A friend of mine's dad was a missionary. One day he went from door to door visiting people - with the intention of telling them about Jesus.
Knocking on various doors he had received the cold shoulder – so at one house he thought he would try something new: His opening line was, "Don't worry – I'm not a Jehovah's witness."
"Behind the door came the smart reply – I am."
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This morning we read about a group of foreigners who come to meet Jesus at his birth…
The 'wise men' as we have come to know them.
They're an interesting crowd of people – but unfortunately we don't know much about them.
Most of what we say about them as a part of the Christmas story grows out of legends.
The idea that there were three wise men crept in in the third century – deduced from the fact that they had brought three separate gifts…
Their names are also the stuff of legend, in about the 6th century a latin document records their names as Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazaar... although other documents in other languages give different names.
* * *
What we can know, from the gospel of Matthew is that they are magoi and they come from the East.
Magoi is a Greek word used to describe magicians, astrologers, scientists and priests / high ranking officials from Babylon.
Second, they were from the East. It thus seems most likely that they are the kind of magoi that come from Babylon, a nation with some interest in Jerusalem.
The Babylonian exile which occurred in about 600 BC was one of Israel's most horrific and terrifying events. Parts of Isaiah were writted down before, during and after the exile in Babylon.
In Babylon Magi were high officials of the court; special advisors to the King, powerful members of Babylonian society. The third century theologian Tertullian refers to them as 'almost kings'.
* * *
Whoever they were Matthew makes it quite clear that these people were outsiders – definitely foreigners who observe different customs to those with which the Jews were familiar.
He also lets us know that they are prominent, obviously powerful people –granted an audience with Herod the great… who in response to their news summons a meeting of the chief priests and scribes.
A highly unlikely, and probably very powerful crowd come to Bethlehem to honour a very special child… the one born to be King of the Jews.
The arrival of this crowd fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah…
* * *
In Isaiah chapter 60 the prophet speaks about the future of Israel – especially Jerusalem.
The people of Israel had been conquered by the Babylonians and at the time in which the prophet speaks the Israelites are returning to their land.
The prophet writes about how other nations will bow down to Israel's God people will come streaming in from all over the known world to praise Yahweh.
In 60 verse 6 we see why Matthew speaks of the magi bringing gifts of Gold and Frankincense – the prophet Isaiah writes:
"They shall bring gold and frankinsence, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD."
* * *
Matthew contrasts the response of these foreigners from the east, from Babylon – Israel's ancient enemy with the response of those in power in Jerusalem:
When Herod heard the news he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him. A corrupt King caught by the arrival of a righteous King who it was prophesied would overthrow him.
Later on we read how Herod seeks to destroy Jesus by killing all the young babies in the region of Bethlehem.
The magi from the east respond quite differently, kneeling down, presenting gifts, a sign of submission to Jesus.
Babylon, represented by high court officials at Jesus' birth, is conquered by a baby… Conquered nations brought their treasures to the temples of conquering nations – in the story of the magi Babylon is finally conquered.
* * *
Matthew, like the other gospel writers is very interested in how the message of Jesus is spread out to all people all over the world. The good news of Christ's reign.
* * *
In a spectacular show of God's grace Matthew indicates to us that God has now been made known to everyone – to all people, everywhere; even these strangers from the East.
* * *
So what's that got to do with us here in this place?
* * *
For the magi men, the birth of a new King is made known to them in the stars – stars which lead them to Jerusalem, the capital city of Judea where they expect to find the King…
In Jerusalem they consult the priests and teachers of the law who refer to the prophecy of Micah which indicates that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem – and so they travel ten miles to Bethlehem and there they find Jesus.
* * *
How did you come to know about Jesus and how god reveals himself to us through him?
Today is a day for us to give thanks for those who have shown us the way; our parents perhaps – ministers, Sunday School teachers – friends – who were kind enough, and in some cases, brave enough to share the gospel of Christ with us.
* * *
At the same time, today is a day for us to be challenged. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for us, but it is also for those around us –
The Magi from the east would have been considered very strange by the people of Bethlehem – with their foreign customs and their astrology… we probably wouldn't have let them through the door here; or given them an entry visa for South Africa. They would probably have been classed as dangerous terrorists…
* * *
How are we – as individuals, and we as church going to take the message of God revealed to us in Christ… the good news of God's love for all people out to the world around us and make it known?
We need to do for others what someone has done for us – tell them the good news about God revealed in Christ.
* * *
For many of us the word 'evangelist' has negative connotations, at worst we think of aggressive and arrogant people in expensive suits who sell Jesus in a way that's quite off putting. Or of people who knock on our doors at inconvenient times. Perhaps we're worried that to be people who share the good news of Christ we have to go knocking on strangers doors…
Unfortunately the word 'evangelist' has earned itself a reputation unworthy of itself.
* * *
The word euangelistou – what we translate as evangelist – literally means 'good news teller,' or 'gospel teller'. The English word gospel shares the same root – coming from a combination of the words good and spel - 'spel' being the Old English word for news.
* * *
In the first century evangelists were town criers, if there was a victory in battle, or a new King took the throne they would be sent out to spread the news – shouting it out in public places…
* * *
I believe that all of us are in some way called to be evangelists… good news tellers, making known the gospel of Jesus Christ to others, as it has been made known to us.
And I don't think we have to go knocking on doors (unless that is what God calls you to do) I believe that everyone can make the good news of Jesus Christ known in much more effective ways…
Perhaps we can make the good news known by treating people a little differently:
Do we treat the check out ladies at Pick'n Pay with respect that lets them know they are also precious and loved by God? Would the people who work for us guess that we were Christians because we treat them as people for whom Christ would even die? Do those who knock on our doors begging for food or whatever go away from our doors with some sense of being loved, if not by God, by us?
Do we show grace to our children – even when they give us a hard time?
Would someone who walked through the door of this church who was different to us (maybe Adam and Steve) receive the kind of welcome that lets them know that they too are loved by God?
* * *
Does everyone in Franschhoek know that at 9am on a Sunday morning – no matter who they are, or where they are in life's journey they will be welcome to come and worship the God revealed in Christ with us here in this place…
* * *
Matthew's gospel ends with the verse Matthew 28:19:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…"
It begins with a story about people from far off nations coming to worship Jesus… perhaps it's a call to us to be a bit more bold in making God's love known to all people.
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