Pastor Sherry’s message for January 7, 2024

Scriptures: Isa 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-14; Eph 3:1-12; Matt 2:1-12

In Rome, there is an ancient burial site containing the remains of hundreds of Christians from the 2nd to the 5th century. Known as the “Catacombs of Priscilla” for the wealthy Roman lady who donated the property, the series of underground tombs also includes some significant artwork by early Christians–including one of baby Jesus with His mother, Mary, and surprisingly, the pagan prophet, Balaam. But instead of gazing at the Madonna and Child, the prophet is pointing to a star over their heads.

(Borrowed from a sermon from www.sermoncentral.com, week of 1/07/2024.)

Perhaps you remember hearing of this “prophet for hire” as he is depicted in Numbers 22-24? If not, take time to read this account as it is both humorous and fascinating. Apparently, the Moabite King, Balak, was alarmed to learn that the Children of Israel were advancing on his country, on their way to the Promised Land. Biblical scholars believe there may have been as many as 2 million Israelites, so they would represent quite a threat to anyone whose land they crossed. King Barak did not believe he was strong enough to defeat them in battle—in fact, Moses reports in Numbers 22:3 that he and his whole nation were… filled with dread because of the Israelites. So he sent for a Prophet for hire, Balaam, and asked him to curse them, telling him (Numbers 22:5-6) A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.

Obviously this Balaam had some power. But as you follow the story, you learn that God Himself talks to Balaam and forbids him to curse His Chosen People. King Balak tries to talk Balaam out of being obedient to God every way he can; but the prophet appears to rightly fear the One True God and wisely refuses to curse the Israelites. Even though Balak is furious with him, Balaam continues to bless Israel and prophesies to Balak (Numbers 24:17) I see Him [Messiah], but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob [the Epiphany Star]; a scepter will rise out of Israel [a future king; Jesus].

I find it fascinating—don’t you?—that hundreds of years (1450-1500BC) before Jesus’ birth and the appearance of the Magi, a nonbelieving prophet-for-hire would tell of the appearance of the Star, and prophesy the 1st coming of Christ. The star signaled Jesus’ birth to Gentiles. This star moved, it traveled to the West from the East, and the 3, 12, or 30 magi from the East, followed it to Jerusalem, then on to Bethlehem to worship the infant King. (Tradition says there were 3 kings, because of the three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh; but there may have been more, especially since all of Jerusalem was in an uproar over their sudden appearance. Three would seem too few to cause a city-wide reaction. Perhaps there were more and no doubt they were accompanied by soldiers for protection.) So their arrival was probably notable and provoked curiosity and speculation. Instead of fireworks, the star was a heavenly manifestation of something truly big and important going on. Folks in that time and era were much more tuned in to the movements of the stars and the appearance of new ones than many of us are today. For those who studied such things, this was an exciting phenomenon which led to an Epiphany (God-sighting).

We celebrate this Epiphany, the visitation of the Magi to honor Baby Jesus today, Epiphany Sunday. Three of our Scripture passages refer to this event.

A. Our Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 60:1-6, appears to ratify or agree with Balaam’s older prophesy. Isaiah (writing from 750-700BC) states in verses 1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to Your light and kings to the brightness of Your dawn. The prophet uses the Hebrew prophetic tense that speaks of things which have not yet taken place as though they have already come to be. Just as Balaam appeared to have viewed the star to come as a metaphor for Jesus, so too does Isaiah equate Messiah with heavenly light. He is predicting that the “Son of Righteousness,” Jesus, will arise upon Israel just as the sun rises out of and dissipates pitch darkness. Those were dark times in Israel, as they lived under Roman oppression, just as these are dark times for us. But, Jesus has come as our Redeemer. And He will come again to finally free the earth from the grips of evil.

Additionally, Isaiah foretells the arrival again—at Jesus’ 2nd Coming–of kings bringing gifts. They will bring gold and incense (frankincense), but no myrrh—an embalming compound–as death will have been eradicated.

B. Psalm 72 was written by King David as a prayer for the success of his son, Solomon, as he is crowned David’s successor.

In it, King David describes the traits of the ideal king (around 960BC). While these are the hopes of a proud father, the psalm also describes—at a deeper level—the reign of the coming Messiah: Messiah will judge the accused with absolute justice or fairness. He will crush oppressors and defend the vulnerable. He will live forever. He will ensure prosperity for all. He will rule all the earth. And, in what seems like a foretelling of today’s Gospel, (v.10) The kings of Tarshish [modern Spain], and of distant shores will bring tribute to Him; the kings of Sheba [Yemen] and Seba [Sudan or Ethiopia] will present Him gifts.

C. Our Gospeler, Matthew, was intent on proving to the Jewish people how Jesus fulfilled so many of the Old Testament prophesies about Messiah. In today’s passage (2:1-22), he demonstrates how Jesus fulfilled 4 such predictions:

(1)He points out that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and quotes the passage from Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah…out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. So the minor prophet, speaking for God, precisely predicted Jesus’ birthplace. He was a contemporary of Isaiah, and so wrote during the same time period. He relates how Jesus had to be taken into Egypt to protect Him from Herod’s jealousy. Joseph is told in a dream to leave Bethlehem by night and take Mary and the baby to Egypt.

(2) Hosea, also a contemporary of Isaiah, had prophesied in chapter 11, verse 1 Out of Egypt I called my son. God had planned in advance to have Jesus escape Herod’s “slaughter of the innocents.”

(3) But Jeremiah (626-586BC) had predicted in chapter 31, verse 15 A voice is heard in Ramah [the vicinity of Bethlehem], weeping and great mourning, Rachel [a personification of Jewish mothers] weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.

(4) Finally, Matthew tells us they relocated from Egypt to Nazareth, at God’s direction, to fulfill the prophesy that the Messiah would be a Nazarene. One cannot locate that exact prophesy in the Old Testament. However, it is true that Isaiah 11:1 says a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The passage goes on to describe all the divine attributes of Messiah. Mary and Joseph both were descended from poor, seemingly insignificant branches (shoots) of King David’s dynastic tree. But consider how cleverly the Lord hid Jesus, protected Him–in a place that few would expect to find Him–until it came time for Him to begin His public ministry.

Matthew’s is the only Gospel to describe the visit of the Magi. Luke relates the shepherds’ worship of the newborn king (poor, often disregarded Jews); while Matthew wants us to know that Jesus’ birth attracted the wonder and adoration of Gentile dignitaries. Jesus is a King for us all.

How wonderful of God the Father to have signaled His love for the poor, for His Chosen people, and for we Gentiles, as well.

I don’t know about you but I am struck by the number of times Jesus’ birth was predicted. And not just His birth, but details about His early days; who saw Him and who worshipped Him; Satan’s attempts through Herod and others to eliminate Him; and Father God’s protection of Him.

I’m also amazed about who all prophesied His birth and His role in our lives…So many voices over so many different time periods, but all correct down to every detail. If you ever wonder, as I do occasionally, if all we believe about Jesus is true (doubt is a tool of the evil one), think of these passages and their remarkable consensus, across time and situations, about the reality of Jesus. Who then can doubt?

If I were not a believer and someone walked me through today’s readings, I think I would have to become a believer! To me the Biblical evidence is both convincing and overwhelming. Arise! Shine! For God’s Light has come!

©️2024 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams