Strange Sightings in the Sky
A sermon based on Mat 2:1-12
by Rev. F. Schaefer

When I was a child, this part of the Christmas story was always my favorite part. If you think about it, this story has all the ingredients of a thriller: mystery (the star, the ancient prophecy), the promise of God that must be protected, it has heroes, an evil character, and it has an intriguing plot. This thriller is presented to us in four acts:

Act 1: The Promise of God

We don't know what these wise men were: astronomers? Psychics? Scientists? They certainly weren't Christians or Hebrews. All we know is that they somehow figured out by the configuration of the sky lights that something important was happening in the world. The text says that they concluded by the appearance of a new star that a great king was born in the West.

I would imagine these wise men could have been from an ancient institute of learning--maybe a forerunner of the university, somewhere in the Far East. Maybe one of the students noticed this new star one evening, and running to professor Balthazar, excited over his discovery. And Prof. Balthazar had a look at the evening sky, and what do you know, there is this comet on the Western horizon. He quickly called his colleague, Prof. Melchior:

"Look out to the Western skyline, Melchior, we got ourselves a big one."

Melch: "Oh my goodness, you're right, that's an unusual one. I don't know, this one looks like a sign from heaven.

Well, they must have been really sure about the significance of this star if they embarked on such a long journey to the West. And if God allowed these men to discover the plan of salvation by looking at nature, there is hope for humanity. What Matthew is trying to get across to his readers in Act 1 is that a new time has dawned for all the world: everybody, no matter who you are or where you are: you too can see God's Light breaking through the darkness. The prophecy of Isaiah reminds us: "The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the shadows of death a great light has dawned." When the wise men saw that comet that was the moment in time when God's Light was revealed to all the earth. And so, the First Act leaves us with a growing suspense: something big is happening--on a cosmic level, something that concerns the whole world. But what is it? What is the meaning of this new star in the West?

Act 2: The Evil Plot

Every drama--whether fictitious or in real life--has a hero and an anti-hero. Well, the hero in the drama of the Christmas story is God, the bad guy is King Herod, inspired by the forces of darkness that are out to quench the Light of God. When God's Light starts to shine in the darkness, that's good news for many, but for the corrupt rulers and oppressors of this world that's bad news, because God's Light will bring to light their sin and corruption.

That's why, when the wise men arrived in Jerusalem, and shared about the star of the great King, Herod was frightened and all the dignitaries of Jerusalem with him. You see, Jerusalem wasn't ready for the coming of the Messiah and neither was Herod, the corrupt ruler. The Light of Truth was offensive to them, and so King Herod schemes to have the Son of promise killed. They consult the prophetic writings and discover that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem.

And here is another mystery: it says here in verses three and four that King Herod finds out where the Messiah is to be born, and plots to kill him. Do you see the paradox here? I mean, if he believed in the prophecy, did he really believe that he could kill the Messiah? Did he really think he could actually overthrow God's plans? Did he think he was more powerful than God? Well, history is full of examples of madmen who thought they were in charge over destiny itself, and they left a trail of atrocities behind.

Of course, King Herod didn't say anything to the travelers from afar about his evil plans. He wanted to use them, wanted them to lead him to the child. And so he lies to the wise men, pretending to be a worshiper, a supporter of God's Messiah. And the wise men believe King Herod. They don't have reason not to. And so they set out to Bethlehem this time the star even moved ahead of them and leads them to the right place.

Act 3: Behold, the Son of Promise!

The third act doesn't need much description--it happens against the backdrop of the all so familiar manger scene. The wise men are bowing to present their gifts and, more importantly, themselves. After hundreds of miles of dusty roads, the wise men reach the destiny of their pilgrimage--they see with their own eyes the Son of Promise, God's way of salvation. They come and believe, and pay homage to the King of kings. The wise men, wherever they came from, were the first Gentile believers. They have seen God's light and the valuable gifts they give show that they became committed to the cause of God. This is also the first time in the NT that Jesus is paid homage. This looks almost like a worship service.

Act 4: The Evil Plot Uncovered

The fourth act is all about the uncovering of the Evil Plot. The wise men are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and so they return by a different route. What is interesting about the fourth act is that it has an open ending. We are used for dramas to have an ending, to give us some closure.  But Matthew does not offer us closure--neither a happy nor a sad ending.

For the forces of darkness have not ceased to come against the dawning light of God, even to this very day. Joseph and Mary were able to escape Herod's plot by fleeing to Egypt just before Herod ordered all children two and under killed in Bethlehem. But the enemy did not stop there: Jesus was nailed to the cross and darkness covered the whole land, God's Light seemed to be extinguished until God raised Jesus from the dead. And even after the resurrection, the ascension, and Pentecost, the battle between the forces of darkness and the Light of God continues.

Matthew closes his gospel with the following words of Jesus: "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go you therefore and make disciples of all nations..." In other words, Matthew gives us an open ending. The fourth Act is not completed yet. It is still being worked out. And here is the mysterious part: you and I are a part of it. Not only does Matthew offer us an open end, he also insists that his readers, you and I, are a substantial part of the outcome.

It is in part up to us whether God's Light will not only break through. God chooses to bring His Light into the world through people like you and me. Had the wise men not listened to God's voice, Joseph and Mary would not have had the resources to flee to Egypt. The shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, the disciples, the apostles, the worldwide church of God, you and I are all important in bringing God's salvation to a world that is veiled in utter darkness.

You and I are needed to determine the outcome of the Christmas story. And this mission is no cake walk; being a Christian is not easy--it means to be a carrier of God's torch. God's mission is not a mission for the faint-hearted. We have to stand up for what we believe, even to the point of risking our lives, our reputation, and our security.

If you have become tired; if you are hiding your light under a bushel because you are not ready to make that commitment for God's mission, God wants you to know this morning that He has an awesome plan for your life.  Your life is intended to make a big difference for the kingdom of God on earth.

Let us allow God to recruit us afresh this morning. Let us, like the wise men, look at the signs of the time, let us listen for God's voice, and let God recruit us again for that most important of mission in the world - spreading the Light of God in a dark and hopeless world. Amen.