A Wandering Star
by Rev. Paul Howden
January 6, 2008
Epiphany
Matthew 2:1-12

The camels of the Middle East were the one hump variety; whereas camels from the Far East had two humps. Dromedaries can go for a week without water because they drink about 20 gallons at one time, and they have about four stomachs. They can go for weeks without food because the hump is full of fat they can live off in a pinch. It is often held that the Wise Men from the East rode on camels. Today is Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The story of the Wise Men is an exotic one that we will delve into this morning. Let’s read Matthew 2:1-2.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 2 opens with a surprise appearance in Jerusalem. Magi on two-humped camels arrive from the east asking, “Where is the King of the Jews? We have seen his star and come to worship Him.” How many wise men were there? We don’t know. Later traditions embellished this passage. In the Middle Ages the three got names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. One was young, one man was old, and one was black. From the prophesies in Isaiah 60 and Psalm 72 other details were added. The Wise Men were said to be kings, who rode on camels. The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains a different tradition. They allege that there were twelve Magi on camels. Much of this is speculation. We don’t know if they were kings, we don’t know how many there were, nor do we know their names, but we do know that this is true history that the Bible records here; this is no mere legend or myth.

How did the Magi find out that a King of the Jews had been born? There was a tradition in the East of people who studied the Old Testament. First, we see Balaam. Do you remember Balaam who mounted a donkey who spoke? Balaam was from the Babylonian region, what is today Iraq. The King of Moab had invited Balaam to the Trans Jordan to curse the people of Israel. Instead of cursing them, Balaam climbed a mountain, looked down on their encampment and proclaimed: “A star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult” (Numbers 24:17). This verse suggests that a great ruler would one day come out of Judah to defeat the enemies of Israel. Later on, Daniel exerted influence in Babylon (Dan. 2:48; 5:11). Remember Daniel in the Lion’s Den? God sent an angel to protect Daniel from getting devoured by the big cats (unlike those guys in the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas day). Daniel rose to a high rank in the king’s palace, and surrounded himself with scholars who examined the Old Testament Scriptures. The Wise Men could have learned of an expected Messiah from the pockets of believers in Babylon.

Notice what the Wise Men say, “We have seen His star.” What kind of star was it? Some Bible interpreters speculate this star must have been a rare conjunction of Planets. Jupiter, Saturn and Mars just happened to line up and caught the attention of the Wise Men. Others think the star was Halley’s Comet. Others think it was a supernova. A supernova is a new star. Apparently the Chinese and Koreans saw a supernova in 5 B.C. Although any one of these views could be correct, there is a more probable perspective. Maybe this star was an angel. Wasn’t it Tinker Bell in Peter Pan who flew around and showed the way? The angel of Matthew 2 could have been something similar.

This star did not behave like a normal star. It was a wandering star, coming and going. Calvin had this to say about the star that guided the angels: “It was not a natural star, but extraordinary, for a normal star would not disappear at certain times, and after that suddenly shine again. Further, it led in a straight path to Bethlehem, and at length stood fixed over the place where Christ was. None of this accords with natural stars.”

The star first appeared to the Magi and guided them to Jerusalem. Then it disappeared. That is why they asked King Herod and others, “Where is the King of the Jews? We have seen His star in the East.” Then the star reappeared after they left Herod. It went before the Magi and led them six miles south to Bethlehem. Then it took them to a house, and hovered over the place where the baby Jesus was. This seems more like an angel. Remember the light that appeared to the shepherds who lay in the country keeping their sheep by night? The same shepherds who ran to see the Baby on Christmas Day? They saw a dazzling light, and in that light was an angel, and then more angels, singing.

There are other examples in Scripture. In Judges 5:20 the prophetess Deborah said, “From heaven fought the stars, from their courses they fought against Sisera.” In other words, the stars were angels that helped Israel defeat the enemy. Job makes a similar point in Job 38:7. Here we read of a time “when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted together.” This refers to the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth in six days. The angels looked on in wonder at the Lord’s handiwork, and lifted their voices in song. Job likens this angelic choir to morning stars. Exodus states that an angel guided the Children of Israel out of Egypt through to safety (Ex. 14:19). That angel was a cloud by day, and a fire by night. So it seems permissible to interpret the Wise Men’s star as an angel. Have you ever seen an angel? Some angels look like regular men. But many people have seen angels appear as bright, glowing beings, often surrounded by light. When angels show up in the Bible, it seems that radiance or luminescence is their most frequently mentioned trait. And this is logical if we think of angels as bearers of God’s blazing glory, His shekinah glory. They are His messengers who carry His splendor.

Matthew 2:3, says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod certainly did have reason to be afraid. The newborn Jewish king obviously was not one of his sons; it could only be a rival to his throne, the Jews’ long-awaited Messiah. Herod had become paranoid in his latter years. He had a number of his own family members imprisoned and executed. For example, he murdered his wife’s brother, a lad of seventeen, because he was popular with the Jews. Then he executed his beautiful wife Miramne because he was suspicious of her. After that he hacked up her two sons Alexander and Aristobulus. The murder of his wife drove him insane. And this partly explains his use of deceit to find out whom and where this Baby Jesus was. Paranoid envy drove him to hunt down every rival. Let’s read Matthew 2:3-8.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod sent the Magi to look for the child, pretending that he too wanted to worship the newborn King. In reality, the tyrant was merely using them as his investigators. They would find out where the Baby King was, notify him, and he would kill it. The Magi apparently trusted Herod completely. The Wise men mounted their camels and departed. There it was again, that strange star. The luminous angel went ahead of them and guided them to Bethlehem. Let’s read Matthew 2:9-11.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Verse ten says, “And when they saw the star that had stopped they were filled with joy.” Why were they happy? Their journey had come to completion. It had taken them months to travel 700 miles. They were overwhelmed with joy. They had found the one for whom they were searching. “The wise men were ecstatic. If you think becoming a Christian means putting on a long face and getting up tight and gloomy, think again. Finding Christ brings real joy – deeper than winning at sports, more enduring than the first drive in a new car. Better and deeper than money, food, travel, sex, university degrees, drugs, you name it. This joy fills the soul and makes you glad. This joy comes from God’s justifying grace; knowing all is well, you’re OK, God loves you; the future will be secure. Have you been on a journey to find yourself, to find love, satisfaction, or some sense of what this life is all about? There is joy at the end of that journey when you find Christ.” [Life Application Bible Commentary: Matthew. p. 28.] The Magi found the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ, and it filled them with gladness.

Once the Wise Men found the house where the infant Jesus was staying, they knocked on the door, and perhaps Joseph answered. The Magi introduced themselves, explained what they were doing and why they were there, and then Joseph led them. Mary and Jesus were there. Jesus was a toddler of about two by then. This residence may not have been the same stable in which Jesus was born. More than likely the family had purchased a permanent place. Joseph had returned to Nazareth to move all their belongings, for he and Mary had decided they were going to raise their Son in Bethlehem. “And when the Magi had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.” Although, the Magi see both Jesus and Mary, His mother, they worship the child only. The center of their veneration was the infant. We pray to God alone, not to Mary and the saints.

Notice here as well the example of Joseph and Mary. They were Jews who opened their doors to Gentiles, Gentiles with a bad reputation. At the time of Christ, the Gentiles were big into astrology, and the Jews hated astrology. Isaiah 47:13 says, “Let now the astrologers, [and] stargazers … save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them. They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame…” Israel thus despised magicians and astrologers, and felt that God had rescued his people from the tyranny of the stars. In their opinion, the Magi were idolaters. Yet, these astrologers were invited to the party. Joseph and Mary, and Jesus welcomed them.

How about us today? Will we open the door of our church to Wiccans, gays, alcoholics, Druids, Hindus, fornicators? Yes. Joseph and Mary welcomed the Magi. We welcome the sinner as we condemn the sin. We are critical of New Age thinking and ideas, yet we have a heart for New Age people. The same goes for any kind of unbeliever. God is merciful; and we are merciful. We welcome them as we pray that God would save them and sanctify them. 

The Wise Men bowed down and worshiped the infant Jesus. Then they opened the containers in which they kept their treasures. They brought forth gold, incense, and myrrh. These gifts revealed both the Magi’s affluence and their deep reverence for the newborn King of the Jews. Gold is always costly, and in ancient times, incense and myrrh were a luxury. Frankincense was regarded as a gift of honor.

Giving is one of the lessons we should take from this passage. The Magi gave gifts. Think of what God has given you. He has granted you eternal life, many blessings and His grace in Jesus Christ. Your response should be one of giving, not taking. Michael Wilkins offers this suggestion to married couples who are having problems. He asks them to try an experiment: Commit yourself for two months never to ask to have your own personal needs met, but only to ask how you can meet your spouse’s needs. Are you crazy? They say, “He would never help me if I didn’t nag him.” “She doesn’t think about my needs. How could this work?” But it does work according to Wilkins. [The NIV Application Commentary. Matthew. Zondervan.] What normally happens is that marital tensions disappear. Husband and wife give to the other without being asked. And their own needs get met too. The Magi help us to aim for a giving lifestyle with those around us, not a taking or demanding lifestyle. Giving is the operating guideline of every Christian.

Epiphany is Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles. The Wise Men from the East were Gentiles, not Jews. The Magi’s homage fulfilled many prophecies of the Old Testament. Psalm 72 says, “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him” (Ps. 72:10-11). Isaiah chapter 60 contains an Epiphany message. Let’s read Isaiah 60:1-3,6.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Gentiles would come to Christ. Kings would be converted, that means whole nations. Right from the start, before Jesus was barely two, we see that the Gospel would be universal; it would include all nations, tongues and peoples across the globe. The coming of the exotically foreign Magi is the first step in the coming of the world to the Lord Jesus. The message of epiphany meshes with the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…. That is what the early church did. In obedience to Jesus they began to be His witnesses in Jerusalem first, then Judea, then Samaria, and then to the uttermost ends of the earth. It was an effective strategy. Their fellowship was so vibrant, their lifestyle so attractive, their warmth so great that it was infectious. People were drawn in, as to a vortex. If we have a warm and loving church, that will be a magnet to the unchurched. We will open our doors to the unsaved and they will want to participate. On this Feast of Epiphany commit yourself to manifest Christ to those around you. Be diligent about it. Look at the Wise Men. They journeyed long; they took risks; they never rested until they found Jesus. Be diligent in following the Lord, and do it with joy.

Let us pray.