Matthew 2:1-12
The meaning of the word epiphany, which is the name of today’s celebration of the Magi visiting the Christ child, is “an experience of a sudden and striking realization.” Sometimes an epiphany is the delightful comprehension of the solution to a long nagging problem. Sometimes it is finally a moment of recognizing something harmful is close at hand. In the context of this scripture passage, it seems to have various opportunities to be applied.
1`. The Magi have an epiphany when they see the star that signifies the birth of a King. They elect to follow it because it is an exciting occurrence and they wish to honor a King so important that even the stars would announce his arrival.
2. King Herod has an epiphany when the Magi arrive to ask for directions. The Magi have wrongly thought that the reigning king would have insight into the birth of a new king, and more than that, they believe celebrations should still be occurring. Unfortunately, King Herod is not known for his willingness to acknowledge any potential ruler (even a baby!) that is not himself. It is no wonder others in Jerusalem are disturbed by this news. They have seen Herod’s paranoia and distrust played out before in his quest for ‘greatness’ and power. Indeed, Emil Schürer in A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Christ, writes ““Herod died at Jericho in B.C. 4, unwept by those of his own house, and hated by all the people.”
3. We should have an epiphany at this point, realizing that Mary and Joseph and Jesus have remained in Bethlehem. Did they fear scorn or shame at home? Did they find it easier to settle into a new life with extended family who would offer them support without judgement? Jesus is no longer an infant by the time they arrive. The child is part of the fabric of the family in Bethlehem, sitting near his mother, perhaps with an anxious gaze toward the foreign strangers who bow and offer gifts that foreshadow death and worship and royal heritage.
4. This the first exposure of Jesus to non-Jewish persons. Indeed, this is the primary driver for calling this week Epiphany: it is meant to be the wonderful revelation of a Christ for all by his reception of the Gentile Magi. It is because of this broadening of the salvation message to all people that we, as outsiders to the Jewish faith, are able to see grace and know God. That is indeed Good News of great joy to all people, as Luke says in his gospel account. Matthew makes a point of describing this later event so that his Jewish Christian readers will understand that the door is open, and a person’s Jewishness (or lack thereof) is no longer a factor in faith.
5. The Magi have a second epiphany about returning home without stopping by the palace. This epiphany is the one that delays Herod’s evil scheme to kill the Christ child, and when we read further in Matthew 2, we see the consequence: the suspicious Herod issues a bloody edict. Jesus is spared only because his parents once again obey angels who encourage their hasty departure to Egypt.
Our sermons and conversations around Epiphany generally reflect our understanding based on number four above, but the beauty of the incarnation story is that all of these are moments that can remind us of just how much Jesus means to the world. We see it in Herod’s fury, the Magi’s persistence, and the parental protection. We see the wounds that perhaps made some decisions for a family of unique structure, we see the adoration of strangers at the wonder of the extraordinary in a place that couldn’t be more ordinary if it tried, we see the distress of a sinful earthly leader who cannot accept the threat an outsider (albeit a toddler) may someday pose to his power. None of these are so far outside the realm of our own experiences, are they? Some of us have children we would protect from anything that could potentially harm them. Many of us have seen the beauty of the miraculous in the midst of our mundane. Most of us have seen power corrupt those we hoped would be trustworthy and good.
It is this that makes the Good News of the gospel so powerful. It continues to be relevant to our circumstances, to our day to day. We can recognize the systems and structures in place throughout the scriptures and see the ways in which God’s grace is applicable to us too. We can resonate with the people who have struggled before us and suddenly find our own path by following where they have illuminated the way before us, seeing Jesus in the middle of the mess, looking for him in the unexpected and the ordinary. An Epiphany for all of us, indeed.