the presence of the incarnate God.

Like the chief priests and the scribes, they heard the prophecy and saw the sign of the star. Why did the Jews not follow these heathens to see the child born in the manager? Why did they ignore the witness of the Scriptures and the sky? They had already fashioned for themselves a new Messiah, a different hope that ignored the Word of promise. It didn’t matter that Herod was an imposter as long as he played the role and did the bit. Their Messiah would ride triumphantly into Jerusalem, free the captives, restore the temple, and usher in a new dynasty that would never end.

Of course, that’s not far off. That is the right idea, but it is the wrong messiah. Jesus did ride in triumphant, beginning His final march to death. He freed the captives, not from Rome but from sin and its servant, the Devil. He restored the temple and its gifts, but it was his body. And the boy king ushers in a new era, a new kingdom, not of this earth but of the Spirit and heaven.

The heavenly kingdom, with Christ as its head, was the hope of the Magi. They expected the divine king to be truly worthy of worship. They pursued Christ not out of reason or evidence but out of faith. The Lord had graciously given them faith to trust His Word. This Word was the promise, and the star confirmed it. They willingly pursued this word without abandon despite opposition.

One would have thought that the boy of poor parents, living on the outskirts of town, would destroy faith. But, no, quite the opposite. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Undaunted by appearances, they rushed into the house, where they fell down on their faces and worshiped the child. They were not swayed by appearances but trusted the Word. They offered him gifts of gold, wealth fitting for a king, and frankincense, the sweet-smelling sacrifice, and myrrh, the burial spice. These Magi are already preparing the Child for what is to come.

These Magi are noble examples of faith. They received the Word and trusted in His promise. Appearances did not sway them. They were undaunted by our Lord's humble ministry. They graciously accepted the faith handed over to them.

Just as with the wise men, Christ has revealed Himself to you. He shows you who He is and where He is found. He has given us tremendous gifts. He blesses us with the Holy Gospel. He sends His Spirit with this Word and with the water in Holy Baptism, naming us his children. He publicly declares and absolves you of your trespasses. He joins you into one holy communion of His body, giving us His body and blood to eat and drink for forgiveness.

We have heard the Word of promise and know and see the signs. They may not be what the world expects, but they are precisely what it needs. Look around and see! We are like the Magi in heeding our Lord’s call and remaining where our Lord is to be found. We feast upon His saving Word. We receive his body and blood in the most humble means: bread and wine. We receive the forgiveness of sins, the crown of life, and the exceedingly rich joys of eternity.

The wise guys had only a fragment of prophecy and a star. The Word of Promise was small and insignificant. The star was distinguished but ignored by most. Even Herod and all of Jerusalem didn't think twice about it, at least not until the Magi showed up. It must not have been all that spectacular. No flaming comet or supernova. Just the still, small light of the world, Jesus Christ, the infant King, who continued to guide those Gentile magicians to him.

Behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School - Sherman Center
Random Lake, Wisconsin