Rainer Maria Rilke
Epiphany is technically tomorrow but we celebrated it in this morning's worship. The Epiphany Gospel is Matthew 2:1-12 which recounts the familiar story of wise men including the star, strangers from a faraway land, a child, prophecies, and kings paying homage with treasure chests filled with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.When the wise men ask “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 records that when King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.
It is understandable that King Herod would be frightened but why is all Jerusalem frightened? I can imagine a couple of reasons. One is that they are expecting that judgement will come from this future king and who may find them not be worthy. For someone who understands the nature of Jesus it may be the fear of a new world order "Full of things that have never been."
The chief priests and scribes of the people confirm what the wise men have seen in the stars to King Herod when he asks them where the child is to be born "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
Anne and I talked before and after the service today where she observed how much better off the world would be if Christians tried to follow how Jesus lived rather than focusing purely on worshiping him. Coincidentally in Pastor Ray's sermon he tells the congregation The Story Of The Other Wise Man.
As it is summarized in Wikipedia:
The story is an addition and expansion of the account of the Biblical Magi, recounted in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It tells about a "fourth" wise man (accepting the tradition that the Magi numbered three), a priest of the Magi named Artaban, one of the Medes from Persia. Like the other Magi, he sees signs in the heavens proclaiming that a King had been born among the Jews. Like them, he sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give as gifts to the child - a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price".
However, he stops along the way to help a dying man, which makes him late to meet with the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed the caravan, and he can't cross the desert with only a horse, he is forced to sell one of his treasures in order to buy the camels and supplies necessary for the trip. He then commences his journey but arrives in Bethlehem too late to see the child, whose parents have fled to Egypt. He saves the life of a child at the price of another of his treasures.
He then travels to Egypt and to many other countries, searching for Jesus for many years and performing acts of charity along the way. After 33 years, Artaban is still a pilgrim, and a seeker after light. Artaban arrives in Jerusalem just in time for the crucifixion of Jesus. He spends his last treasure, the pearl, to ransom a young woman from being sold into slavery. He is then struck in the head by a falling roof tile and is about to die, having failed in his quest to find Jesus, but having done much good through charitable works. A voice tells him "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) He dies in a calm radiance of wonder and joy. His treasures were accepted, and the Other Wise Man found his King.
The story of the wise men foreshadows what is to happen to Jesus. The gifts have a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. They can symbolize different thins as well: gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering However, the story of the other wise man uniquely stresses the importance of Matthew 25:40 rather than stressing worship of Jesus, his leadership or focusing on personal spiritual improvement.
I'm emotionally drawn to this story for a couple of major reasons. Artaban does the right thing without necessarily receiving personal satisfaction for his efforts (what he believes is the right thing to do is constantly thwarted by the good he does in reacting to the goof the moment demands). Also, he continues being a pilgrim and does not allow his search for the light to be frustrated by the events that continue to happen to him.
I also noticed the wise men are warned in a dream and do not return to King Herod which confirms how much dream and vision communication is happening during this time.
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