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"A New Day"

Sermon by Dr. Greg Knox Jones
on Matthew 2:1-12
given January 7, 2007

Gerald Ford, Saddam Hussein.
Man of decency, man of violence.
Cheered for humility, jeered for arrogance.
Touted for virtues, taunted for ruthlessness.
Stately funeral, barbaric hanging.
Soaring tributes, hasty good riddance.
A man who deserved to live a long, full life
and a man who deserved to die a thousand deaths.

The contrasting images of these two world leaders could not be more acute, and sharpens the focus on dramatically different styles of ruling. Leaders can rule by terror or they can rule by following just laws. The distinct contrast between these two leaders and their method of ruling is similar to what we find in this morning's passage from the Gospel of Matthew. The author employs a story about the visit of mysterious magi from the East to highlight the contrast between two rulers: the brutal King Herod and the newborn Prince of Peace.

This text, found only in Matthew's gospel, has enchanted people since early times. Part of its fascination derives from the lore that has grown up around the wise men and part of its appeal comes from the numerous questions the story elicits. Who exactly were these men? From what country did they come? How many were there? What is the significance of gold, frankincense and myrrh? If they came from the East, why would they say they observed a star located in the East? Was the star a supernova or a comet or a planet? Why would all of Jerusalem be frightened by the birth of Jesus?

With a little digging, some of these puzzles can be solved, but others leave us speculating as to who these men were; the Greek word that we translate "magi" is somewhat vague because it can mean wise men, astrologists, sorcerers or magicians. But the details Matthew provides help us to clarify who they were. Since their observation of a star is what led them to Jerusalem, the label "astrologer" certainly fits. Since there is nothing beguiling in their intentions, it seems far-fetched to call them sorcerers. And since they recognize Jesus for who he is, "wise men" seems an apt description.

When it comes to singing the famous hymn connected with this story, "We Three Kings of Orient Are," I'm not the least hesitant to join in with others in belting it out, despite the fact the text never tells us how many of them there were and the consensus among New Testament scholars is that they were not kings.

The question of the star in the Eastern sky leading the magi westward is an easier dilemma to solve. It turns out that the word for "East" and the word for "rising" are the same word in Greek. When the word refers to the place on the compass, it is in the plural form and connected with the preposition "from." When it has the definite article "at" it means "rising." Thus, in verse one, the wise men come from the East and in verse two they observe the star at its rising. (1)

Regarding the nature of the extraordinary celestial body they spotted, we can only guess. However, in the ancient world, it was widely believed that uncommon phenomena in the heavens pointed to exceptional events on earth. For instance, the appearance of a comet was believed to predict the birth or death of someone of great importance. The first century Roman historian, Suetonius, reported that when a comet appeared over Rome for several nights, the Emperor Nero executed several noblemen so that everyone clearly understood that the comet was predicting their deaths and not his. (2)

Matthew's story of the wise men following a star to the birthplace of Jesus is a rich narrative with multiple meanings. And the author employs this story to declare that the birth of Jesus is a world-altering event. He claims that the heavens themselves declare that something earth-shattering is taking place. The rising star marks the birthplace of the Rising Star. King Herod symbolizes the old world of darkness. Jesus represents the dawning of a new day. King Herod exemplifies what is evil and ugly. Jesus embodies what is generous and just. Herod personifies what is spiteful and cynical. Jesus illustrates what is kind and compassionate. Herod typifies what is destructive and despairing. Jesus incarnates what is heroic and hopeful.

It is hardly any wonder why King Herod was disturbed by the visit of the magi. They trekked into Jerusalem and started quizzing people: "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? We have come to pay him homage." Their intent to worship Jesus - and not Herod - is a threatening action. And so Herod quickly summons the chief priests and scribes to inquire where the Messiah is supposed to be born. They quote the prophet Micah who pointed to Bethlehem as the place. Herod invites the wise men to come see him and then sends them to Bethlehem with a command to locate the child and then come back and let him know where this new king can be found. He, too, would like to pay him homage. Right? King Herod would simply love to bow down to a child king!

Herod can detect, in the earth beneath his feet, a slight tremor. The birth of this child king signifies the approaching end of Herod's world and the dawning of a new one.

Every single birth marks the beginning of a new life, but the birth of Jesus marks the genesis of a whole new world. The old world of dead-ends is surpassed as a new world of possibilities begins to emerge. The birth of Christ signals the fact that neither individuals nor nations are destined to remain mired in cycles of retribution. Neither individuals nor nations are destined to remain in bondage to self-destructive tendencies. Harmful habits and cycles of abuse can be transformed into life-enhancing modes of living.

As the Magi were led by a star to the Christ Child, God seeks to lead us to new situations we might deem impossible and to new modes of being that we cannot even imagine.

In one of my former churches, there was a boy named Billy who either did not know this or somehow forgot it. When he was a little boy, I would see him in church occasionally, but once he became a teenager, I never saw him. The life of faith was not a high priority for his parents.

Billy was a troubled young man who always seemed to be vying for attention. He did poorly in school and he was often being disciplined for acting up. As a teenager he started drinking and experimenting with drugs.

Then, late one Saturday night, when he was 17 years-old, he took out his dad's Porsche and began racing around town. A police officer spotted him and set out on a chase. With such a high-powered car, Billy could outrace the police cruiser, but he could not outrace the officer's radio and so other police were called to join the pursuit. For some reason, Billy drove into one of the parking decks at the local college where the police trapped him. Billy could see no way out of his predicament. He sat there in the darkness in his dad's car; the police were hesitant to approach.

Billy's whole life seemed dark to him. He could not imagine a different life and a better future, and so he pulled out his father's gun that he had also taken, and he ended it all.

Such a tragedy. He was not even out of high school. He had no idea what life had in store for him. There is no telling what new opportunities might have materialized just around the next bend if he had just tried to crawl out of his mess.

God shed many tears the night Billy took his life, because God could envision new possibilities for him. If Billy had not given in to despair, he could have made a new beginning. I like the words of a colleague who says, "From the cradle to the grave, we are never trapped in a room from which there is no exit. There is always a door. God is always offering the possibility of change and growth to those who have the courage and energy to seize it."(3)

The birth of Jesus marks a new day for the world. God is revealed to be a compassionate Creator who seeks the best for us. God wants us to experience joy and beauty and meaning, and so God seeks to lead us to new opportunities that hold the potential for enriching our lives. However, God does not violate our freedom. God persuades, but does not compel; God coaxes, but does not control. We suffer many blows in life, it's simply a part of human existence; and because we often fail to use our freedom wisely, there is still much darkness. But Christ's birth declares that there is a light that will never be extinguished because God never stops encouraging us and inspiring us and guiding us to a better world. God seeks to transform devastated cities into thriving communities, crippled soldiers into marathon runners and broken spirits into hopeful and determined outlooks.

Someone said, "Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future and faith is the courage to dance to its tune today."(4)

King Herod's world does not give up without a fight, but never forget that the birth of Christ signals the dawn of a new day. God is revealed as a God of new beginnings and so life will always be full of surprises. We must never give in to cynicism or despair because we simply do not know what opportunities will appear tomorrow.

NOTES

David E. Garland, Reading Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, (New York: Crossroad, 1995), p.26.
Ibid.
J. Harold McKeithen, "The Beckonings of God," on Lectionary Homiletics website, January, 1998.
Wayne Weissenbuler, "The Courage of Faith," on the Protestant Hour, December 19, 1999.

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