Matthew 2:1-12
I have already made a few observations applicable to this text (see the post for December 26), but some more reflections seemed appropriate since Epiphany is so important in the Christian year. Having grown up Methodist, I remember I was surprised in divinity school to learn that Epiphany was actually a much more important celebration in the church year, historically speaking. James White says in his Introduction to Christian Worship that the observance of the Epiphany of the Lord dates back t least to the fourth century (300s) AD, and that it combined the celebrations of Jesus' birth, the arrival of the Magi, Jesus' baptism and his traditional first miracle at Cana (John 2:1-11). Sometime around the middle of the fourth century, probably in Rome, Christians began celebrating Christmas as a separate festival. White says, "The Epiphany, then, is older than Christmas and has a deeper meaning. For instead of simply being an anniversary of the birth of Christ, it testifies to the whole purpose of the incarnation: the manifestation of God in Jesus Christ, beginning both with his birth and with the beginning of his ministry."
So, to the text. I always refer to these foreigners who come to visit Jesus simply as the Magi because "wise men" seems way too vague to me. (And "kings" is nowhere near right.) Daniel Harrington tells us "Magi" originally referred to certain Persian priests who were dream interpreters - and of course that aspect does come into the story in v. 12. But Matthew portrays them also as stargazers - guys who follow the movements of the stars and planets as indicating significant events in history. The basic theological point of the Magi's visit seems pretty clear: just as Matthew's gospel ends with Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (28:20), so here at the beginning there is this inexorable pull of the Gentile nations (represented by the Magi) to Jesus. I am struck by how innocent the Magi seem - they are driven by nothing other than what the star indicates to them, i.e. that the King of the Jews has been born and that they should come and worship him. They don't consider that there might be any problem with asking Herod, the Jewish ruler, about this momentous event. Herod's response is completely different, as I suppose it should be: if these guys over in Persia or Arabia have received intelligence of the birth of a new King of the Jews, this could be a big problem for Herod! So he calls together the "chief priests and scribes" (ding! ding! ding! no accident, as these authority figures will be opposing Jesus throughout Matthew's story) to find out where the Messiah was to be born. Bethlehem was the expected birthplace of the Messiah since that was David's hometown, so that's where the Magi are sent. Matthew says Herod "secretly" called the Magi together - who was he keeping it a secret from? The chief priests and scribes, I suppose, so at this point apparently they don't know why Herod's asking about the Messiah. Anyway, Herod "secretly" tells the Magi to go to Bethlehem and find Jesus, then to come back and tell him so that he can also go and "pay him homage." By the way, "pay homage" means to bow down and worship, and this is also something that happens throughout Matthew's story, right up to the end when the disciples worship the risen Jesus (28:17). It strikes me as a little bit funny that, after stopping and asking Herod where they could find Jesus, the star takes the Magi straight to his house (v. 9), where as we know they fall down and worship him and offer him these three gifts, before getting a little angelic help to keep them from betraying Jesus' secure location to Herod.
A couple of final points. First, notice the contrast between the Magi and Herod. Whereas the Magi are portrayed as quite innocent (see above), Herod is fearful (v. 3) and devious (vs. 7-8) and finally, terribly violent (vs. 16-18). This stark difference sets us up for the conflicts (and finally violence) yet to come in Matthew's gospel. Second, in spite of Herod's scheming and violence, he is clearly outmatched by the powers at work here as the nations are already being drawn to acknowledge the Messiah and angels keep intervening to protect him.
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