Matthew 2:1–12

The Epiphany of Our Lord

Light for a Darkened World

¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, "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." ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They 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.'" ⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And 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." ⁹After 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. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And 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. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Sermon

In the history of the Western world, there was a period known as the Dark Ages, a time of relative dearth in the advancement of civilization. The years AD 476 to 1000 are the usual boundaries.

Today scholars argue about what constitutes cultural and moral darkness and what constitutes light. Darkness and light are indeed often confused, but Holy Scripture makes clear that only one age can truly be called light, and that is the age that began when Christ was born in Bethlehem because,

Christ Is the Light for a Darkened World.

The star that guided the Magi to the infant Jesus was the first light to come from the manger. The light went first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, to the whole world. And today, the light of the Gospel continues to go out into a sin-darkened world.

I.

In a sense, every age can be called dark. The prophet Isaiah describes the darkness: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Is 5:20).

Darkness is a metaphor for spiritual blindness. Blind, dead, and an enemy of God is the way Scripture describes life apart from God, a life descending further and further into the darkness of death. Every age is the Dark Ages because of sin. Darkness, then, is a perfect description of our age as well.

Many of you may remember in January of 2008 news stories of bloodshed in Kenya. Such violence is common in many parts of the world, but this particular incident is memorable because it touched the Lutheran Church there, and specifically one of our own pastors, Rev. Dennis Meeker. Pastor Meeker was serving a congregation that was attacked and burned. He and his wife were safe, but the church was destroyed. And what courage!—they never missed a service. Even without their church building, they continued to worship every Sunday.

More than politics were at issue. Tribalism in Africa brings with it deep separation between tribes and languages. But even the word "tribalism" is just another label for the real reason for such violence. It's still the same old darkness of sin.

Some blame religion for the many divisions in our world of racism and discrimination, and it is sometimes true. Religions without the gospel of Christ, can do nothing but divide people. Even misguided Christians are sometimes guilty of divisions between peoples, prejudice and racism. These are but manifestations of spiritual darkness and sin. But when Christ is proclaimed as the Savior of all people, then there is no division, only unity in him.

The darkness of prejudice and racism continues even here in the United States. It used to be that we are a melting-pot culture. However, today cultural differences are underscored and people of differing cultures and races are placed at odds with each other, all in the name of political correctness. They complain, "You're offending me and my culture!" People simply don't get along. All this is sin and darkness.

No government has the answer to such fracturing of society. No government program can change the reasons why people are at odds with each other. No legislation can break down the barriers. Often legislation only makes things worse. No human being can fix it. But Christ can. Because he is the Savior of all people, he breaks down the barriers that exist not only between Jew and Gentile but also between Arab and Jew, Asian and African, white, black, red, yellow, and brown. Christ is not the divider but the unifier of mankind.

Christ came to bring his riches to all people because all people stand equally in need of what Christ brings. All people, regardless of ethnic, racial, or political stripe, need the forgiveness that Christ brings, because all people lie in the bondage of darkness, sin, and death. Christ is the light that lightens every man, said the Apostle John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him (Jn 1:1–13)

If anything, Christmas is a Jewish celebration. Jesus is born a Jew in a Jewish city of Jewish parents. He is raised according to the Law of Moses. He fulfills it. What is more, he is the fulfillment of God's promises to have a son of David sitting on the throne forever. Suppose that you are not born a Jew. The promise is not for you because you are not one of God's chosen people.

But Epiphany changes all that! Epiphany shouts that this newborn King is not merely King of the Jews but the King of all people. He is the Savior of the Jews, and he is the Savior of the Gentiles. The Gospel now goes global with the visit of the Magi! It happened, just as Isaiah had foretold and as Paul wrote in our Epistle, that the mystery hidden for ages is now revealed, "epiphanied," if you will. "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Eph 3:6).

Paul reminded his Gentile readers: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ...that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and reconciling us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility" (Eph 2:13–16).

This is what Christ Jesus accomplished by his bloody death. By removing the sin that separated us from God, by bringing us back together with our Creator, he has also drawn us back together with all other people—all of them also sinful but now forgiven, all of them drawn back to the very same God.

"Arise, shine," Isaiah writes in our Old Testament Reading, "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Is 60:1). Indeed, at Epiphany it—he— has come!

Still, darkness threatens to overwhelm the light. It surely seems that way these days as we see, hear, and read the news from all over the world! The shadows often intrude into our lives, too, because human beings continue to sin. Some continue stubbornly in the pitch darkness of sin and death. But the darkness cannot put out the light of Christ, because Christ lives. "The light shines in the darkness," John said, "and the darkness has not overcome it" (Jn 1:4). Christ has won the final victory over the darkness of sin, death, and hell by his innocent life, suffering, and death.

Yes, there are many battles yet to fight against the forces of darkness. But Christ, the true light, continues to be with us and in us. At the font, he turned on the light in our hearts, he has "enlightened you with his gifts." He turned on the light so that you see and believe that God is loving and forgiving for Christ's sake. Thus Christ has attached himself to you so that you are called "sons of light" (Jn 12:36). Therefore Paul urges you to live out your Baptism: "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Eph 5:8–9).

And the apostle John writes: "...the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling" (1 Jn 2:8–10).

What glorious light there is for you in the Supper of our Lord! Here in the Supper is light because Christ himself is here bodily for you. Here he gives you himself as the tangible proof that he has redeemed you, forgiven you, and brought you out of the darkness of sin and death into the light of his grace.

Christ, the true light, continues to shine in ways that the world in its darkness cannot comprehend. But you see the light! You live in the light because of your Baptism! You are children of the light! Indeed, Christ is the light for a darkened world. May you also be part of those who share this light in the darkness of our world. May you share your bounties here in this congregation so that others here and arou

nd the world may also come out of the darkness of sin and death and into the light, which is Christ our Lord!

Amen.