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S. Epiphany.26 Matt. 2:1-14

‘And Jesus being born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold: magi from the east came… to worship him.’

There are lots of different kinds of smarts: book smarts, street smarts, people smarts, money smarts, God smarts. Few people have all the smarts and even those who do probably don’t have them equally in all areas. The magicians—and that is simply what the Greek word means: μαγοι are MAGICIANS, people who can actually do magic—this is what the Egyptian sorcerers are also called in Exodus 4 and they could turn staffs into snakes, water into blood, and conjure swarms of frogs out of nowhere.

Magic! Yep, they could do it back in those days—quite a few people, actually. Every ancient kingdom had a stock of magicians in the court who also could tell the future, conjure the dead, maybe call down fire from heaven. So why don’t modern English translations translate the word accurately as magicians? A combination of factors: since the “Enlightenment” of the 16th century, few believe such magic was real and those who did believe it were proud and did not want to admit that our culture is not as advanced as that of the ancients.

We love to think we’re the most advanced culture ever because we have machines that can lift heavy weights and travel with them long distances, as well as heat and cool things, cards that transfer pretend money instantly, and machines that can store lots of information, give wrong answers to simple questions, and plagiarize for you on a vast scale (which is what AI actually does, I hate to break it to you).

But how does that compare with a culture where many people could do magic!—actual magic?! Not too well, Bob! Fans of Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling may rejoice that magic was once real, but most modern people hate the realization that our culture is barbaric and retrograde compared to that of the ancients. Romantics of the world, unite and… REBEL! BTW: magic seems to have almost entirely disappeared from the world at the death or disappearance from the world of St. John the last Apostle of Jesus Christ ca. 100 AD.

But as we were saying, not everyone has all the smarts. Our magi, who may have been three (we guess that because of the 3 gifts and give them names Melchior, Balthasar and Gaspar but who knows really anything about these men of mystery?) were certainly book smart, star smart, and God smart. But they were rather lacking in street and people smarts… 😉

They also seem impatient—as smart people can sometimes be. And realizing you’re really book smart and money smart (which they were) you can tend to think you’re smart in all areas, especially if you can do actual magic!

The “star” in Greek is αστηρ literally a shiny light in the sky, not necessarily a star. Could have been a UFO. As experienced astronomers, they recognized it was no natural astral phenomenon. It didn’t move like a comet, meteor, planet, or star. It was low; its light shone pointedly enough to guide them to a specific house! And it appeared and disappeared—just as they got to Jerusalem. Clouds do not seem to have been a problem so it seems when they got to Jerusalem which they knew to be the Royal City of the King of the Jews (they had the Hebrew scriptures even in Greek translation so they knew all about Israel and her history) they probably figured the disappearance was a sign that “we’re here!”.

So the Magi charge into the palace without inquiring first about a newborn king and embarrass themselves when they find a wizened old Idumean (not a Jew at all, actually) who would die within a couple months who had no newborn son. Awkward!

But like Zach Galafankis’ friends in the Hangover after hanging out with Mike Tyson they think this Herod is a really nice guy, not so bad at all. So they take off for Bethlehem planning to return and tell their new friend all about the newborn King, without ever thinking “Hmm… will he be pleased to know he’s been dethroned?” which would have been a good question to ask if you were street and people smart!

As we said, no one has all the gifts, all the smarts. Knowing your limitations is the real secret to wisdom.

Anyway since they could do magic, they probably were used to bailing themselves out of bad situations their impulsiveness had gotten them into and so didn’t really learn a lot from their mistakes. I’m glad I don’t know anyone like that!

But emerging from the palace, waving goodbye to Herod (who seemed nice at the time) suddenly, just outside Jerusalem, the star appears! And the rejoice with great joy and follow as it leads them right to the “house”—the Greek means any dwelling place so I stay it’s the stable in Bethlehem—and they get there right as the shepherds and drummer boy are leaving…

And they fall down on their faces and worship the tiny infant King recognizing that this is God come in our flesh as a helpless infant.

Because… why? Well; this is my surmise so take it for what it’s worth. As magicians who can do real magic they are gobsmacked that the LORD God would use his infinite power to make himself a helpless baby in the care of a teen mom. This is the old “can God make a rock so big he can’t lift it?” And the answer is YES! The incarnation is that miracle and sin is the rock God’s made himself too weak to lift, letting it crush him, dying of our sin, so we become holy and reconciled sons and daughters of the King once more.

That weakness, humility and suffering are God’s greatest magic trick is something perhaps only Magician Kings of power and wealth can fully appreciate? Because it is a trick they would never do, never even attempt. So they lay their treasures at his feet and simply worship and adore a Power that is made perfect in weakness, a glory that shines brightest in the humiliation and darkness of the cross.

If we would be wise as those magicians became, we will emulate them in throwing our treasures at his feet and know nothing but Christ and him crucified. And, at his invitation, we will follow him to the end of the world, renouncing all worldly wealth, power, and magic to share in his dying if, by any means, we may attain to the resurrection of the dead—be chewed up by his cross and spit out reborn…

The world will see this as folly. Herod will come after to slaughter all who worship the tiny infant and crucified King as the end of his reign (which it is).

Which is why we worshippers of the crucified King Jesus keep our faith a secret from the rulers of this world and return to our own country (Aslan’s, er Christ Jesus’s) Another Way, the way of the cross and faith in which is true wisdom, and Peace, surpassing all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.