GREAT FEAR AND GREAT JOY
Matthew 2:1-12
The Epiphany of Our Lord
Analysis by Glenn L. Monson
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
From Wikimedia Commons
“Our lives are no longer ruled by fear, driven by envy, or motivated by revenge. We are free, free to be the people God has called us to be, rejoicing in our calling as worshippers and servants of the Christ.”
DIAGNOSIS: Great Fear
Step 1: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem): Phobias
“When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.”
If you have ever played King of the Mountain on a snowbank in the middle of winter you know how it goes. One person clamors to the top of the snow pile and declares, “I am king of the mountain.” It is then everyone else’s job to thrown them down and claim the throne for oneself. We often find ourselves playing this game, albeit in much more deadly ways. Power grabbing, power seeking, power hoarding, it’s all part of our human striving to be in control. And when someone truly threatens our power-holdings we are afraid, and willing to do most anything to rid ourselves of the threat.
Step 2: Advanced Diagnosis (Internal Problem): Pretense
“Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
Our fear is not inactive. We know that the threat to our power must be eliminated, so we begin a secret mission to undermine those who threaten us. We gossip, we gather allies, we even lie, putting forth the appearance that we are not threatened by this new development. We too want to support the new development, we declare, all the while making our murderous plans. We trust only ourselves, believing that stomping out this threat is the best way forward.
Step 3: Final Diagnosis (Ultimate Problem): Upward Rebellion
“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod…”
Our final enemy, the One who truly threatens our claims to control is God. We are finally, not only threatened by mortal rivals but by God. God is the One being born here. God is the One who is laying claim to all sovereignty. God is the One who stands in the way of our plans to have our way with all things. We are in bondage to what theologian, Gerhard Forde, called “our upward rebellion.” We are not God and wish to be, so we rebel. We lash out at any being, mortal or divine, who would control us, and finally we are ruled over by only one small plot of land – the grave.
PROGNOSIS: Great Joy
Step 4: Initial Prognosis (Ultimate Solution): Eternal Plans
“In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet.”
We had thought that God’s plan to overthrow our plans was a recent one. What we have come to realize is that God has been making plans to save the world from the beginning of time. God has been making plans to thwart our upward rebellion, and to save us from ourselves through the Cross of Christ since the creation’s first signs of brokenness. God’s eternal love is shown in human form in the Babe of Bethlehem, the Teacher of Galilee, and the Crucified and Risen One; since the Word first called the world into being God’s love has been known.
Step 5: Advanced Prognosis (Internal Solution): Praise
“When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.”
Having been embraced by God’s eternal love, we no longer fear this new king, but welcome him. Knowing the forgiveness of our sins, we no longer attempt to make secret plots or hide our secret sins, but we give thanks for the chance to worship this One who has saved us. Our lives are no longer ruled by fear, driven by envy, or motivated by revenge. We are free, free to be the people God has called us to be, rejoicing in our calling as worshippers and servants of the Christ.
Step 6: Final Prognosis (External Solution): Offerings of Joy
“Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Our fear has turned to joy, and the One who once threatened us is now the object of our generosity. We can’t think of enough ways to show our gratitude and reverence. We worship, we serve, we give, we pray, we do all things in honor of the Babe of Bethlehem, our Savior. No treasure can compare with the Pearl of Priceless Worth. No offering can compare to the One who has given us life. We fall before the manger, declaring again and again, “Christ the Savior is Born!”
