“The Longest Journey”
January 5, 2025
Matthew 2:1-12
Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
David A. Shirey
Today we celebrate Epiphany. Technically, today is the twelfth day of Christmas. Tomorrow is Epiphany, the day on which the church commemorates the arrival of the magi. We use the word “epiphany” to speak of an insight, an Aha! moment. "Now I see. Now I get it." The wise men got it. They had the Epiphany. They were able to perceive that the babe born in the manger in Bethlehem growing up in Nazareth was in fact the Son of God. Let’s look at their story to see what light it shines on our lives.
Matthew tells us, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the King” (Matthew 2:1) which is a shorthand way of saying that this child Jesus is Good News born to confront this world’s Bad News. Make no mistake about it: Herod was bad news. Treacherous. Bloodthirsty. Power-hungry. Insert your own vile vocabulary words to describe him. Whatever of today’s bad news headlines and bad news headliners make you shake your head and sigh, it was worse when “Jesus was born… in the days of Herod the King.”
Speaking of the juxtaposition of newborn King and despicable despot, light and darkness, our oldest grandson, Hayden, had a crush on the Grinch when he was little. We went out for Grinch pancakes at IHOP. We had a Grinch picture-drawing contest. We read Dr. Seuss’ book over and over. Together we watched the 1966 television classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” and we sang along when Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of Tony the Tiger) sang,
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You’re as cuddly as a cactus,
You’re as charming as an eel.
Mr. Gri-i-i-nch.
Here’s the thing: I view everything through the lens of my faith in Jesus Christ. So, when I hear a story about an evil Grinch who tried to steal Christmas, I can’t help but to think of the Greatest Story Ever Told about how the very first Christmas – the Christ child – was in danger of being stolen. Matthew tells us how Herod, when he heard from the wise men that a child had been born who was being heralded as king of the Jews, uttered one of the most sinister lines in the Bible. “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may go and pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:8). But it wasn’t worship that was on Herod’s mind. It was premeditated murder. And when the wise men didn’t return, “Herod…was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under” (Matthew 2:16).
The story Dr. Seuss told was a cartoon, but the story Dr. Matthew tells us is Gospel truth. Namely, God’s work for good in this world is always threatened by forces of evil who plot to steal Christmas, snuff out its light, silence messengers of Good News and subvert God’s good purposes. How did Martin Luther put it? “For still our ancient foe/ doth seek to work us woe/ His craft and power are great/ and armed with cruel hate/ on earth is not his equal.” There is an age-old battle between the worst that is within us and the best God intends for us. Evil is live spelled backwards. Theologians speak of “the mystery of inquity.” That serpent Herod hisses at the Wise Men, “When you have found him bring me word, that I too may go and pay him homage.”
Lord, have mercy! Deliver us from evil!
And God does! Hear the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: the story of Christmas and the Wise Men’s visit assures us that in spite of evil’s most hideous efforts, God and good will prevail. The Holy family escapes to Egypt. Herod’s plot is foiled. Herod dies, but Jesus lives. In Dr. Seuss’s story, the sour-faced villain cups his ear, licks his chops, and readies himself to savor the sound of the Whos crying but instead
Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
The good news of the gospel is that no green-faced Grinch, no haughty, hateful Herod, nobody, no how, can snuff out the light of Christ.
Let me point out a brilliant detail in this morning’s scripture. Dale Bruner notes in his commentary on Matthew that the tyrant is referred to as “King Herod” in verses 2, 3, and 9 but once the Wise Men kneel down before Jesus he is referred to only as “Herod.” He’s stripped of his title— dethroned by a baby boy! Which ought to assure us that no matter what scars the headlines in 2025, we can hold fast to the belief that in God’s time all of history’s Herods will be dethroned, defanged, defeated. Which is precisely the bold claim made in the hymn “This is My Father’s World.” that goes, “O, let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”
Now, please let that good news sink in from your head all the way down to your heart. I say that because there is a proverb among the Sioux people that says, “The longest journey you will make in your life is the from the head to the heart” It’s one thing to hear and assent to something up here (in the head), but it’s another thing to hold it, believe it, and live it in down here (in your heart). There is head faith and heart faith and there’s a world of difference between them.
Witness what happened in this morning’s Scripture. The wise men stopped and asked for directions. (Three men stopping and asking for directions. Imagine that!) According to scripture, they asked Herod where they could find the King of the Jews, but he didn't know. He knew who would, though, so "he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and he inquired of them where the child was to be born" (Mt 2:4). And without batting an eyelash, the chief priests and scribes said, "He will be born in Bethlehem of Judea for so it has been written by the prophet" (Mt 2:5). Good for them! Those chief priests and scribes knew their Bibles. They must have had good Sunday School teachers! They could answer any question having to do with the Bible. Could quote chapter and verse. Case in point: Where is the Messiah to be born? Answer: "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it was written by the prophet.” Micah 5.2: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Good for them! They knew from their Bibles where the Messiah was to be born.
But here's the puzzling part. Though they knew exactly where Jesus was to be born, there’s no record of their actually going to Bethlehem for his birth or to Nazareth for his growing up years. What do you make of the fact that when the Messiah was born, the most religious people of the day – chief priests and scribes – were nowhere to be found. Knowing full well the Savior could be found in Bethlehem, they slept the night away in Jerusalem.
This is a cautionary tale, I think, for religious people. That would be you and me. You see, it's one thing to know up here (point to head) the directions the Bible offers for the living of our lives. It's another thing to actually follow the directions. Do what we know. Live what we believe. The longest journey is from the head to the heart:
From knowing where the truth may be found, to actually seeking it.
From knowing what we ought to do, to actually doing it.
From knowing what the Scriptures say, to actually living them day-by-day.
From theology to ethics; from Bible study to Bible living.
From thinking the right things to living the right way.
The "chief priests and scribes" knew where Christ was to be born, but they never took a single step in that direction.
I say all of this to tell you there are no doubt circumstances in your life today – call them Herods – that threaten to steal your Christmas. I’ll leave it to you to fill in the blanks as to what or who those Herods are who cast an ominous shadow on your life as you enter this New Year. But thanks to Epiphany, I can say to you, “Be not afraid!” Can anyone or anything steal Christmas? No one. Nothing. No way! This is the Good News of Epiphany. The Aha! moment. “Now I see! Now I get it!” Herods of all sorts endure for a season but are ultimately powerless. They’re frauds. The babe born in the manger is King! And he shall reign for ever and ever.
Christ is born. Let earth receive her King. Jesus reigns. Not Herod. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not and cannot overcome it.” “Do not be afraid.”
Let that message travel from head to heart and let it ground you and guide you throughout this New Year as you let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven. (Matthew 5:14, 16)
Let all wise men and women say AMEN.
