The Star of Guidance
A sermon on Matthew 2:1-12
This is the second of two sermon reflections for Sunday December 7th. This essay reflects on the magi, their search for and journey to Jesus, and the mysterious guiding star which they list for a time on their journey to Jesus. Pastor Joseph delivered this week’s sermon.
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The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a]from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
It’s dark. The way seems confusing, we often feel uncertain and we often feel fearful.
photo by Cheryl Laithang via Unsplash
Misguided progressive policies and laws have created devastating conditions that have left widespread human wreckage, created economic uncertainty, caused division within society that leaves people feeling isolated and engulfed with and by despair. More people have been killed by drug overdoses than by WW2. One million immigrants face red tape backlogs in the immigration department, and it upends their lives. The stories of the Bible provide comfort in their relatability of the human condition. This Sunday Pastor Joseph preached on the Magi following the star that would lead them to Jesus. The Wise Men travelled a long way from Persia to reach Jerusalem. The star that guided them to Jerusalem suddenly disappeared when they reached the city. Their guiding star went dark. They asked around about where they could find Jesus. It took a while, weeks, if not a few months.
In Isaiah 49:23, the prophet wrote kings shall be your foster-fathers, and their queens your nursing-mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.
The magi held to g-d’s promise, they kept asking where they could find Jesus. The didn’t give up looking for Jesus. The light of Christ doesn’t leave people feeling neutral. Some people will feel —threatened, unsettled, exposed. Truth confronts the darkness within us. People in darkness have seen and will see a great light. In Matthew 4:16, it’s written the people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.
In the face of uncertainty will we shrink back or forge ahead to reach for g-d’s light and share it with those who desperately need it? Pastor Joseph talked about his mission trips to Senegal—missionary workers face uncertainty and darkness as they strive to do the work of Jesus. In his ministry work,Jesus appeared to poor people, had appeared to people who didn’t have it perfectly together. Rather than making it a time of accumulation and materialism, we should make Christmas about sharing the good news and serving hearts.
Herod instructed the Wise Men to find Jesus and report to Herod. The star that guided the magi from Persia to Jerusalem disappeared as a kind of grace—to prevent the magi from finding Jesus right away, and telling Herod where He was, because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. At the right time, in G-d’s time, the star reappeared. Matthew 2:9 says and behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
G-d doesn’t leave us, He has His perfect timing.
In our faith and devotion to G-d, we must reject the allure of despair, and trust His timing. Where is g-d? Sometimes He feels gone, doesn’t He? For a time, the magi seemed at a loss for what’s going on when the star suddenly disappeared. Sometimes we walk through seasons where G-d seems silent and feels gone. In His time, in the right time, and through His Son, G-d makes things right. The end is joy.