"He Will Save His People"

 

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

           

            The visit of the Magi to Jesus is the beginning of the manifestation of Jesus to the world, and also the beginning of the suffering of Jesus for the atonement of the sins of the world. The kings of the nations bow down in worship, while the King of Judea pretends to be interested in worship in order to kill the King of Kings. Herod's plot does not work, but the hour of Jesus's death will come. Little boys in Bethlehem die, and the Christmas story includes weeping that will not be consoled.

            We begin with these interesting people called Magi. Who were they? Why did they come? R.T. France has written a very interesting article about them in his commentary on Matthew. They originated in Persia, and were both priests and advisors to the king. Eventually the word "Magi" was applied to a variety of learned men who specialized in astrology, dream interpretation and the magic arts. They were found all over the Roman world, but especially in Babylon. They were interested in what they called the "Westland," and groups of them did travel to see kings and carry on diplomacy. In 66 A.D. a group came to Rome to see Nero. So the fact that a group of them would see something in the sky and come to Jerusalem to talk to Herod about a new king is not unusual. Magi did such things, and it all seems a bit mysterious to me.

            Jews and Christians repudiated astrology and magic arts, and warnings are plentiful in both Testaments. Christians especially saw Magi as false prophets and kept their distance. It is unusual that Matthew gives a very favorable account of these Magi. The basis of astrology is that everything in life is determined by unseen spiritual powers that have no love for humanity. Astrology proclaims that the fortunes of all of us are written in the movements of the stars, and if you know how to read the stars you can find out what is going to happen to you. But you cannot change your fate. Astrology is a hopeless view of life. So by the third century, Christians, who were aware of the dangers of astrology, decided that these Magi astrologers were really kings, and connected their visit with Isaiah 60, "Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn." We inherit this tradition in songs like "We Three Kings."

            But Matthew makes clear that these were not kings, they were Magi, and they were drawn to Jesus, whom they knew to be a king. They paid homage with very expensive gifts, and then they went home. They really had no reason to care about Jesus or about a Jewish Messiah. But something drew them to

Bethlehem. In the star they saw, they sensed an event of great importance was about to take place. They came to worship a king, one who did not appear to be royal at all.

            The Magi bring a message to us: The peoples of the world will be drawn to Jesus. Even religious people. Even people caught in hopeless systems like astrology and magic. They will find Jesus as Lord and Savior. Hebrews 2: "He will free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." We have seen in the history of missions how Christ has come to save people of every language, culture and race. This has been through the life and sacrifice of committed people who have gone to distant lands to proclaim the Gospel. But it is more than that. There is something about Jesus that draws the Magi to Bethlehem, and the people of the world to him. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

            We wonder how that can be true. It seems we live in a time of a great turning away from Jesus. The name of Jesus or Christ is hardly spoken at the cultural "Happy Holiday" that December has become. In our country we are concerned that a generation or two of young people seem to be leaving the church in great numbers. In Russia, restrictions on the Gospel are becoming ever more harsh. Just a few weeks ago one of the FM Christian radio stations founded by Covenanter Dan Johnson was closed down. There is very little Christian radio in Russia these days. In many countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, Christians have been forced to flee, and any Gospel witness in some Islamic countries is severely punished. In a way it can seem to us that we live in a time when Jesus is losing influence in people's lives.

            But that is certainly not true when we look at the whole world. The Gospel is spreading rapidly in many countries. Still, we are concerned. The Magi speak a word of hope and promise. They began the procession of the gentile nations to worship Christ. There will be a turning of people in the world to Christ. This will come through faithful Christian witness, but also go beyond it. This may well take different forms than the traditional church has been in our time. There will be a Gospel witness to the lost generation that probably will not look like church as we know it. There is something in the hearts of people that draws them to Christ. I don't know what the "star" will be that will draw this generation to Christ, but in some way this generation will come to worship him. The magi proclaim that one day the nations, including our nation, will come to know Christ.

            The other figure in this account is Herod, and he speaks of the beginning of suffering for Jesus. Herod ruled under the watchful eye of Rome. By the end of his life he had become obsessed with maintaining his power. He killed off all the rivals he could imagine, including some of his own sons. To order the death of the baby boys in Bethlehem at that time, most likely numbering not more than about 20, was one of his minor atrocities. Early Christians saw in his actions parallels to the actions of Pharaoh during the time of Moses. He too was killing Hebrew babies. A Jewish tradition arose over the years, and was popular in the first century, that Pharaoh had actually been warned of the birth of a Hebrew baby who would one day lead to the humbling of Egypt and the exalting of Israel. So he threw the Hebrew baby boys in the river, and did it, according to this tradition, partly to protect himself. Then, many years later, when Herod finds out from the Magi of the birth of "The King of the Jews," he acts very much like Pharaoh and orders the infant boys of Bethlehem to be killed.

            But Jesus' hour was not yet, and the family escaped to Egypt. Still, a high price was paid for Jesus' freedom. Years later, when John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance in preparation for the Messiah, he was also put to death. Jesus moved to the safety of Galilee to continue his ministry. His hour had not yet come. But it would come. In Hebrews 2 we read, "...he shared their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death..."

            The birth of Jesus came at a price. It stirred up the devil who used a fearful and evil king to try to destroy the King of Kings. It is only through the death of Jesus that the power of the devil and the power of the fear of death was broken. The death of Jesus did not eliminate him as king. It set free those who lived in slavery to the power of death. It brought forgiveness of sin and life everlasting through faith in Christ. He is King and Lord.

            So Christmas must lead to Lent. The birth of Jesus, the gift of God, must lead to the cross. There is no other way to tell the story of redemption. This is our hope. The gift of God in sending his son into our world did not wear out or expire in one lifetime or in one generation. Because Jesus went to the cross and won the victory over death, because his death brings forgiveness of sin, because his resurrection opens the way to life everlasting, this gift of God has power in our lives today. You can receive the gift in faith. He will save you. He will fill you with his love. He will lead you to peace with God.

            Amen.