Christmas has gone. The Church has entered into a time called “Epiphany,” which means “manifestation,” “revealing”, or “something made known.” What is the Epiphany that we observe? The man Jesus is God in flesh. The infant Jesus, visited by shepherds and wise men, is the Creator and Redeemer of sinful humanity. The Light of the world has arrived and is revealed to the nations. On Christmas Eve we heard of His revealing to Jews. Tonight, we hear of His revealing to Gentiles.

Out of nowhere, wise men arrive in Jerusalem asking a troubling question—though it shouldn’t have been troubling at all! “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship him.” The question is revealing. It announces their knowledge of a new King who has been born. It announces that this King is the leader of the Jews. It announces their intention to worship the King (which means they recognize Him as the King of all creation). The unlikely visit catches Jerusalem by surprise.

Our culture perpetuates many misconceptions about the wise men. They are called three kings of orient, but they weren’t kings. They weren’t even wise men in the way we think of the word “wise.” They were magi, which (as you could guess) is related to the word magic. 

The word “magi” appears in the Old Testament. Magi were present in the lands of Babylon and Persia during Daniel’s life. The book of Daniel mentions, “The king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the magi of Babylon.”

The magi’s wisdom likely comes from many sources including what they’ve learned of various religions, what they’ve gleaned from pagan beliefs, and things they’ve learned in the world. The magi also seek to attain wisdom through dreams, studying the stars, dark arts, wizardry, and other witchcraft type things. The magi desire to become wise through many means—including means that God forbids. 

We don’t know where the magi learned of the Messiah. It’s possible that they may have picked up on the promises of the coming Messiah while searching religious texts. They may have learned of the Messiah from Jews exiled in Babylon. The Lord may have informed them through a dream.

The sudden appearance of magi shocks the king and pious first century Jews. The people may even bristle as they hear the magi’s question and their statement about intending to worship this human king. The people may think these pagan Gentile magi, who so often seek wisdom through sinful means, intend to worship a mere man. To add to all this, the magi came from what was formerly the evil empire. There’s a lot of strikes against the magi, and Jerusalem is disturbed.

We may have heard the account so many times that we might not think about the magnitude of the responses to the unexpected Gentiles confessing their intent to worship a human king. The magi trouble Herod, because he instantly experiences paranoia about a rival king. The magi trouble Jerusalem, because many of the leaders have blinded themselves to the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Lord’s advent in human flesh. The apostle John writes in His Gospel, “[Jesus came to His own people and His own people] didn’t receive Him.” So, who comes to worship the King of the Jews? Gentiles. The Light of the world is revealed to Gentiles who experience Epiphany.

The magi have been seeking the Christ Child, because they desire to bow their faces to the ground in His presence. They understand His identity—and they embrace it in a desire to pay homage in worship. Herod, likewise, understands His identity—and Herod rejects it in a desire to destroy the Child. He doesn’t summon his advisors. He calls on the chief priests and scribes. He believes that mention of this Child must be in the Old Testament somewhere. He believes the Messiah has been born, but He rejects the Messiah as His Lord and God. He wants to learn more so that he can stop the Messiah. Herod and Jerusalem see the Child as a threat, but the seemingly pagan Gentiles have somehow received the Word, believe it, and are ready to worship the Child who is the Word become flesh. The polar opposite reactions are stunning.

The magi, bringing three gifts, follow the star until it rests over the house. Some say it’s polite to bring gifts to your host. Or (since Jesus is around the age of two) this may be seen as a baby shower. Clothes, diapers, toys and books, a savings bond… would all be in order. But this isn’t that kind of baby shower, and these aren’t ordinary gifts for anyone! The gifts confess who the Child is and what He comes to do.

The magi give gold to Jesus—a royal gift that’s perfectly fit for a king. It’s the most precious metal on earth. Throughout history, people have worshiped, adored, and even sacrificed themselves for love of gold.

The magi don’t worship gold. They give it to Jesus as an act of worship. The gift of gold confesses that this Child is the King. The King of the Jews and the King of kings. The gift confesses that they have received Him as their King.

Jesus is your King. Jesus has been born for you. He has snatched you out of the dark realm of sin, death, the devil, and hell. He sits at the Father’s right hand—meaning that He exercises all the power and authority He holds for your good (even when it may not seem like it). Jesus cares for you as your benevolent King. He forgives your sins, gives you peace and mercy, and provides for your needs—both in this life and (most importantly) in the promised abundant, eternal life.

The magi give frankincense. Here’s the best way to describe frankincense—it’s the aroma of God. The Lord commanded the Israelites to use frankincense when they offered grain sacrifices. They also burned it twice daily in the tabernacle and temple. The offering of frankincense to the Child Jesus confesses Jesus’ identity as God in flesh. It prophesies Jesus’ priestly role as God and man to offer the once for all, perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Jesus offered Himself for you as the necessary, pleasing sacrifice to God. He is the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice—for you. He is your God, your high priest, and your sacrifice, that you may be His own.

The magi give myrrh—another fragrant offering fit for a king. Yet, there’s an odd aspect to the gift of myrrh. It was used for embalming. In the ancient world, then, myrrh is a reminder of death. This gift of the magi confesses that Jesus has been born to die. The King has come “not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”

Epiphany reveals the man Jesus as God who comes among His people to ransom you (to redeem you) from sin, death, the devil, and hell—giving you forgiveness, life, and salvation in His name. He has come to lay down His life for you, take away your sins, and give you abundant life. Only the shedding of His blood suffices to bring about your salvation. In the joy of redeeming you, He endured the bitter cross.

Each of the three gifts of the magi confess this:

JESUS IS THE KING WHO OFFERS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR YOU—AND THAT SACRIFICE IS HIMSELF!

What a blessed Epiphany to hear, receive, and believe! Amen.