January 6, 2002
Isaiah 60:1-6
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Matthew 2: 1 -12
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“SO MUCH OUT OF SO LITTLE”

The title I chose for this sermon is, “So Much Out So Little”.  It should have been, so little out of so much.  I wanted to try and explain why Matthew talks of the Wise Men and Luke the Shepherds and do it in a way that brings scholarly credibility to the biblical passage.  I found it tough going.

Sermon preparation is strange and wonderful.  I worked all week long and didn’t have a clue what I was going to say.  I said to Chris on Thursday night, I am hitting a wall.  All the reading and thinking simply isn’t working out.

Friday morning at 5:40 AM I was wakened with an idea.  I got up and in 10 minutes had the entire outline to the sermon, as if it had been sent from God.  I came to office and simply put down what I had received.

The only place in all of biblical literature where the wise men or Magi are shown, in a favorable light, is in the gospel of Matthew.  This morning we sang, “We Three kings of Orient Are.”  Actually, we don’t even know how many wise men there were.  Matthew does not say just three.  Matthew says, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him”.

Matthew ends his story of the magi with these words, “Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh”.  To be sure there were three gifts, but we simply don’t know how many wise men came.

In the book of Acts, chapter 8: 9-24, Simon of Samaria is described by Luke, the writer of Acts, as a magus.  He says that Simon formerly practiced magic in the city and fascinated the people of Samaria.  The people gave heed to him saying, this is that power of God, which is called great.

At this time Philip, the disciple, came preaching and many of the people of Samaria listened and became Christians and among them was Simon.  When the disciples heard that the Samaritans were becoming Christians and being baptized, (that is very significant because the Samaritans were non Jews), they sent down John and Peter and they laid hands on the people so they would receive the Holy Spirit. Simon, the magus wanted that power given to him but he was chastised and told his heart was not right and he needed to repent.  Simon asked the disciples to pray to God that none of the things of which they spoke would fall on him.

Another magus named Elymas is presented in Acts chapter 13: 6-11 as a false prophet.  Paul severely chastises him and says that God will punish him with blindness.  The early historians make it quite plain that magi were familiar to the early Christian but except for the magi in the story of Matthew they are all cast in a negative light by being called evil and vile.  So, the question must be asked, who were these magi and what is their purpose in being added to Matthew’s story?

Let’s start with the birth.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small city just 6 miles south of Jerusalem.  The old name for Bethlehem had been Ephrata.  Micah, in his prophecy chapter 5, links both of the names together saying Bethlehem Ephrata will be the place where a ruler of Israel will come forth.

The word Bethlehem means, house of bread and the city is situated in a fertile area-fertile by Israeli standards, not Wisconsin’s.  The city is actually above the valley floor on a gray limestone ridge some 2500 feet high. Bethlehem had a rich history.  It was near Bethlehem, where Jacob buried his beloved wife Rachael.  In Genesis chapter 48: verse  7, Jacob is talking to his son Joseph and says, “For when I came from Paddan, Rachael, to my sorrow, died in the land of Caanan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrata; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrata, that is Bethlehem.”  We need to put that into perspective in this age of modern transportation.

When I was studying in Israel, Father Peter Nichols and I decided one day to walk from Bethany to Bethlehem so that we could see the tomb of Rachael on the way.  We packed a lunch, took the bus to Bethany, and started walking.  Quite obviously, we had over estimated the distance between Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.  We were at Rachael’s tomb by about 9:30 and easily in Bethlehem by 10:00am.

We find from the book of Ruth that Bethlehem was the town where Ruth lived with Boaz, whom she married, after she came to the area with Naomi her mother–in-law because Naomi’s son and Ruth’s first husband had died.

Bethlehem was also called the city of David and because of that the Jews expected that David’s greater son would be born there.  The point is Bethlehem was well known by religious followers of the Jewish faith.  Whether or not, the magi, who were of the Kingly caste in Mede, part of Persia then, Iran now, is not known.  Religiously speaking they may well have been Zoroastrians; because the Kingly class of Mede were of that faith.

Two points are worthy of mention here.  The first is, the wise men were gentiles, so Matthews story breaks new ground.  This Jewish baby named Jesus has attracted the attention of the wise men, or astrologers from the east who are not Jewish.  The second is they are of the Kingly class, so Matthew is saying this Jesus has attracted the attention of the rich and powerful.

The thing I want you to remember is, this baby is filled with so much potential that his greatness could not be told in one story.  The baby received the rich and powerful and the humble and poor.  Both stories are necessary to show the universality of Jesus and the non-discriminatory nature of the Christian faith.

That is the truly remarkable fact about the birth story.  God is revealed in a baby.  A baby doesn’t discriminate.  Black, white, rich ,poor Jew or gentile, it doesn’t matter to a baby.  A baby just accepts and loves and coos and gurgles while adults sit back and make judgements.

Remember the cradle that was here when the children did their re-enactment of the birth story.  It’s a wonderful symbol for this season and for this sermon.  And, did you notice the doll in it depicting Jesus.  I don’t know whether it was planned or not, but the doll was black.  I think that is a great symbol because it points out the difference between the expectation and reality of the people of that day and it forces us to ask tough questions of ourselves.

As all of us know, babies grow and usually, they change dramatically.  It is not unusual to see beautiful cooperative youngsters become tough and nasty young people or difficult, problem youngsters blossom into terrific, bright and enjoyable young people.  Jesus grew also.  Luke says in chapter 2: 52  “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and humans.“  The wonderful thing about Jesus is that the acceptance of others that is found in him as a baby was retained throughout his earthly existence.

We know nothing of Jesus life between the age of about 12 until near 30.  At that time he left home and went out into the desert to meet John the Baptist.  Matt, Mark and Luke all say the spirit came upon Jesus like a dove, all say a voice was heard saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well please although Matt seems to be saying only Jesus heard that voice.

Immediately after this affirmation of Jesus, he goes into the wilderness for 40 days where he struggles as to how he is to use his talents.  There is the temptation to use them for selfish purposes of gain, but in each instance, scriptures learned in his youth come to the fore and he is able to resist the temptations.  This is a validation of his call to ministry and is followed, in the scriptures by the beginning of his ministry.

That, it seems to me, is very similar to any person who feels a call to the ministry.  One has to wrestle with the temptation to go into an occupation with greater pay, or an occupation with fewer personality hassles.  The minister, I believe, is always fighting the temptation to view other pastures as greener than where he or she is ministering.  Unlike many, Jesus conquered that temptation.

One simply cannot read the scriptures without being captivated by the ministry of Jesus.  I don’t care what your theological outlook is.  Jesus life gives us a glimpse of God and more a glimpse of ourselves. 

The lepers were the outcasts of Jesus day.  Jesus befriended them and healed them - and notice, he didn’t ask if they were believers or not.

The religiously proper of Jesus day, those who insisted that the procedure of temple worship had to done in a certain way, were very upset with Jesus.  He came into their worship space and get very angry.  He overthrew the tables where they were collecting money through the sale of birds and animals for “proper” sacrificial purposes and he scolded them, that his house was to be a house of prayer.

In Luke 8, we read about the Geresene demoniac.  This mentally deranged person used to run amongst he tombs unclothed.  He was one who had been arrested many times.  Jesus had compassion on him and the scripture say, the people came to the hill and they found the demoniac clothed and in his mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Then, the scripture adds, then, when he was sane and able to be understood, the people were afraid.  No questions asked, no “you become a Christian and then I will heal you”.  Jesus had compassion on him and he was healed.

John tells the story, in the 8^th chapter of Jesus teaching a group early in the morning.  The scribes and the Pharisees bring to him a woman who has been caught in the act of adultery.  They say, the law of Moses commands us to stone such a person to death.

Jesus says, let him who is without sin cast the first stone.  One by one, you can see them dropping their ammunition.  Jesus says to the distraught and embarrassed woman, where are all the people.  Has no one condemned you?  The woman says, no one my Lord. Jesus says to her, I don’t condemn you either.  Go on your way and don’t do it again.

Some people asked, what is the essence of true religion, what are the dietary laws, the ritual required and the cost.  Jesus said, a new commandment I give you.  Love one another as I have loved you.  You may ask, does that mean that we have to love the Blacks and welcome them to our Church?  Yes, that is what it means, not only the blacks but also all people of color.

The poor?  Yes, the poor.  How about those who don’t dress up too well, they don’t fill our mental image of a worshipper.  Yes, them also because the kingdom of God is concerned about what lies on the inside.  Well, how about the homosexual people?  Yes, let them find their personal dignity here in this Church of Christ.

They didn’t like that message in Jesus day.  He disturbed their views and upset the value structure to which they clung.  They ran Jesus out of town and when he would stay away, they killed him.

Some of you don’t like this message either but in our day, those who don’t like the teachings of Jesus either get rid of the preacher or they simply leave the Church.

But you know - you know in your heart; you know in the pit of your stomach, he is right.  Wise man or shepherd; all are welcome at the manger.

And right back of the manger, right before your eyes every time you enter this room is the central symbol of this Church and our faith; The cross!  But it’s an empty cross.  No one is on that cross.  This is not the cross of suffering, this cross is empty because the teaching that he taught, the message he proclaimed is eternally true.  It’s empty because he’s alive!

So we’re here this morning before this baby and that cross because we know that when we mess up, we are not alone - we are loved and we are forgiven.  When we are not as good as we should be or even as we could be, we are accepted.  We hear his words, where are those who condemn you?  I don’t condemn you either.  Go and try harder.  Be my disciples.

A family was out for a Sunday drive.  The father was talking to the children who while curled up and bored to almost sleep, were tolerating his observations.  See the lovely trees on the hill.  Have you noticed these beautiful eskers and kettles here in the moraine countryside?

As the drive continued, the kids spotted a kitten sitting alone by the roadside.  “Daddy, Daddy, stop the car”, they cried.  “There’s a kitten and it is all alone.”

“We’re not stopping”, proclaimed the father, “we’ve got plenty of animals at home as it is.”  “But that kitten will die” they pleaded.  “ We are not stopping”, shouted the father.  “We never knew our Daddy was so cruel” they sobbed.

“Dear, you’re going to have to stop” said the mother.  So the father slammed on the brakes, muttering to himself something about softhearted women.  He jams the gearshift into reverse and goes back towards that cat.

When he gets to where the kitten is, he says to the children, “Stay here, I’ll get that kitten - it’s probably got the mange.”  So the father goes back to the kitten, cold; with matted fur, weak, hungry, its ribs showing and he reaches down to pick it up by the nape of its neck.  With its last bit of energy, the kitten arches its back, hisses and scratches the fathers hand.

Now furious, he pick up the kitten, opens the back door and says, “Don’t touch it, that kitten is not well”, and they proceed to go home, silently.

When they get home, the children bathe the kitten and feed it some warm milk.  “Daddy, can the kitten stay in the house tonight, just tonight?”  “Sure, why not”, he yells, “ let it have our bedroom, let it have the run of the house.”

Some months later, the father comes home early one afternoon.  It is warm so he parks the car and proceeds up the sidewalk toward the door.  All of the sudden, he feels something rubbing up against his leg, first going this way, than that.  He looks down and sees it is that cat, with his back arched and purring loudly rubbing himself against the father’s pants.

Glancing quickly, to make sure that no one is looking, he reaches down and he pets that cat.  Is that the same cat?  Is that the same kitten that caused so much turmoil?  Well, yes, but in a certain sense it isn’t and… you and I both know why.

One day, God reached down to bless my family and me and when I looked at his hand, it was covered with scratches!