EPIPHANY I
The Baptism of Our Lord
January 8, 2023
“How Far Would You Go?”
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
In the past few weeks, we’ve seen every form of what we generally call “the manger scene” — little sets under the family Christmas tree, beautiful displays in public places, or children’s play sets that bring the story close to little hands. And in every scene, there in the stable we find the whole cast of characters — Mary and Joseph, the infant Jesus, the animals quietly gathered in the background, and a cluster of thrilled and amazed shepherds. Standing a little apart, however, are several men that don’t fit in with this humble setting. Dressed in fine clothing, their exotic appearance is noticeably different, and they have brought elegant, valuable gifts. And yet they are included among the earliest visitors who came to pay homage to the newborn Christ child.
The only place where we learn of these intriguing, rather mysterious “wise men from the East” is in the Gospel of Matthew. They were likely from Persia (modern-day Iran) or Parthia (a region corresponding to northern Iran). Knowledgeable about astronomy and also students of ancient prophecies, they were convinced that the rising of a unique, unusual star was the sign that God’s promise of a Messiah was about to be fulfilled, and by following it, they would witness the miraculous event.
Traveling from Persia to a little town south of Jerusalem would take them over rugged, barren terrain, likely a long, exhausting and dangerous journey. Do you wonder if they had any doubts, or if they were completely focused and positive that they would reach their goal? And then the star they had been following all that distance stopped! Did they turn to one another and wonder, “Can this be the place? What – or who – will we find inside? How will we be received?” They had embarked on a journey in faith, had followed the star in faith, and this was the place to which they had been led.
“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2: 9b-11)
The story of the wise men and their journey is much more than a postscript or afterthought of the Nativity. The humble birth of this child to a couple of “nobodies,” who was worshiped by shepherds, blessed by the elderly Simeon, and sought by foreign scholars, tells us that not only is this child God’s own Son, but he was sent into the world for all people.
How far would you go to find Jesus?
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers