The Mystery
Matthew 2:1-12
January 6, 2019 anno Domini – Redeemer
The wisdom of the wise men would never have gotten them to Jesus. Your wisdom would never bring you here this morning.
Why would they have left their riches and honor back in Persia? Why would they have endured a 200 mile journey through dangerous territory? Why would they have risked their jobs in the local Wise Guy 101 union by skipping work for months? Why would they have given that poor, unknown family with a newborn baby gifts fit for a King?
Why are you here this morning? Pastor Timm? The modernist architecture of Redeemer? Has that two thousand pound slab of Cold Spring Granite that is our altar drawn you in? Why, when there is nothing to see here, do you give offerings here? Why do some of you sacrifice a meal out each week with your offering? Why do others sacrifice a car payment every month? Why do some sacrifice a portion of your limited income? There are sports arenas for more exciting and restaurant meals for more tasty and speakers more inspiring. Why are you here? Why were the wise men in Bethlehem? There was about as much to see in Bethlehem (population 300) as there is in Gilman or Buckman.
All these “why?”s indicate a mystery. That is what the Epiphany of our Lord and this Epiphany season is about – a mystery. St. Paul uses that word four times in today’s Epistle. A mystery according to God is something that once was hidden, but is now made known, yet still remains hidden or unknown to many.
By God’s Word the Magi were told the mystery of Christ. Their knowledge went back 500 years before Jesus was born when a guy named Daniel from Judah became a captive of the Persian empire. Daniel had been in charge of the all the wise men in Babylon so when Persia conquered Babylon Daniel would have belonged to the company of the Persian wise men. Being a devout Hebrew he would have passed on the greatest wisdom he knew. The Christ was coming. God was sending His anointed Savior into the world. He would be the son of a virgin. He would be a descendent of Abraham and of David. All the war and bloodshed and sin and sorrow of the world would be stilled by the Prince of Peace. Those wise men, being collectors and teachers of wisdom, held on to Daniel’s wisdom (really God’s wisdom).
Three hundred years before Jesus arrived, those wise men could have studied God’s Word for themselves because by then the Hebrew Old Testament was being translated into Greek – the language these men spoke and read. Perhaps they read Numbers 24:17 “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; and when that new star arose in the East they believed God’s Word and headed West.
Unlike most men the Wise Men followed directions – the direction of God’s Word and when they did not find their destination amazingly they asked for more directions. They asked King Herod “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Herod knew nothing of this King. His own wise guys knew nothing. They had to dig into God’s Word. They found directions in the prophet Micah, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (5:2)
God’s Word led the Wise Men to find this newborn King. They fell down because that is what you do before a King. They worshiped Him because they believed this little baby boy was God. They gave Him their treasures, because they believed that He had come to give them a treasure that could not be counted and no earthly price could buy. He had to come to purchase forgiveness for theirs sins, to establish an eternal Kingdom of life and grace. He had come for them – for these Gentile wise guys, for Persian Magi.
Here’s the mystery. The wise men knew, but no one in Jerusalem knew. No one in Bethlehem knew. Herod’s court had no clue and now they were worried because Herod had already killed dozens of people who threatened His throne. What did Mary and Joseph’s neighbors think when these rich Persians entered the carpenter’s house? Even the wise men must have looked around at some point on this trip and asked, “What are we doing? How come no one knows about this?”
We ought not be surprised that only a few fall down before Jesus and worship Him in faith. Faith comes by hearing. The Holy Spirit works faith in your heart by His Word. There wasn’t much for the Wise Men to see in Bethlehem except baby Jesus – who hardly looked Kingly. There isn’t much to see here. Except the Word of Jesus and He isn’t going to give you financial advice or tips for a great marriage or secrets to success. He has one thing – forgiveness for your sins. That is not what most people think or feel they need. When people are looking for God or a church they are not looking for forgiveness. They are looking for happiness, friends, a quick answer to some huge problem. All that the church has been given is forgiveness. That is why Redeemer is here.
In Jesus alone there is complete forgiveness for your sins. Your forgiveness was obtained in the mystery of one man who was also true God dying on a cross 2000 years ago. That forgiveness comes to us in Saint Cloud tap water that has been taken captive by God’s Word. It comes to us in bread and wine, that by God’s Word, is now Christ’s true body and blood. Forgiveness comes to us in Words spoken by a weak and sinful man. That’s what God’s Word says. We believe it by faith, but it is a mystery we cannot explain.
Consider the mysterious first subjects of this newborn King Jesus. Poor, smelly, sweaty shepherds came running from the fields. Old Simeon and Anna stood in the Temple courts. Rich wise guys came from the East. This King’s family was so poor they couldn’t afford a room at the Motel 6 in Bethlehem. Here too is a mystery – there isn’t anyone for whom Christ did not come. He came out of Israel – a son of Abraham and a King to end David’s line, but He came for the Gentiles, for the poor and rich, for the foolish and the wise. Here’s the mystery – He came for you.
Why are you here? Why is Redeemer here? 74 years ago some believers in the mystery of Christ knelt down and laid their treasures at the feet of Jesus. They sacrificed their time and their money so Christ would have a home and His gifts could be given out in West Saint Cloud. We’re still here. We still believe in the mystery – Christ Jesus came for sinners, for you and me. And He came for the neighbors of our church. You may have noticed that our bell was recently repaired. We received an email from the Bell Company with these words, “Your bell provides a voice of outreach to build the church and community.” Whenever our bell rings it is a call to hear the mystery. The doors of Redeemer are open to all nations, to call to them with this incredible good news – Christ Jesus died for sinners. He died for you.
Mysteriously and incredibly His forgiveness is right here – still on the corner of 3rd and 27th at nine am on Sunday mornings. I hope you find that amazing. This isn’t something we can understand – why would Christ die for me? Why He would put his gifts in water, words, bread and wine? Why He would leave a bunch of white Germans (with a few Scandinavians) in a neighborhood full of Asians, Hispanics, and Africans? That’s a mystery – but He is at work here, for you, for the neighborhood, for all the world. In the name of Jesus. Amen.