Stargazing

A Sermon by Nada Sellers

January 7, 2007

Jerry Kirkpatrick shares the following story about an experience in worship:

One New Year's, I was [leading] the children's sermon in worship, on New Year's resolutions: "This year," I said to the children, "I'm going to do some things differently.  I'm going to spend more time with my family.  I'm going to read the Bible more.  I'm going to go on a diet.  So when I say these things, what am I doing?"

One boy piped up, "You're lying!" We almost had to close the service down right then.

For many of us, the arrival of a New Year brings about another round of interest in establishing and keeping some New Year's resolutions.  There's this chance to set aside bad habits and to start over again; to get it RIGHT for once, to "do some things differently."  Dieting, exercise and spending more time with family are among many peoples' top choices; everywhere you look there are ads and articles about how to lose those extra 15 pounds, or how to firm up your abs in 6 weeks.  The other resolution that comes up again and again is the intention to save more money and to manage finances more carefully.  How many of us here today, have made developed some sort of resolve to focus on in 2007?  Anybody feel like sharing theirs? (Invite people to contribute theirs).

Just imagine for a moment that you've made one other resolution and that is to go stargazing on a regular basis.  Yes, I said stargazing… As you've noticed by now in Matthew's account, the star plays a major role in alerting, guiding and exhorting both Jewish and non-Jewish characters in the story.  Each deserves a careful look if we are to figure out the writer's intent in this story about the birth of Jesus.

The primary actors are the nameless strangers from the east and Herod the king.  These strangers are magi, and while the word has several different meanings, the scholarly consensus is that these were astrologers, perhaps part of a Persian caste of diviners, who kept a careful watch on stars in the heavens, charting their courses and thereby helping people to identify lucky days for making decisions or taking action.  They also interpreted dreams, and were associated with magic; in the Hellenistic world of Jesus' birth, they had supernatural knowledge and ability. (ISBE vol 4 (Eerdman's, 1988):1084-5). 

Our text makes it clear that these pagan, Gentile visitors, observed an unusual phenomena in the West, from their eastern vantage point, something brilliant and unforeseen that they determined was evidence of the birth of an important king.  Notice they set off for Jerusalem, the major city in the vicinity of the star, as important people are born in important places; as men who gained insight into world affairs from their observation of the planets and stars, their wisdom leads them there, searching for a "king of the Jews." (WBCNT D. Hagner vol 33a (Word, 1993):26-7) 

And on arriving in Jerusalem, they are summoned by King Herod, the Roman monarch who ruled from 37 to 4 B.C., who hears of their journey, and wants to know what's going on.  It's the additional characters, the chief priests and the scribes who have the knowledge Herod needs to locate this threat, the magi do not know about the promise of the Messiah being born outside the capital city: in Bethlehem, in Judah, the Jewish experts reveal, citing a portion of Hebrew scripture which is actually in Matthew's quote, is a combination of images from locations in Micah, Numbers and probably 2 Samuel. (Hagner, p.27, 29)

This news is frightening: there's a star, indicating the presence of a new king, and these visitors are looking to pay homage, that is to honor this special individual.  Herod's thinly veiled reaction, in secretly consulting the magi about when they first saw the star and requesting notification of the infant's whereabouts in order that he might also pay respects, is misconstrued by no one: this is a motif, that soon returns to the story, later in chapter 2 and throughout the book as the Messiah is rejected and destroyed by leaders and rulers of the very people he is sent to redeem, the Hebrews, later called the Jews. (Hagner, p.32 & D. Hare in Interp. "Matthew" (John Knox, 1993):14-15).

But the magi, the Gentile seekers of wisdom who have seen this sign and who have been following it for many weeks, even months, continue on, being led by the star which "went ahead of them… until it stopped over the place where Jesus was living."  And their reaction?: overwhelming joy.  In complete contrast to Herod (and all of Jerusalem who perhaps feared the reaction of the ruthless and paranoid Herod), our gift-bearing visitors from the East, kneel down to honor him, the proper thing to do in the ancient world, when one is in the presence of royalty.  The Western church tradition has developed the tale that there were three magi, matching the 3 gifts offered from treasure boxes that evening, but the number ranges in various traditions from two to twelve in the Syrian church. (ISBE "Wise Men (NT)"). Like the shepherds and angels of Luke's account, great joy engulfs them. 

As if to make sure that readers do not miss the point, the writer underscores that in their departure, the magi continue to be the favored recipients of divine revelation, for they are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but seek an alternate path.  By stars and dreams, these men -- even through the instrumentality of pagan practices like astrology -- get it right: making a long and challenging journey, in pursuit of a star, they have searched diligently, they find the Messiah, and pay their respects, giving honor with gifts worthy of a king.  It's not the King of the Jews, or the chief priests or the scribes who have the textual knowledge and centuries of keeping watch who are able to recognize Jesus - they may have all the book learning and associated smarts, but they have none of the faith to recognize Jesus the Christ.  The gospel of Matthew tells a story which the Pauline letter to the Ephesians describes theologically:
In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: …the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (3:5-7)

This "Messiah", the anointed one, the Christ, is found by the wise ones, and adored for the special king his star has identified him to be.  In Spain, and various Hispanic traditions including Puerto Rican and Mexican-American, the 12th day after Christmas is known as Three Kings Day, and completes the Christmas holiday. While many other countries receive their gifts from Santa on Christmas, many Spanish families receive their gifts on Día de los Reyes from the wise men.  In some regions, it is customary for children to leave their shoes out on the night of January 5th, filling them with hay for the camels who carry the kings, hoping that in return, the kings will be generous in their gift giving. (cf. www.genesco.edu)  From Matthew's prespective, they've got it right!: these traveling wise ones, recognized the Gift given to all peoples and nations, and in response fell to their knees.  And it was all on account of a star …

That's why I say, maybe our New Years' resolutions should include some resolve to look up and check out the stars.  I think we need to be attuned to heavenly things, and to watch for what guideance God has for us in this year … What exquisite things might be revealed to us if we stopped to reflect on the glimmers of light we barely notice in our rush to get out of the dark and turn on some other light?  If we believe that the Light of the World, continues to shine forth with the truth that salvation is now a gift available to all peoples and nations, kings and rulers, when they claim the way of Christ, why do we so often limit our gaze, with the doubt and the despair that those shadows all around us seem to offer?  Our Christ light "shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it." 

Which star are we following, as we travel along, seeking God's epiphany?  Which Daystar are we paying homage to in our lives as 2007 dawns bright and fair?

Notes