Royal Epiphany

Matthew 2: 1-12
How should we understand the story of King Herod and the Magi,
the three wise men?
Could the birth of Jesus be told without Herod and the Magi and
still be complete in meaning?
I mean. If the three foreign wise men or kings from the east had
not come to worship the babe, would Jesus birth still look like a
royal birth?
And if Herod was never mentioned would it change the meaning
of Christmas?
The Gospels of Mark and John as you know do not have stories
about the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke has the birth story of Jesus
Christ but it does not mention Herod or the 3 kings. It is only in
Matthew where Herod and the 3 kings are mentioned. So are
these characters dispensable in the Jesus birth story?
There are two reasons in my mind why Herod and the 3 kings are
essential in the birth story. We should thank the Matthew gospel
writer that this detail was included.
1. The story of the visit of the three kings from the East is
important in clarifying that God through Jesus Christ, came not
only to the Jews but to the Gentiles as well. God manifested
Gods self not only to ordinary Jewish shepherds in the field but
to foreigners, and foreign kings at that. The King of the whole
world was manifested to 3 kings of earthly kingdoms.
By the way, today is Epiphany Sunday because today we
observe Gods manifestation to the world. Jesus Christ is
being introduced to the Gentiles as the King of Kings.
Thus the birth of Jesus Christ is a Royal Epiphany.

2. The story of King Herod tells us of the political implications of

Jesus birth. The birth of Jesus, innocent and peaceful as it may
seem, by accident challenges the authority of King Herod,
appointed by the Romans in 40 BCE as the king of the Jews.
It challenges the status quo. The birth of Jesus Christ indicates
that he is supposed to have an effect on this world and
specifically on social order and on governance. Jesus is such a
physical threat to the powers that be that Herod schemes to
use the 3 kings to find out where the baby King is so that he
may get rid of him. Fortunately, the kings departed by another
way.
And so two worlds meet or collide when Jesus Christ is born. One
world was the world of the magi, the Gentile world seeking a King
of Peace. The other world was of King Herod, who ruled ruthlessly
and selfishly to eliminate any rival of power.
The world of the magi was experiencing the wonders of faith.
Being Gentiles, the magi were outsiders to Gods chosen people
and deprived of Gods revelation through the Scriptures. The magi
turned to nature for a sign of God. And God did not fail to satisfy
their hunger for truth. He gave them a bright star to find the king.
By studying the heavens, they observed the birth of a star with
uncharacteristic brilliance. This meant the birth of a great king.
Through contacts with the Jewish faith, they set out for Palestine
on the road to perfect revelation, following the guidance of a star.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they found the local king, King
Herod by name, unaware of and ignorant of the great sign. So
they had to rely on a divine gift to locate the infant king. This
divine gift was the gift of faith that the star would lead them to
the king. Only by this gift were they able to come to the presence
of the great king.
And when they saw him they fell down and worshipped him.

But there is something else that we must recognize in this story.

The birth of Jesus Christ overturns many of our assumptions. For
in Jesus Christ we see a glimpse of the mind of God. And it
surprises us, gives us a new perspective of the world and makes
us change from our old selves to the new.
Consider these reversals:
Jesus Christ the king of kings, was not born in a palace but in
a cowshed.
Jesus Christ, the one who was sinless, was a friend of sinners
and tax collectors.
Jesus Christ the Master of Creation, was a servant who
washed his disciples feet.
Jesus Christ who is the Bread of Life, began His ministry
hungering.
Jesus Christ the Water of Life, ended His ministry thirsting.
Christ hungered as a man, yet fed the hungry crowds as
God. He was weary yet he is our rest.
He was called a devil but he cast out demons.
He prayed. Yet he hears our prayers.
He wept and yet He dries our tears.
He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet he redeems the
world.
He was led as a lamb to slaughter yet He is the Good
Shepherd.
He gave His life. But in dying, He destroyed death.
Todays gospel presents the contrast between two worlds.
There is the world of unbelief, hostility and fear of worldly power
that we are familiar with and that rules our lives.
And there is the world of the magi, searching for truth, for faith
and giving.
To which world do we wish to belong?