Epiphany of our Lord (Observed)
Text: 2:1-12
When I was younger, I loved to hear all the stories of Christmas. The manger, the shepherds, the wise men, and the star that hung so brightly in the sky. I loved hearing and singing about the star so much that I would often look on my way to church on Christmas Eve for the Christmas star.
We’ve always bunched the wise men together with the Christmas story that we hear on Christmas Eve, but the truth is that the wise men would not have arrived so quickly. It would have taken them a year or two to travel to Bethlehem because they probably came from Persia, Babylon, or Arabia. The distance of their travels also means that the baby Jesus probably wasn’t a baby anymore; he was probably around the age of some of the children who roam our pews and fill our sanctuary with joy, around the age of two.
But who were the wise men?
Well, it might be better to call these men the Magi. Magi are “scientists, seers, wise and without a doubt learned men and scholars in the natural sciences, the movement of stars and planets.”
So, naturally, God speaks to them in a manner they will understand; God gives them a star to guide them on their way. And the star eventually guides the Magi to Bethlehem.
Now, think about this: what would you do if all you had was a star to guide you across the United States of America? Do you believe we could do this? Do you believe you could navigate the highways and byways by a star? I think it would be a challenge, don’t you?
Besides the challenge of staying on course, there are times when you might run into obstacles like lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). Okay, maybe not lions, tigers, and bears, but a journey on foot of this magnitude without the technology we have today would be both challenging and dangerous.
But, something interesting happens during the journey of the Magi: they are led first to Jerusalem. Remember, this is where Jesus will die upon the cross for the sins of the world, for you.
But then the Magi also ask King Herod where the new king and Savior would be born, and Herod summons the Scribes and Chief Priests. These are the men seen as wise in the Scriptures, and they read to Herod and the Magi what the prophet Micah says: the new King would come to Bethlehem.
And so, the journey goes on, and the star reappears and leads the Magi to Jesus and His mother, Mary, and his earthly father, Joseph.
Now, here is what I want you to remember this evening: the star and all its glory led the Magi. There are many beliefs on how the star appeared and what the star was made of and so on (like it was the planets Jupiter and Saturn coming together), but what’s important is that we remember the star led the Magi to Jerusalem where they heard the Word of God read aloud.
What does this mean? The Word of God told them to go to Bethlehem, where they would find Jesus, the Word of God in the flesh!
There are many miraculous ways God spoke to His people throughout the Bible. But now, we are told that God speaks to us in His Word, through the Words written in Holy Scripture.
You may often feel like you are on a journey throughout life, lost and overwhelmed by the tasks and events of the day, but you no longer need to search for Jesus. He is right where He says He will be for you. So, pay attention when you gather in this sanctuary, listen to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed, and read it with your families and within your homes because where the Word of God is read, that is where Jesus is for you!
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
