The Epiphany Star Sheds Light On Our Life
Many people have heard the Bible account in Matthew 2:1-12 about the wise men and the star that appeared to them. But the actual center of attention is the real Epiphany Star, Jesus. The light of his love is shining on you! Today we learn how The Epiphany Star Sheds Light On Our Life. January 6, 2008.
Happy Epiphany! The Epiphany season of the church year begins officially today, January 6. “Epiphany” is a Greek word that means “shine on” or “show forth,” and the standard gospel reading designated to be read on the festival of the Epiphany is the one you heard, in which wise men from the East witnessed the shining or showing forth of a very special star. A shining star and light shining out have become symbols of this season. You may not have realized it when you got out of bed today, but The Epiphany Star Sheds Light On Our Life.
The Epiphany Star is a joy to follow
The story of the wise men has become the center of legends and myths. You have heard the song, “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” I hate to destroy the mental image you may have of the wise men, but Matthew does not tell us there were three men, just three gifts. He just uses the plural, Magi. There could have been two wise men or a dozen. And Matthew does not say they were kings. The Magi were scientists, astronomers, studying the marvels of the heavenly lights God created. They lived in a climate that made astronomy possible – very few cloudy days and nights and no street lights to obstruct their view. So, the study of the stars was quite natural and common. It helped travelers navigate in the right direction and farmers cultivate at the right time. Certainly, anything out of the ordinary would catch the eye.
That is exactly what happened to these wise men. When they came to Jerusalem, they said, “We have seen his star in the east”. We are not told any details about this star, whether it was a cluster of planets or a special miracle from God. Whatever it was it got their attention.
But how did they make the connection between this unique astral phenomenon which they saw back in Babylon and “the one who has been born king of the Jews”? Five hundred eighty years before this star appeared, the Israelites had been taken captive from their homeland to Babylon. While there, many of them shared what they believed about a coming Deliverer with their neighbors. One of the prophecies said, “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17), a prediction from God that a great king would come from the Israelites.
The wise men made the connection between that prophecy, the star that appeared, and a king born in the land of Israel. Obviously, they did not follow the star in order to locate a new earthly ruler. There were plenty of those guys to go around, and they certainly had kings in their homeland. These wise men must have been looking for something more. Their Jewish neighbors must have told them that the king to be born from the Israelites would do more than issue decrees and laws, lead an army of soldiers into battle, and build highways. He would be able to fulfill God’s laws, lead the hosts of heaven into battle against Satan, and build a highway to heaven. These wise men must have been spiritually wise, sensing the need for spiritual deliverance. They must have felt the “ouch” inside that you and I get when God sticks the needle of his strict demands right into the self-inflated balloon of our self-centered hearts. Their heaven-gazing wouldn’t mean a thing without God’s rescue from the consequences of their sin. Without that rescue they’d be looking not up at light but down at flames. Their status in society, comfy condos, and two-camel-garage wouldn’t mean a thing if the Big Guy in the Sky put a bulls-eye on their backs. But the star that appeared meant a king, a rescuer; a deliverer was born in Bethlehem. Why else would they travel nearly a thousand miles to find him? Why else would they make such an effort to follow the star? What else would make that star such a joy to follow, other than that it would lead to the Star of God’s saving love? Even after they headed back to their homeland, they were still joyfully following that Star, not the star that had appeared in the sky, but the Star of the Christmas story, the Star who had appeared on earth and whose light of love was shining in their hearts.
Lots of people are into astrology, consulting the position of planets and stars to determine where they are in life and where they are going. There are even some Christian people who think that checking their horoscope is a harmless daily activity. But I have met some people who started down that path and got hooked worse than they are hooked on their soap operas. People who fool around with that stuff are playing with fire. God warned the Israelites, “Let no one be found among you who ... practices divination or sorcery, [or] interprets omens ... Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10,12). Astrology and horoscopes cannot guarantee anyone’s future. Follow those stars, and you could end up in eternal darkness.
But there is a Star that is a joy to follow. After [the wise men] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Real joy comes from this real Star of Epiphany because thirty-three years after a star appeared to the Magi, Jesus appeared to people who came to finish off his funeral. But there was no funeral. He was and is alive to shed the light of his love on your life and mine so that we don’t have to live in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death.
The Epiphany Star is an honor to worship
The king that the wise men visited in Jerusalem wanted to be called “Herod the Great.” We have to admit that he ran an efficient government. He rid the countryside of bandits, made peace with the oppressive Roman rulers, and gave the people rest from war. He even ordered the rebuilding of the temple complex, more beautiful than before. But one thing Herod could not stand was the thought of a rival. Even at the slightest hint of rebellion he murdered seven close relatives, including his wife and two sons.
When Herod heard that some eastern scientists were asking the whereabouts of a new-born king, his blood began to boil. He knew the people longed for a Deliverer. What if such a person really had been born and would stir up a rebellion? Something had to be done to nip this in the bud. “I know!” he thought, “I’ll find the baby and kill him!”
When the wise men visited Herod, they probably bowed in respect. They had heard of his reputation. You don’t want to mess with a king like that. If he could give an order to execute his own wife and sons, he certainly had the power to arrest and torture these strangers who were spreading rumors about a new king.
But when the wise men saw the real Star of Bethlehem, they had no such fears. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. No fear of being beaten into submission. No hiding their faults and failures. This Star was born to wipe the slate clean. This King was an honor to worship.
Do you know anyone who is turned off to organized religion because it got his or her throat as a child? Do you know someone only goes to church occasionally as sort of a good luck practice? Do you know anyone who says, “Why do I need to go to church? I’m a nice person. My life is going well. I don’t need that stuff!” How sad! Been there? The Epiphany Star changes that and fills us with a thrill. He has dispelled the dark sentence of doom that hung over our heads because we were spiritually still-born. He shines his light of love into every corner where we hide in fear of getting whomped by God. He brightens the path we walk all the way to heaven’s gates. He is our King, but he doesn’t shove his power down our throats. He elevates us to royal status as God’s dear children. It is an honor to worship him.
The Epiphany Star makes it a privilege to give
I wonder whether the wise men felt obligated to present King Herod with gifts. We don’t know. But we do know that the wise men opened their treasures and presented [the baby Jesus] with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. By this time Mary and Joseph were likely in a relative’s house or a rental spot. Do you think Joseph stood at the door with his arms crossed collecting an admission fee? Hardly! The wise men were not being forced to “hand it over!” They brought their gifts out of sheer gratitude for what God had done for them. He had appeared to shed light on their lives. He had come to remove their sin. It was no burden or duty or obligation to offer gifts. This Epiphany Star named Jesus made it a privilege to give.
Make any New Year’s resolutions? “I’m going to lose weight!” “I’m going to get in shape!” “I’m going to get a handle on my credit card debt.” “I’m going to pay more attention to my investments.” Look at what God has done for you through the Epiphany Star, named Jesus! He said, “I’m not going to leave you in devil-darkness. I’m going to bring you into the love-light, God’s light. It won’t be an occasional flash of light or a strobe light. The light of my love will shine on you forever.” That love from God leads us to make resolutions like “I’m going to read my Bible more,” “I’m going to set aside more time to serve my God and others,” “I’m going to offer a more generous and joyful amount of my income to the Lord.” Jesus, the Epiphany Star, sheds light on our livesand makes it a privilege to give.
There are lots of people who have heard this Bible account about the wise men and the star that appeared to them. But the real center of attention is the real Epiphany Star, Jesus. The light of his love is shining on you!
As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore your followers be. (CW 83:1)
Happy Epiphany! Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.gracedowntown.org/) on January 6, 2008
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