A, The First Sunday after Christmas - Matthew 2:13-23 "The Prophetic Fulfilment"

Herod and his brother Phasael were tetrarchs of Judea, or deputies, under John Hyrcanus II, the Judean leader and Jewish priest appointed by Mark Antony, the Roman politician and general.  When Hyrcanus II was ousted by his nephew with the help of the Parthians (geographically where the old Persian Empire ruled, or ancient Iran), Herod fled to Rome to have Hyrcanus II restored to power.  But instead, the Roman Senate appointed Herod as king of Judea.

On his return to Judea, Herod battled with and won the throne from Antigonus, Hyrcanus II’s nephew, also married Hyrcanus II’s granddaughter in a bid to win favour with the Jews.  Herod’s win ended the one-hundred-year Hasmonean dynasty in Judea, ushering in what is historically known as the Herodian Dynasty.

Herod the Great was not liked by the Jews, despite his marrying the Hasmonean priest and ruler’s granddaughter and his rebuilding of the second temple in Jerusalem.  To the Jews, Herod the Great was an Idumean, an Edomite, despite being raised as a Jew.  He is also remembered for his tyrannical authority, as a tax farmer, and as a client king for the Romans. Herod the Great was not well received by the Jewish Sanhedrin for his brutality, and the wider Jewish community despised the decadence oozing from the Herodian palace.

The political and religious turmoil that swirled around Jerusalem during Herod’s reign meant he constantly lived with one eye over his shoulder keeping watch for uprisings against his leadership.  The birth of Jesus, proclaimed as the King of the Jews by the Magi from the east, was a threat to Herod.  This political king needed to quickly quell any talk of a true son of David returning to the throne.

We hear, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (Matthew 2:1–8 ESV)

Worshipping this new Christ child was the last thing on Herod’s mind.  He and all Jerusalem were troubled by the news of the Magi.   The Jewish priests were also caught out and had egg on their faces since the Holy Spirit had side stepped them and revealed the coming of Christ the King, to pagan magicians from the east.  It was only after the Magi came enquiring that they were forced to find the prophecy written in the books of Micah and Ezekiel (Micah 5:2, Ezekiel 34:23).

With political instability and the disapproval of the Judean countrymen, any news of a genuine Jewish king being born in the line of David was frightening to Herod as he sought to maintain his leadership.  This is the background into which Jesus was born at Bethlehem, the town of David!

Today Matthew’s gospel account is the only one out of the four Gospels that records the coming of the Magi from the east, and Herod the Great’s dismay that a king had been born.  If it weren’t for Matthew’s account, we would only hear of Herod’s progeny who ruled after his death. 

The events reported from Matthew’s Gospel not only give us a picture of the political mischief in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’s birth.  It also works as a bridge that connects the Christian church and the New Testament back to the Jewish faith when God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament.

Herod the Great proved to be the tyrant that he was over his people.  Any threats to his kingship were quickly quashed.  The babies of Bethlehem are only one example of his treachery.  Herod was a paranoid person, in addition to the babies of Bethlehem he murdered forty-six members of the Sanhedrin, killed any surviving members from the Hasmonean family including his own wife, and some of his children.

However, such tyranny and murderous intent did not hinder the life of Jesus Christ.   It might seem as though it would be a simple thing to track down and exterminate a family that lived in weakness. After all, they were unprotected and relatively poor against the might and resources of Herod’s treachery. 

The faithfulness of God the Father comes to the fore as the Magi and Joseph are warned by angels of the Lord, faithful messengers.  And Matthew, a tax collector, called as a disciple and apostle, faithfully connects the dots between the old and new covenant, reporting to us in his Gospel this continuity in God’s plan of salvation, through and despite Herod’s horrific actions.

The humble circumstances through which our Saviour entered the world, are equally matched with a tax collector being the one through whom God chose to be a disciple, apostle, and writer of this “segue” Gospel.  Matthew, who formerly took tax from his people on behalf of the Romans, not unlike Herod, now gives a testimony to catechise and teach God’s chosen people that Jesus Christ is the true king of Israel, whom the prophets spoke of throughout the scriptures of the Old Testament.

In the story of the Magi, Herod’s response, and Mary, Joseph, and Jesus’ escape to Egypt we hear a repeated phrase, “This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” (Matthew 2:15 ESV) In fact, similar words are common right the way through Matthew’s Gospel, some twelve times including Jesus’ own testimony in Matthew chapter five where Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV)

The hardship of Israel can be seen as carried and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  He went to Egypt as did Joseph, Jacob, and their family.  He came out of Egypt with his parents as did Israel.  He wandered and suffered in the wilderness for forty days, after being baptised in the Jordan.  He then walked the way of the cross to be the Passover Lamb, reversing what happened to Israel who left Egypt after the Passover and tenth plague of death, a reversal of Herod’s plague of death at Bethlehem, and Israel was led in the Sinai wilderness by Moses under the Law for forty years.  The Israelites were saved by Joshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) at the Jordan when they crossed over into Canaan, conquering the land of milk and honey, with God’s leadership through Joshua calling him to be bold and courageous.

When the Jews heard the Gospel of Matthew, they were called to see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of David, Immanuel, as proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah.  When we hear the Gospel of Matthew, we too are called to see the Messiah in this Christ Child, that he is the Son of David, that he is the Son of God, that he is our Servant King crucified on the cross.  Jesus is the holy sacrifice, and High Priest fulfilling all righteousness as he proclaimed to John the Baptist, compelling John to baptise him at the Jordan River into God’s plan of salvation for you, me, the Gentiles and the Jews.

In these days of confusion and trial, inside and outside the church, you and I are called to see that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of God’s plan for salvation as written in the Old and New Testaments — the word of God.  That despite the treachery of our times and the times yet to come, this Jesus of whom the prophets spoke and waited, is God with us, Immanuel, in our lives. 

Jesus is seeking to fulfil all righteousness in you, and his holy church, through his holy gifts. Amen.

Let us pray.

Keep each of us in your word Lord God Heavenly Father. So, the Holy Spirit can fulfil all righteousness within us. So, we are not caught out and left out when Jesus Christ, our Holy King returns to finally finish your holy plan of salvation, Amen.

C, The Epiphany of our Lord - Matthew 2:1-12 "Worship God in a Trough?"

Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:  “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”  Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”  After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Watching kids play when they are little, they so easily roll around on the ground, get up, run around, and in an instant drop back down on the ground with little to no effect. 

As one gets older, the prospect of getting down on the ground is somewhat more troubling.  Getting down is usually okay, but it takes more effort to rise up again, and stand on one’s own feet.  Grandparents trying to keep up with toddler grandchildren, know all too well, it takes them more time to regain vertical stability than it does for their energetic grandchildren.

There is also the very real danger of falling when one gets older.  Both the fall and the inability to get up, can cause physical injury as well as mental trauma if there is no one around to help.  As one gets older, one tries not to overdo things, too much, to lessen the chance of a fall.

However, falling down is exactly the language of paying homage or worshipping.  A number of different words are used to describe what we in English would say is “to worship”.  Here at the start of Matthew’s Gospel, to worship, is a word of submission.  Literally, it paints a picture, of making oneself lower than the person you are worshipping.

Another good picture is that of a dog being submissive to its owner, or the leader of the pack.  In fact, the word for worship here uses the Greek word for dog, kuon (pronounced Koo -ohn).  One who has the picture in their mind of a dog crouching and licking the hand of the person it is trying to please has a good picture of what it is to worship.

Another good picture of worship is that of one who falls down and kisses the feet of those to whom they submit.  When the wise men came to worship the new king to which the star had led them, on seeing Jesus with Mary with the Christ child they fell down and worshipped him.

Herod, on the other hand, said he wished to worship Jesus in the same way.  But proved otherwise, when he sought to kill Jesus, by murdering the baby boys of Bethlehem.  He slaughtered them and cast them down in the dirt, so he would remain top dog, so to speak!

Incidentally, the slaughter of the male infants of Bethlehem is commemorated on December 28 as Holy Innocents Day on the church calendar.  Although it is not a pleasant story, it ties death to the birth of Jesus Christ.  It shows the fallenness and corruption into which the innocent child Jesus was born and struggled.  We are reminded of the innocence by which he was led to the slaughter on the cross because our fallenness, corruption, and experience of sin put him there.

Today we focus on the celebration of the Epiphany.  Epiphany rounds out the twelve days of Christmas and is traditionally celebrated on January 6.  It’s a continuation of the Christmas season but holds at its centre, Jesus being revealed as the Son of God, the King of Kings.  The wise men, traditionally kings and astrologers from the east, seek to fall down before this child as the king of the Jews.

Now that Jesus has been revealed as the baby boy born in Bethlehem, the first and last Sunday after Epiphany are revelations of Jesus being the Son of God.  Literally Epiphany means “to reveal”. And the first Sunday after the Epiphany is Jesus’ baptism where God declares that Jesus is his Son with whom he is well please (Luke 3:22).  

And similarly on the last Sunday of Epiphany, just before Ash Wednesday and Lent, is Transfiguration Sunday, where on the mountain of transfiguration the curtain of invisibility is drawn back.  The three disciples see Jesus in all his heavenly radiant glory, together with Moses and Elijah.  God again says, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35)

In between these two revelations of the Epiphany season, Jesus’ divinity is revealed through the accounts of his miracles, his proclamation as the fulfilment of Old Testament Scripture, the Law, and his rejection by the people of Nazareth.

Incidentally, Matthew uses the same worship language, of bowing down and licking the earth like a dog, when the devil tries to tempt Jesus to worship him, on the false promise of receiving the kingdoms of the earth and all their glory.  To which Jesus says to him, “Be gone, Satan!  For it is written,  ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:10 ESV)

As you age and lose the ability to fall on the floor and instantly jump back up as children do.  As the fear of falling down grows, not being able to get up, with the very real possibility of being left for dead.  You are called to ponder the mystery of this child laying in the manger as the one revealed to be the King of Creation, weak and unable to get up.  Who needs to be fed, and have his toileting attended to, as you did in infancy and might again need to have done in all humility as you age!

You are called to ponder the calculating ruthlessness of Herod and his unwillingness to fall down before anyone, remembering how we too sin with calculating ruthlessness.  Especially, as you age and God challenges your pride, seeking to remove all the idols from your life.

Ponder the Son of God lying in a food stall, and your embarrassment if you were the wise ones coming to worship this King of the Jews.  Would you fall down in manure of the cattle and sheep yards to submit to a God in a trough?    

You have all had victories in this life!  Regardless of what they were, even having the smallest triumph taken away by the loss of physical ability or reason, reveals not the starry height of our abilities and successes, but the truth of our inability.  This truth and reality is death!  We have no power to stop it!  It’s the highest hurdle and the greatest cross to bear in this life!

But in our aging and decline, and the growing knowledge and reality of lying down and licking the hand of death.  Ponder Jesus!  

Jesus was born for the single purpose to die!  Who despite being the Son of God, willingly set his face towards Jerusalem, knowing full well he would be laid down in death after being lifted up on the cross, and crowned the King of Kings! 

Why does he do this?  Because he came to right the wrong of humanity’s calculating ruthlessness!

He came and submitted to us in death to save us from death! 

He came to be the King of the Jews and the Gentiles, at his coronation on the cross, lifted up on the throne, as an embarrassment to the Jews, and us Gentiles. 

He came to lie down in death, so that when you fall down in death, he, having also licked the dirt like a dog in death, will pick you up in life forevermore. 

Therefore, worship God in the sweetest submission! 

Submit to him in hope, peace, joy, and love! 

Know God wins in death because he won in Jesus’ death and resurrection!

See Jesus’ submission to God the Father, and to you!  He came down and was born as a baby, he lay down in the manger, he lay down in submission to death for your sin, he descended into hell, so you and I have the right to be the children of God. 

You can worship and praise God with all the energy as that of God’s little child, knowing that you now live in the mystery of eternal life without the consequences of sin and knowing Jesus will lift you up from your manger of death.  Amen.