GOD'S GREAT BIG EMBRACE

Matthew 2:1-12 (Epiphany)

 

How big is the embrace of God's love in Jesus Christ? Is it this big (small gesture) or this big (or gesturing wildly this big) or even THIS BIG? This isn't an academic question. This question goes to the heart of the Christian faith – the very heart of our understanding of Jesus of Nazareth – to the heart of the new Testament – "for God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that whosoever believes in him – i.e. trusts him should not perish!".... And Epiphany, this day of the revelation, literally shoves us deeply into the question of the depths of God's embrace:  to really wrestle with it, to feel it, to share the actual embrace of God in Jesus Christ.

 

Yes, to wrestle, to feel, to share the embrace of God in Jesus Christ is the goal of this sermon.  

 

These wise men or magi in Matthew's Gospel are interesting guys. We really don't know how many of them came first to Jerusalem and then moved onto Bethlehem. We often that they were 3 in number because there are 3 gifts listed. But the actual numbers of the magi are never specified. However we do know that the magi were followers of the stars – probably astrologers. Don't you find  that interesting –  the first people really seeking Jesus in Matthew's gospel, (very different from Luke in this regard) are astrologers? Nor are these magi Jewish. They are very likely Persians. In some way following a star they come to Jerusalem. They enquire of the people there where the child who born as king of the Jews might be.

 

During their search for Jesus they encounter various people. One of them is King Herod. At first glance it looks like Herod is interested in their search for purely benevolent reasons. He claims that he too wishes to pay respect to this baby. He knows who to consult as to the exact location of the child's birth: the chief priests and scribes. They know their "Bible". Consulting Micah hey tell him Bethlehem of Judea. He shares the information with the magi – and off they go now following both a star and scripture.  

 

Once they have arrived in Bethlehem, they are led to a particular house where they find both the child and the mother. Now they are filled with joy! Entering the house they kneel down before that baby, displaying their humility while offering worship.  They give this baby their very best gifts!

 

Then they are warned of King Herod's deception through of all things a dream. Interesting that it is via a dream and the arrangement of a star or stars – that the magi are led to worship this baby who is born King of the Jews, the Savior of the World. Interesting also that it is via these means, dream and arrangement of a star or stars that they are led to protect this baby Jesus. Stars and dreams aren't the usual ways that Lutheran Christians look for God's revelation.  But God's ways are not always our ways. God loves the world reaching out with an embrace that seeks to include all people!  

 

Now one might posit that such a big embrace – this love of God in Jesus Christ would be good news for everyone. But is it? It isn't for Herod. Herod liked (even LOVED) his power. The way things were, the status quo played out to Herod's advantage. And so this baby, who is born as the Magi say, "King of the Jews", is a threat to him. To be sure Herod wants to find this baby, but not to offer his respects. Oh my, no! Instead Herod wants to eliminate this baby Jesus.  We see this a few verses later as Herod orders all the male children 2 years and under in and around Bethlehem murdered. How great is the people's cry, their lamentation then! Such lamentation continues right now as children and people are needlessly, mindlessly killed, abandoned to starvation, crime, diseases that could be cured. Where is God's embrace then? Where is God's embrace now?

 

It's a good question – especially if we only or primarily see Jesus as a cute baby in a feeding trough. But know this. Jesus grows up. As such he also grows in his ability to share, to spread, to enflesh God's embrace for the world. But there is serious opposition, within and without. Surely God couldn't love beyond the Jewish race? That's what Saul/Paul thought – the understanding of many of his ancestors. But God showed him otherwise. And Paul dies sharing God's embrace with everyone he meets.

 

Surely God couldn't love in Jesus Christ beyond the Church – or at least the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church? Well the Reformation shows otherwise. Surely God couldn't love in Jesus Christ beyond the Christian church? Well the magi show us otherwise, as does the work of the Spirit in many ways.

 

Nevertheless the opposition to God's embrace in Christ continues. We need to know that once the risen Lord, this One  born in Bethlehem comes to us, lives among us and begins to dwell in our hearts and minds even through such common ordinary things as words, water, bread and wine – we can't remain the same. Nor can our churches, our governments, our families, nor our marriages. The love of God in Jesus Christ continually expands our borders, our frontiers, our senses, our thinking and relating.  It can no longer be us against them, winner take all. FOR GOD LOVES THE WORLD!  Jesus calls us to love God first and our neighbors as ourselves. God through Jesus and the Spirit call us to care for the world, to be stewards of the earth. How can we continue to take advantage of others, thinking of ourselves first, living as if only the fittest should survive when in reality that usually means the most privileged?

 

Shouldn't the followers of Jesus at least try to emulate Jesus? Jesus gives His life willingly in order that all can see a different way – a different way from what we have been doing since time immemorial – a way of violence, of winners and losers, of many starving, while a few feast, a way of seeking to climb over each other like so many ants. Jesus comes to show us that we can be changed. We can serve with love and integrity. We can live and not just exist. Death and taxes, destruction and fear do not have the final or lasting word for us. That's how big the embrace of God in Jesus Christ is: for you, for me, for the world.

 

Will we see it, feel it, wrestle with it and live from it? 

 

A blessed 2013 to you and our world. And a blessed but not too comfortable epiphany as the light shines into our darkness – and the darkness does not overcome it. Blessed dreams and star gazing too. Amen.