Epiphany – Matthew 2:1-12
In the Middle Ages, in western Europe, the festival of the Epiphany came to be seen as a festival about three gentile kings – from Arabia, Persia, and India – who were guided by a star to come and worship the Christchild. The names that were attached to these kings were Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar, respectively.
It was believed that these men each eventually became Christians in the full sense of the term, and were martyred for their faith. It was furthermore believed that the relicts of these three kings were housed at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany – which helps to explain the popularity in Germany of the festival of the Epiphany – or as it is commonly called there, the Day of the Holy Three Kings.
But St. Matthew’s inspired account of their visit, which we heard a few minutes ago, does not say that these men from the east were kings. It calls them “magoi,” or magi – rendered in some English translations as “wise men.” The “magoi” were a caste of religious leaders and astronomical scholars within the Persian Empire.
And St. Matthew also does not say that there were three such magi. Many in the Eastern Church – especially among the Christians of Syria – believe that there were actually twelve magi.
Where did the idea of three kings come from? Probably from the fact that Matthew lists three specific gifts that they brought, so that people assumed that each visitor brought one gift; and probably also from that portion of the Book of Isaiah that was read today as our Old Testament lesson. Isaiah prays to the Christchild from across the centuries:
“The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. … The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.”
But this passage is not specific enough, with respect to the particular event of the visit of the magi, to establish as a fact that the magi were kings. From what Matthew says about them, there is actually no reason to think that they were kings.
But that doesn’t mean that there are no kings in the story of Epiphany. There are two kings.
The first king is Herod, who was not of the Davidic line, and who was not even Jewish, but who had been appointed as King of the Jews by the Romans.
The second king is Jesus, the legal son of Joseph – whom the angel had called “Son of David” when Jesus’ conception was explained to him in a dream. And Jesus himself was referred to by the magi as “He who has been born King of the Jews.” St. Matthew writes:
“In the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Herod certainly took notice when the magi told him that they were looking for this legitimate king, because Herod knew that his kingship was not, in the final analysis, legitimate. He had not been “born” King of the Jews, with David counted among his ancestors, but he had been made the King of the Jews by an invading foreign power.
He was vulnerable to being overthrown by the rightful king. His throne was not secure. So the baby the magi were seeking, whoever he was, was a threat to Herod.
St. Matthew continues his account:
“And when [Herod] had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”’ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’”
The magi did go to Bethlehem. They did find Jesus. And they worshiped him when they found him. They did not worship Herod. He was not the king – the divine king – they were looking for, and they knew it. But Jesus was that king.
In the United States of America, with its Constitutional government, we do not live under a king – or at least not under a conventional, political, earthly king. But we can consider the ways in which people in our society do, in our hearts and minds, recognize the authority of a supernatural “king” or ruler.
Supernaturally, the rightful king of all people is Jesus. The Book of Revelation tells us that “on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
He is the rightful king over all human beings, because he has redeemed the entire human race: from the power of sin, the guilt of sin, and the temporal and eternal consequences of sin. St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”
And St. John writes in his First Epistle that “Jesus Christ the righteous…is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
We also recall St. John’s description, in his Gospel, of the salient points of our Lord’s conversation with Pilate:
“Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ … Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. …’ Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’”
Jesus is a King over an unusual kingdom. He reigns, not through the power of earthly military might, or through the power of human political skill, but through the power of divine truth: the divine truth that he speaks to the mind and conscience.
All people rightfully belong to him, including those who rebel against his authority, who turn away from the blessings of his redemption, and who submit themselves, in their moral and spiritual life, to the pretended authority of an illegitimate king – a king like Herod.
And the illegitimate supernatural king or ruler – who ultimately stands behind all false authorities that compete with the genuine authority of God’s Son – is a being whom Jesus several times refers to as the “prince” or “ruler” of this world. In various places in St. John’s Gospel, Jesus says:
“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
“The ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me.”
“The ruler of this world is judged.”
This supernatural being is the devil, or Satan. His claim on the souls of men is not a legitimate claim – just as Herod’s claim on the nation of the Jews was not a legitimate claim. But the devil rules over large segments of fallen humanity anyway, because people listen to him and follow him.
And yet, as the passages that we have quoted say concerning him, the “ruler of this world” is being cast out, and his feigned authority will be taken away from him by the judgment of Christ, the true king of all – just as Herod, not long after the magi visited him, died a loathsome death, and no longer sat on his throne.
As we have noted, Jesus reigns over his spiritual kingdom through the power of the truth that he speaks into the lives of those who do honor his rightful authority over them. In contrast, the devil reigns – while he still has the illusion of reigning – through the lies that he speaks.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about this, too, when he says that “the devil…was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Satan has, as it were, stolen the throne from which he rules over the deceived mind and hearts that are under his spell. And he has stolen their allegiance, since their true sovereign is the Lord who died and rose again for them – not the liar who has bedeviled them.
And Satan’s reign, such as it is, is markedly different from the reign of Christ, over those who know and believe the truth that he proclaims. Jesus paints this contrast in John’s Gospel:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
When the magi were looking for their true sovereign, and for the genuine King to whom they owed honor, they were able to tell the difference between the phoney King of the Jews, who had been installed by the Romans, and the real King of the Jews, who had been born to that office and station under God.
Can you tell the difference between the two supernatural kings who are competing for your loyalty and respect? Can you tell the difference between the legitimate king who is telling you the truth, and the pretended king who is lying to you?
Can you tell the difference between the false king who has been judged, and whose reign is coming to an end; and the true king who will reign forever in goodness, righteousness, and peace?
Jesus says: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
There is an extraordinary spiritual power in the very words of Christ, that gives those words the ability to persuade you of their truthfulness, as you hear them. Jesus also says: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
And in the Gospel of St. Luke, when the disciples who had been talking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus reflected on that experience, they said: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
The devil’s lies are often crafted by him in such a way that they will appeal to your baser impulses. He excuses and praises your pride, your lust, and your greed. He condones and justified your self-righteous anger and your lack of concern for others.
He tells your sinful flesh what it wants to hear. In the short term what he says seems true, if you want it to be true. But in the long term, you come to realize that his words are full of death, and not life.
How often have people believed the devil’s lies, and then in time experienced the consequences of that gullibility and foolishness, as they stood in the rubble of broken relationships and lost reputations, covered with shame and disgrace?
This is so different from the words of Christ, and their effect. His words do, when necessary, bring warning and condemnation on account of your sins – your undesirable and harmful sins of pride, lust, and greed.
But his words also and especially bring hope and peace, when he applies to you, and bestows upon you – through his words – his pure and perfect righteousness, his cleansing and liberating forgiveness, and his regenerating and renewing Spirit.
And the more you meditate upon his words, and let them sink into your soul and conscience, the more confident you are able to be that his words are true, and wholesome, and life-giving. Those who know Christ as king are able to pray the words of Psalm 119:
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the just decrees of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
In contrast, those who serve the devil, and who submit themselves to his manipulations and deceptions, can never describe their faith in his lies with such joy and delight. They are the walking dead. But those who trust in Christ have eternal life.
So, there are not really three “kings” in the Epiphany story. But there are two kings in that story. And there are two kings who are even now vying for your attention and loyalty, in the “story” of your life.
One of those kings loves you, and the other one hates you. One of those kings wants to lead you to heaven, and the other one wants to lead you to hell. One of those kings is your real king, who has the right to be obeyed, and who has earned your love and devotion; and the other one is an illegitimate usurper.
Make sure you have found, and are serving, the correct king: the king who speaks to you the truth about human sin and divine grace, about God’s mercy and forgiveness, and about your salvation in him. Join the magi in worshiping the king who was born king of the Jews, and who is also a king for all men and nations.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem And crown him Lord of all.
O that, with yonder sacred throng We at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all. Amen.