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![]() Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Gospel of Luke, which covers so much of the story around the birth of Christ, stories told to him by Mary herself, never mention the magi. He did not leave it out, it just did not occur close to the time of the birth of Christ. Instead, that visit occurred two years later when the family was back in Nazareth, which the family returned to after Mary had fulfilled her 40-day period of purification, as was the custom, after Jesus’ birth. Luke 2:39 says “And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.” - which we heard last week. If the Magi came so much later -why do we think it all happened soon after Christ’s birth in Bethlehem? Art - Middle Ages Art put it all in one scene - our modern manger scenes do too, as well as Christmas cards etc. Matthew begins with Herod the Great due to his Central Role in the story. He was called great even in his lifetime, great: politician, ruler, architect, builder. He built amphitheaters, theaters, fortresses and expanded the Temple. The Palace at Herodium was so decorated, it was considered a place of wonder. But he was also a great: manipulator, tyrant, and murderer. He was born about 72 BCE into a distinguished family who rose to importance under the rule of Hasmonean Queen Alexandra Salome. Herod’s father moved to Jerusalem after her death and became an advisor to the Hassmonean Court, he later supported Rome when they took over after a Civil War of two Jewish groups. Later Herod would also form an alliance with the Roman powers leading him to be appointed governor of Coele-Syria. In 40 BCE he was appointed King of Judea, Galilee, Perea, and Idamea. He retook Jerusalem in 37 BCE cementing his power. Always ruled with paranoia of being overthrown. He defended his throne with excessive violence: had 45 nobles executed, others “disappeared”, he had the entire Sanhedrin, supreme council of the Jews, killed and replaced them with his family and friends so he could control them. He had his own beloved wife Mariamne executed when he heard a rumor that she was conspiring with others to take his throne. He also had his brother-in-law, his mother-in-law, his wife’s grandfather and his three eldest sons killed for the same suspicion. The people of Jerusalem were in a constant state of fear because of Herod. Any threat was met with violence. So when the Matthew scripture says that, "When King Herod heard this (news of a newborn King of the Jews), he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him,” that is true. Herod would act violently out of his paranoia and the people knew this. The Historian Josephus said, “Herod was a man who was cruel to all alike and one who easily gave in to anger and was contemptuous of justice.” This was certainly not the king that the Psalmist was praying for. So now that we know the background of the King that the wisemen were about to go ask directions of, let’s learn a bit more about these wise men. The Greek text uses the word Magi to describe these wise men.” Magi were a sacred caste of the Medes that provided priests for Persia. But after the downfall of Assyrian and Babylonian powers” they continued to have great power up through the birth of Christ. Contrary to what we hear and see depicted in many a manger scene, they were not kings. However, they were rich and influential so close to king status. “Magi were an elite, powerful, fabulously wealthy group of high-ranking priests who were devoted to interpreting dreams and studying the constellations. In fact, Magi gained an international reputation for being experts at studying the constellations, which was regarded as a science at the time. Thus, they were a combination of scientist, politician and religious leaders.” They had enough power to take down kings or put them on the throne so Herod did have reason to fear when he heard they were approaching. The prophet Daniel was said to have been the head of the Magi in 600 BCE. In Daniel 2: 48 it says, “Then the king (Nebuchadnezzar) made Daniel a great man, and gave him many gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.” As the head of the Magi, he would have shared his prophecies with them. Although Babylon was pagan at the time, Daniel had such a strong influence that they believed his prophecies and the scripture. Part of this was believing that the world was waiting for a messiah to be born. So even hundreds of years later, the Magi were still looking for that new king to be born. Where did the Wise Men come from? The original scripture says they came from the place of the rising sun. This would have meant ancient Media, Persia, Assyria or Babylonia. Each of these had groups of Magi. For the wisemen to come from any of these places, they would have had to travel over the Syrian Desert to Damascus, then along the Sea of Galilee to reach Jerusalem. This is a distance of over 1000 miles so it would have taken three months to a year depending upon the route etc. They would also have to prepare their caravans and gather expensive gifts ahead of time. Thus it takes two years before they actually reach the toddler Jesus in Nazareth. But before they get there, they have to visit Herod. How many Wise Men were there? We don’t know. The number three may come from the gifts given but early traditions state there could have been up to 12. Picture the caravan coming to Herod with up to 12 wise men and all of the staff, camels, other animals, supplies to support them on this 1000+ mile journey. They would have changed into royal looking garb before entering Jerusalem. It would have seemed like a parade - a parade of people known to make or break kings. As they came into town they repeated to everyone they saw, “Where is he that was born king of the Jews for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” Herod was paranoid to begin with… The star - German scientist, mathematician, astrologer and philosopher Johannes Kepler was among the first to propose that the star the Magi saw was an alignment of Jupiter and Saturn that occurred in 7 CE. It would have been so bright as to be seen throughout the Roman Empire. Others say it could be an alignment of the moon, Saturn and the sun about that time, others a stella nova a star that brightens and fades. But it is also ok to live in the wonder about this - with God all things are possible. After all stars do not usually move and stop. The Magi studied the star then followed it, first to Herod who welcomed then although fearfully. The Magi announced they were there to worship a newborn king but he was the king - a clear threat. Spoke to chief priests and scribes - heard the scripture about Jesus’ birth; “In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” Herod interrogates the Magi - to form his plan to secure his Kingdom. When did the star appear - to figure out how old the child was. The Magi arrived two years after Jesus was born is found in documents written by the early church writers who recorded that the Magi reached Jerusalem two years after Jesus’ birth. Herod sent them to Bethlehem to search for the child. They were led by the star before but now they were following Herod’s directions, from the scripture to Bethlehem. However, along the way, the star moved or reappeared and guided them - not to Bethlehem but to Nazareth. They followed the heavenly sign - not Herod’s directions. And the star stopped above a house. Matthew says, “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage." There is no message of Joseph as he was probably out working. Picture 2-year-old Jesus (he is called a child not a baby or newborn in the scripture) maybe grabbing onto the wise men’s robes or beard, maybe even saying hello to them or pointing to the shiny gold in wonder, touching it. Wondering about the jars that contained the frankincense and myrrh. The value of these gifts was likely used to fund Mary, Joseph and Jesus’ departure to Egypt when Herod in an act to save his throne orders the deaths of children two and under. Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,[a] he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.[b] Recent excavations have found the ruins of a 1st century house under a Byzantine era church, beneath the current Sisters of the Nazareth convent. Could this be Jesus’ childhood home? What do we learn from all of this? We too can follow Jesus’ star. It is ok to live in the wonder of it all. To cherish these stories and the humility of Jesus’ birth and escape from Herod the not so great. We too will face challenges but God will be with us through it all. Find your inner light connecting you to that Holy Star and the story of Jesus’ birth. Amen. Pastor Michelle Fountain
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