Epiphany (1905)

Matthew 2:1-12 Through the message: "Today is born to you a Savior!" God calls all men to His Son. He calls them out of darkness into wonderful light1; to fellowship in His Son2; to ownership of our Savior3; to rest and refreshment4; to peace with God5; to eternal bliss 6. Should we now think that there would be a man who called in vain on these precious goods or, if he were already on the way to that Savior, would stop and hinder himself? And yet few reach the goal. The devil, the world, and the flesh confront men and throw obstacles at him in the way. On the overcoming of temptations that confront us on the way to the Infant Jesus 1. On this way many temptations often confront us. a. The Magi were directed to the Savior by a miraculous star and by divine revelations associated with it. They wanted to go to Him. It was not easy. They had to leave their families and take upon themselves many hardships; they may also probably have had to listen to much ridicule of their friends among the scholars; their own reason is made discouraged and despondent. As they proceed on the way, the star disappears; in Jerusalem they find no festal joy over the birth of the new King; Herod turns pal at their questions concerning the King of the Jews, and all Jerusalem is frightened. They explain the motive of their question. The scribes abandon Herod's request for information, but neither they nor any one of them goes with them from Jerusalem.7 They find the Child in Bethlehem, but how? In very poor circumstances. And this shall be the King of the Jews? This is the Messiah of the world? b. A man must even now often go through similar temptations on the way to the Infant Jesus. If a man has come to the knowledge of his sins and is pointed to Jesus only by God's Word, then he is intensely challenged. He must forsake much on which his hat has been hung: worldly friends, brotherly fellowship, e.g. lodges, etc., pleasures of the world. If he does, he earns ridicule from his former friends. He comes to Christians and in their fellowship he hopes to find all full jubilation over their Savior, but often finds apathy, coldness, and unfriendliness among many. He notes also hypocrites and pseudo-Christians in the external fellowship of Christians, as well as the self-righteous, who do not go along to Christ. And even Christians stumble and fall, the whole church is divided into sects and parties. Should this really be Christ's Kingdom? Should Christ really reign there? In addition to that, he usually finds the poor with Christ. One seldom finds the wise and wealthy in the ranks of Christians. And should these poor
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1 Peter 2:9. 1 Corinthians 1:9. 3 2 Thessalonians 2:14. 4 Matthew 11:28. 5 Colossians 3:15. 6 Philippians 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:12. 7 Magazin, Vol. 22, p. 4ff.

and needy alone have the truth and know it better than all the wise men of the world? Is the Bible really the bright star that leads us to heaven? Yes, we are intensely challenged on the way to the Infant Jesus. 2. But by God's grace we can overcome them. a. So little the Magi from the East were shown to Christ on their own efforts, so little have they overcome temptations on their own efforts. Both have taken God's grace on them. God had revealed to them the doctrine of the Messiah.8 They held to this. They were strengthened in their faith by the star. In Jerusalem, God led them to Him by the prophetic written Word and by the preaching office, and from it they learned Who is the Messiah, where to find Him and how to honor Him. From this prophecy they learned rightly to recognize the person and office of this King. They relied on this Word, they trusted and built on it against all temptations. Now God strengthens them further: by the reappearing star; by the words of Mary; by the command that God gave them in a dream. Thus they overcame all temptation by God's grace.9 b. Thus we can overcome all temptation. The means for this is still God's Word.10 God's Word points us to the Savior of sinners 11; gives us power to abandon earthly things for the sake of Christ and to endure scorn and ridicule12; teaches us that not many wise men according to the flesh believe in the crucified Christ13; that heretics are still in the external fellowship of Christians.14 If a man on the way to the Infant Christ sought advice from all temptations in God's Word and relies on it, then he by God's grace shall overcome all things.15 W.C.K.

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Cf. Walther, "Drafts", p. 39. Luther, Erlangen Edition XIII:125. 10 Acts 9:5, 10:5; 2 Peter 1:19. 11 John 1:29. 12 Malachi 3:16ff.; Luke 14:26; Matthew 7:14. 13 1 Corinthians 1:26. 14 Matthew 13:24-26, 47-48. 15 Magazin, Volume 7, page 6.