In our gospel lesson for today we read about mysterious figures from the east who followed a star to Jerusalem so that they could worship the one who was born king of the Jews. Most of what we know about these mysterious figures is shrouded in assumptions, conjecture, and tradition. Matthew tells us they are called “Magi”[1]. But what are magi? The term, “magi” is a Latin translation of the Greek word μάγος. The term, “magi” is used by respected historians like Josephus in both a negative and positive sense. In the negative they were described as a class of priests who were the interpreters of special signs. They were thought to be the possessors and users of supernatural knowledge and ability. Our English word “magic” comes from the word “magi”. In the positive sense it is a reference to ancient astronomers/astrologers who sought after the deep truths of the universe. Many a magi served as teachers of philosophy and influential advisors to the king of the land. It is because of this function that some prefer to call them “wise-men”. It is because of their association with the sovereign that others prefer to call them kings.
According to tradition there were three Magi, and their names were Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior. But scripture doesn’t give an accounting of their number. In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the magi often number twelve. The reason most traditions assume three is because Matthew’s gospel mentions three gifts that the magi presented. It is possible that there were more, possible there were less, but we know there was at least more than one Magi who bowed down to worship the King of the Jews.
The Magi bow down to the King of the Jews although they themselves were not Jews. In Matthew’s gospel we learn they are “from the east.”[2] Well, nearly all of Asia lies to the east of Jerusalem. Some have thought the magi to be Arabians based on where the gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh were likely to have originated. Others suggest Persia since Persia was known to have magi that fit the star gazing description given in Matthew’s gospel. Personally, I favor the thinking of those who guess a Babylonian origin. To me Babylonian magi make the most sense, especially when you remember During the 70 years of Babylonian captivity Daniel was put in charge of the magi. Considering Daniel was willing to brave the lion's den as a confession of faith, I think it is safe to assume that he also talked about the promised Messiah around the water cooler at work. No doubt 500 years before Mary wrapped her baby in cloths and laid him in a manger Daniel was teaching the magi about the promised Messiah who was to be born king of the Jews.
Faith in the promised Messiah is what caused the magi to tell Herod, “We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”[3] (Our verse of the day.) Now the star, if ever there were a detail in the account of the magi that was subject to conjecture it is the star. Was it a special star God created just for the magi and served but one purpose? Absolutely possible, throughout Scripture God demonstrates His dominion over sun, moon, and stars. Was it an alignment of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars? Again possible, astronomers say such an event happened in the month of December in the year Jesus was born. Was it a comet that lit up the night sky? Also possible, in the astronomical tables of the Chinese the appearance of a transitory star was noted at that time. The bottom line is we don’t know anything about the star beyond its function of leading the magi to “the place where the child was”[4].
There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Magi, but a greater mystery than who they were and where they came from is what they were allowed to do when they arrived in Bethlehem. Matthew tells us, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”[5] The greatest mystery that surrounds the Magi is that they are allowed an audience with the Son of God, allowed to bow before Him, and allowed give Him gifts. It is this mystery that I am most interested in solving because we, modern day Magi, are allowed to do the same.
Saint Paul speaks of this mystery in his letter to the Ephesians. Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by praising God for his own salvation. He then expresses his gratitude for the faith that has been created in the hearts of the Ephesian Christians. Paul follows that up with a brilliant explanation of salvation by grace alone. Then, right before our text, Paul calls upon the Ephesians to remember who and what they once were. He calls them uncircumcised Gentiles and reminds them they were once “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”[6]
Paul called the Ephesians “Gentiles” because they could not trace their ancestry back to Abraham. He calls them “uncircumcised” because they were not the children of the covenant through whom God would keep His promise of salvation. In that respect we, modern day Magi, have a great deal in common with the Ephesians. To my knowledge no one here can trace their ancestry back to Father Abraham. We are not the children of the covenant through whom God kept His promise of salvation. Like the ancient Magi, our ancestors lived outside the promised land. We are a bunch of Barbarians, Mongols, Norsemen, Aztecs, Sabines… what I am saying is we fit the description of “uncircumcised Gentiles”. Which means we were once “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”
Like the Ephesians (and the Magi before them) there is no reason we should be allowed an audience with the Son of God, allowed to bow before Him, allowed to give Him gifts. But here is the mystery, in verse 12 saint Paul tells us that “we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” We have been granted an audience with the Son of God. Jesus once promised “where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.”[7] Jesus is here with us right now. You are in the presence of the Son of God. He, who enjoys the adoration of the saints, and the praises of the angels hears both your confession of sin and your confession of faith, and He is listening intently to you as you sing to Him your hymns of praise. He, who is the giver of your daily bread, is allowing you to give back to Him some of what He has first given to you, and He is allowing you to feel good about giving it. Though our eyes cannot see Him, make no mistake you are in the presence of the Son of God. And one day you will see what today your eyes cannot see. One day you will find yourself face to face with the Son of God as He sits upon the judgement throne of heaven, and we who are not children of the covenant, we who by our thoughts, words, and actions continue to give reasons why we should be excluded from citizenship among the chosen we will stand before the King of the Jews, indeed we will stand before the King of all nations, the King of all that is and we will stand before Him…Paul says… full of confidence!!!
Never mind the mysteries that surround the Magi, this is the mystery we want solved. Thankfully, in verse 6, saint Paul gives us what we want. There Paul writes, “6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” In this verse Paul makes reference to “the promise”. He is referring to the promise God made to deliver sinners from death and damnation to life and salvation. This promise was made again and again to the Jewish people, but here Paul connects us to that promise by calling us co-inheritors, co-members, co-sharers of this promise.
As far as God is concerned, we are the people of promise, not because we are descendants of Father Abraham but because of “Christ Jesus”. Jesus was a Jew. He was from the house and line of David and a descendant of Abraham, but the promise of salvation was not just for the Jews. Jesus wasn’t born to only be a Jewish substitute. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not just pay for Jewish sins. When Jesus rose from the dead, He did not just guarantee salvation for the Jewish people. Jesus was born to be your substitute and mine. Jesus died to pay for your sins and mine. Jesus rose from the dead to guarantee your salvation and mine. God made the promise of salvation to all the descendants of Adam and Eve and though that promise often was forgotten by the Jews and neglected by the Gentiles God made that promise again and again. He made it to Abraham when He told him “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”[8] He made it through Isaiah who said, “nations will come to your light.”[9] He made it through Solomon who said, “all nations will be blessed through him”. God never intended for the promise of salvation to be the sole possession of just one people. Which is why, I believe Daniel shared that promise with the Magi, and Paul shared that promise with the Ephesians, and it is why your parents, or some pastor or teacher shared that promise with you. We may be a bunch of Barbarians, Mongols, Norsemen, Aztecs, Sabines but because of Christ Jesus we are also co-inheritors, co-members, co-sharers of the promise.
The Magi understood this mystery. Knowing that they were the people of promise is what compelled them to bow down and worship Jesus and it is what compelled them to give Him their treasures. You understand the mystery as well as any Magi. You know God’s promise of salvation is for you. So why not do what the Magi did? Why not make a commitment to yourself and to your God to spend this coming year in worship and make a commitment to give your treasures to your God? Why not be like the mysterious Magi and fulfill the ancient prophecy from Isaiah that said foreigners would “come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD”[10]?
There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Magi, but today, with the help of saint Paul, we have solved an even greater mystery. The reason foreigners like you and me have been allowed an audience with the Son of God, allowed to bow before Him, allowed to give Him gifts is because in Christ Jesus we are the people of promise. Amen.
[1] Matthew 2:1
[2] Matthew 2:1
[3] Matthew 2:2
[4] Matthew 2:9
[5] Matthew 2:11
[6] Ephesians 2:12
[7] Matthew 18:20
[8] Genesis 12:3
[9] Isaiah 60:3
[10] Isaiah 60:6