January 7, 2018 Epiphany Sunday

GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 2:1–12 [The Magi visit the Child] 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” The Wisemen came to worship Jesus. Today I want to think about why they came to “worship” him and also about why we come to “worship” him. I also want to think about what “worship” really is.

We call them “Wisemen” or “Magi” or“Kings” (“We Three Kings of Orient Are”), or as the Japanese says, “Astrologers.” My Bible dictionary says that they were originally a priestly class of people. They were priests who did sacrifices. They were also philosophers, scientists, scholars, diviners of sacrfices, astronomers and also astrologers. They were in Persia, Chaldea, Babylon, and Arabia. In Greek they are called “Magi” from which the word “magician” comes.

Actually, modern Bible scholars and astronomers do not know what star they saw. But some how it was revealed to them that a king had been born in Judea. If they were from Babylon, where the Jews had been in exile, and if they knew some Jews who still lived there or if they knew the Jewish Bible, then they could have some idea of what sort of king the child must be. He would not be a regular prince, but a religious figure sent by God. And so they went to Jerusalem to “worship” him.

Usually when a child is born, family and friends congratulate the new parents and give baby-shower presents. If a royal prince is born, ambassadors and the like would come and congratulate the royal parents. But the Magi are not ambassadors. They were not interested in King Herod. They had come like priests to worship the child. This is what upset King Herod and all the people of Jerusalem. They knew that if the child were to be worshiped, and the Jews never worship human beings but only God, then the child must be the Messiah.

Worship is not congratulations, but it is a celebration. Worship is not a prayer that asks for something. Worship recognizes the mercy and grace and blessings and salvation given by God, but it is not done in order to get those things from God. Worship is pure thanks. It is acknowledgement of the majesty of God. The Wisement gave gifts to Jesus that show their faith. They did not expect to get anything back from the gold, frankincense and myrrh. It was an expression of their “exceedingly great joy” of having found their quest.

They worshiped the Christ Child because it was the natural thing to do for a Magi. That is what they do. The Holy Spirit gave them an epiphany-revelation through the star, through the Bible passage that the Jerusalem priests read to them, and then even in a dream, the Holy Spirit revealed to them instructions on how to return home safely.

How about us? Why have we come to worship the Christ Child? We do not have to travel to Bethlehem because Christ comes to us. And we especially find Christ here in the Sunday morning “worship service.” Were you guided this morning by a star to come to church? Maybe you came because your mother made you. Maybe you came by habit, or because it is fun, or to visit friends, or to pray for something special, or because the Holy Spirit has given you faith. These are all good reasons to come to church. And while we are here, let’s worship Christ.

We worship in our songs and prayers and the sacrament and in the silence of our hearts. We do not – or should not – worship in order to get something from God. Our offerings do not buy God’s favor. God is not bribed or flattered. We might tell our mother that she is pretty, and then ask for money. We might try flattery with people who are vain and proud, and it might work. But true worship is different. God has already given us salvation. Our worship says “thank you.” Our songs and liturgy and offerings express the feelings and faith in our hearts.

There are many Christian denominations and many worship styles. And even in the Lutheran Church there are different worship styles, from the very formal high-church to the very casual low-church and no-church. Some styles I find are more meaningful to me personally and some just plain disturb me. But the thing that makes me want to fall on my knees like the Magi and worship Christ, is when I see the cross of Christ. When I see my sins on that cross. When I see the love of God that died for me. Then my worship becomes very personal. There may be a hundred people in church around me, but I am connected to God one-to-one. And that is worship. We are all connected to God.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his cross and empty grave and have come to worship him.”

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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