Loving God, you open your arms to all those who seek you, revealing your love most clearly in your Son, Jesus.  May his light and love be reflected in us by the power of your Spirit, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            If you were paying close attention to the gospel today from Matthew, you may have noticed a few things.  You may have noticed that there was no mention of three kings, or even of three wisemen, but only wise men (or astrologers, or magi) plural.  There was also no mention of any camels, or of a stable.  Rather, they find Mary and the child Jesus in a house.

         Similarly, in the Christmas story, no animals are mentioned – other than the flock that was being watched by the shepherds – and there is also no mention of a stable, or of an innkeeper.  Only a manger is mentioned, which is, in fact, a feed trough for animals.

         So where did all of these other details come from? – In many cases, they come from the Hebrew Scriptures.  Today, we heard a couple of these passages from the prophet Isaiah and the Psalms.  Isaiah mentions kings, camels, and gold and frankincense, and Psalm 72 mentions kings bringing gifts and bowing down before a Jewish king.  In similar fashion, there is a verse in Isaiah that is almost like a lament on God’s part:

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand (Is. 1:3).

Based on this verse, you will see an ox and a donkey near the manger in most nativity scenes.

         As for the stable, it is simply the most likely place for Europeans to keep their animals, and hence, where a manger would be located.  However, animals in Palestine might be kept on the lower level of a house (kind of like some of the chalets in Switzerland), or given shelter in a cave.  All of these are possible locations for the birth of Jesus.

         It is almost like pieces of a puzzle coming together in order to give us a fuller picture.  The magi, too, are putting together pieces of a puzzle in order to find this newborn king.  They observed a star with special meaning when they were still at home, a star that indicated the birth of the king of the Jews.  Because of this sign in the heavens, they head for Jerusalem, which seemed the most obvious location to find this child.  Upon arrival, they ask the people in charge for directions – who of course are rather put out that these foreigners would know about this birth when they do not!

         The next step is to search the Hebrew Scriptures for clues as to where the Messiah – the Anointed One – would be born.  The answer that is given in today’s gospel is (as often happens) a combination of verses from Micah (5:2) and 2 Samuel (5:2).  It points them to Bethlehem, and as soon as they head out on their journey, the star leads the way, and sheds light on the place where the child is to be found.  They are overjoyed when they find him, and kneel before him, bringing out gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

         It is entirely likely that the magi were Zoroastrian priests, who worshiped God under a different name and studied the stars.  Their visit to Bethlehem to find Jesus is one of the first signs that Jesus has come for all people – even foreigners from a different religion.  At the same time, their search for the Messiah raises an interesting question for us.  Where would we direct people who are trying to find Jesus Messiah today?

         One would hope that he could be found in a church, but unfortunately, some do not find him there.  In searching the Scriptures for clues, we might suggest that Jesus can be found with those who are hungry and thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or unjustly imprisoned, for these are the ones with whom Jesus identifies most closely (Mt. 25:31-46).  At the same time, we might direct people to look for Jesus wherever his followers love one another as Jesus has first loved them (Jn. 13:34-35).  In a similar vein, there is that promise that “where two or three are gathered” in the name of Jesus, he is there among them (Mt. 18:20).  And, “in the name of Jesus” implies that they are seeking to obey God’s will.

         As for three kings, or wise men, or magi, the only reason there are usually three of them is because of the three gifts that are mentioned.  There could have been 4, or 2, or 7 for all we know, and when we use the term magi, they are not exclusively male.  Historically speaking, they were probably men, but there is nothing to prevent both men and women from bringing gifts today.

         Of course, in this particular vein, many jokes and cartoons have been made – some of them about how women would have brought more practical gifts – like diapers or wet wipes.  On the other hand, you could argue that there might have been women with them, seeing as they do stop to ask for directions.  However, these things are a little beside the point, seeing as Jesus came for all people – regardless of gender, ethnicity, skin colour, sexuality, or religion.

         Once the pieces are all put together, we see a portrait of the God who loves us – so much, in fact, that the Word became flesh and lived among us.  Even as an infant, Jesus welcomed people from all walks of life – particularly those who were outsiders – just as he welcomes us, giving us forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

The Epiphany of Our Lord              Matthew 2:1-12

January 5, 2025                               Isaiah 60:1-6

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church  Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2025 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved