C, Epiphany of our Lord - Ephesians 3:1-12 "Mystery not Magic"

One can only imagine what must have been a sight to be seen, as the caravan of camels departed from downtown Persia or Arabia with the star shining ever so brightly in the night time sky.

We’re not really sure how many Magi saddled their camels for the cavalcade which was to follow the star wherever it went. In fact, we don’t really know anything about these men at all. Tradition has it there were three of them and they were wise — three because of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh — and wise because Magi were mediums or fortune-tellers using astrology or divination, or some other secret art. The word ‘Magi’ is the plural of the Greek word magos, from where we get the English word magic.

But what we do know from God’s word is a number of these envoys from the East travelling from another place followed the star, which they believed, announced the birth of the King of the Jews. And their divination proved right, finding this King and his parents in Bethlehem, within two years of his birth.

What comes as a complete surprise is the shocked reaction of Herod and all Jerusalem with him. The scribes and the priest had the word of God and yet the birth of the Christ was a complete mystery to them until these Gentiles came with the news revealed to them through magic. Surly Herod must have been completely beside himself to hear a real Jew had been born King of the Jews.

It also comes as a shock to many today that God still seeks to reveal the Messianic King to us in this life — spiritually and physically. Some believe we now only live in the realm of the Holy Spirit, since Jesus has ascended into heaven at the right hand of the Father. And adding to this, some wrongly believe we too must ascend into the heavenly realm, to have an audience with God, through some secretive magical means.

However, nothing could be further from the truth. Just as Jesus was revealed in the word of God to the Magi and the Jews, as the infant King born at Bethlehem, we too are told in his word that Jesus still continues to make his epiphany amongst us. He sends the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to him, his grace, and the administration of his ways, or means, so we might dwell in God the Father’s presence in peace, here on earth and in eternity too.

This is not some magical act or revelation, but as the Magi witnessed, it’s the mystery of God, born in flesh at Bethlehem for you and me. Perhaps the Magi were surprised, even shocked, that the baby Jesus was living with his parents in such humble surrounds. We might be surprised too, that God reveals himself to us, Gentile sinners, through humble but mysterious means.

St Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles, encourages the church in Ephesus not to be discouraged by his humble suffering, but rather hang onto Christ, given in the administration of the mystery, which is God’s grace given to you — to us — by way of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This encouragement is for you and me in today’s Gentile church too! Therefore Paul proclaims to us, This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)

However, since the ascension of Christ, we, the church, have grappled with questions like, “How do we receive the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection from a time long past, right here, right now, today? How do we dwell with our hidden Triune God?”

In seeking answers to these questions, some seek to rationalise the mystery, so they might believe by understanding the wisdom of God which can only be believed by God-given faith. Or instead, yearning for spirituality, turn from the life-giving mystery of God, to — pseudo-New Age, Eastern, magical, secretive — emotion-driven hocus pocus! Through their deeds they proclaim a faith that one must be some sort of super-Christian endowed with an individualistic personal higher knowledge of God, above and against what Jesus Christ has given us in his word.

So when the Word of God, over and over again, reveals it is the Triune God who comes down to us and still does even today, it comes as a shock to some — perhaps even disturbing to others too. In fact, we live in the presence of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, right here, right now. If this is not the case, then every prayer prayed “Dear Heavenly Father…” is prayed to nothing and a complete deception!

But the mystery of the gospel is anything but deception or disturbing for those who, knowing their sinful nature, trust in the administration of the mystery of a present but hidden God. So their sins are forgiven and they live in peace with God, in times that are anything but peaceful. Paul again in Ephesians 3 says, concerning Jesus Christ and the reception of the mystery, In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)

The mystery of Christ, and the administration of this mystery, the way God administers himself, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to us — the means of grace — is revealed through his word and nowhere else. It was revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit of God, and they wrote it down, and now through these same written words the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us.

Jesus Christ makes his epiphany to us through his word. He is made plain to us, made manifest; through his word the Holy Spirit en-fleshes Christ, in us and with us, spiritually and physically. This is not magic, but done through physical, practical, and spiritual means as men administer God’s way with water, bread, and wine, together with the proclamation of God’s word, both Law and Gospel, and the forgiveness of sins for eternal life. It is hidden in complete mystery and seen only by those who hear and believe his word.

So hot on the heels of Christmas, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord on January the 6th, where Christ the Messiah, the King of the Jews, is revealed to be born at Bethlehem through the words of Micah 5:2, to all Jerusalem and the Magi, and to us in the gospel as well. In fact, the Sundays after Epiphany continue to reveal Jesus as not just the human Messiah but also the Son of God, first in his baptism and concluding at Transfiguration, where for only a moment God reveals the full extent of his glory veiled in flesh.

Likewise, we have received the mystery through the water, the word, and the Holy Spirit at baptism. We continue to receive the mystery in the preaching of the word, and in Holy Communion too, where together with the angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven we adore and magnify his glorious name, and eat and drink his precious body and blood so that he is veiled in the flesh of those who believe. This is the administration of God’s grace, this is the way we receive the mystery of Christ, his death and resurrection. This is his word and sacraments, the means of his grace. This is the way God chooses to love you and me!

So we, as a church, do well to administer this mystery according to God’s purpose in Christ Jesus; for the sake of our personal welfare, for the sake of the church, and for the sake of our relationship with God and each other in the church community. For this is God’s way, the only way, worked and revealed by God himself. Even greater than this, in Ephesians 3:10 Paul also reveals God’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:10)

In the mystery of the gospel, and through the mystery of its administration, God promises to come to you in a very real, practical, physical, and spiritual way, and give eternal life through Jesus’ death and resurrection to those who hear him and trust him in his word.

As you believe, let it be done for you! Amen.

Hear it at http://friarpuk.podbean.com/2007/01/07/mystery-not-magic-epiphany-of-our-lord-2007/