Who is Really in Control
Here are some ideas for the Epiphany gospel that I sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.
Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They 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.’ ”
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then 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.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On 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. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Why should King Herod and all of Jerusalem be frightened of a baby? This child was no ordinary baby, but one who was born to be “king of the Jews” (v. 2). The power of these men in leadership in Jerusalem was tenuous because they had maintained it by oppression. It had not been given them by God, unlike that of the child who would become king. King Herod and the other Jerusalem leaders were threatened by anyone they perceived as challenging their right to power. But it’s still hard to believe that even as a newborn, the Christ child frightened them.
The babe to be worshipped, who would die on a cross, wants to rule and reign in every area of our lives. Rather than the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, he wants us to open our hearts in love for him and service to our neighbor. Martin Luther wrote, “For on this very day we can still open to Christ our treasures and present them to Him, as the wise men did. And how? Behold, His word is written (Matthew 25:40): ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” (Day by Day We Magnify Thee, p. 48).
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