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The First Sunday After The Epiphany
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Scripture citation(s): Matthew 2:1-12
A Sermon by
Fr. Spurlock
on
Matthew 2:1-12
✛
Gifts Appropriate to Jesus' Calling
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Three are the miracles we celebrate this day.
On this day by a star the wise men were led to the manger.
On this day wine out of water was brought forth for the wedding feast.
On this day in Jordan’s waters by Saint John’s hand Jesus chose to be baptized.
The three miracles, enumerated by the Antiphon for the Epiphany, are three different moments in the life of the human Jesus, when his divinity is revealed in the presence of human witnesses.
On a feast rich with imagery, I would reflect on just one action to help us deepen our understanding of Jesus. Three choristers have stood in the place of three wise men. They have placed three objects at the foot of the crèche where the baby Jesus rests in his manger. The three objects represent three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gifts are signs that point to the deeper identity and nature of Jesus.
The wise men interpreted the appearance of a star as a sign proclaiming the birth of a king. They set off in pursuit of this king, but are led astray by a feeble understanding of the origin of the king they seek. They go to a palace in Jerusalem. “Where is he that is born king of the Jews?” But he is not there amidst the halls of power. They consult the word of God spoken by the prophets, and learn they must travel further on to Bethlehem. Now, being led by the word of God, and by the star moving before them, they come to the place where they find the baby and his mother Mary, and they fall down and worship Jesus. And when they had opened their treasures, they gave Jesus three gifts that tell us now who they believed he was then.
Gold is a gift for a king, and Jesus Christ is King at his birth. Foretold by the prophets as to place: “But thou, Bethlehem… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” Micah 9.9 Descended from the line of David as the prophets foretold, and as we learn from the genealogies compiled in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David. “I will set up thy seed after thee… and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” 2 Samuel 7.12-14
And this king, in fulfillment of the prophecies, will rule over all the nations of the world. “Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7.13-14
Even much later when Jesus was executed, his kingship would be discerned from the sign that was affixed to the cross. “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth The King of the Jews.” The men who orchestrated Jesus’ death, the chief priests objected. “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’” John 19.19-22 Christ is King.
The wise men sought a king, and they found the king of kings. But in searching, they also found a priest after the order of Melchizedec, who was at once the king of Salem and priest of the most high God. Genesis 14.18-20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6.19-20
The wise men present their priest with frankincense. But if Jesus is no ordinary king, then he is no ordinary priest.
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3.1 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4.14-16
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.” Hebrews 7.23-28
And so the wise men found a king, and a priest, but more than a priest who makes sacrifice, a priest who is himself the sacrifice. And so they give him myrrh, the spice and ointment used to prepare a body for burial.
“Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53.4-7
The wise men sought a king, and they found a king, and a priest, and the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. They travelled from a faraway land, they travelled in darkness, led by a light that brought them into the presence of Jesus, and his glory was revealed to them. In this high and holy presence, they worshipped him, and presented him with gifts appropriate to his calling. Many of us have walked through our own dark days, but we too have seen a great light, and have been led to the place where he lives, have met our Lord face to face. How can we approach him, what can we hope to give him?
We can offer him our gratitude for his making us citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We can offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, our prayers lifted as on clouds of incense into his holy presence. And we can offer ourselves, our souls and bodies as a living sacrifice to him. We can worship in body and soul the living Christ who is at once our King, our pastor, and our savior.
