Sunday, January 4, marked the observance of Epiphany on the liturgical Christian calendar. Epiphany represents the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and is symbolized by the Magi visiting Jesus as a child. This portion of the Christian narrative is found in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1–12. It has been erroneously taught that there were three Magi who came to see the child born to be King of the Jews, but in reality, no one knows how many Magi there were.
In the text, when Herod heard that wise men, or Magi, from the East had come seeking the child Jesus because they observed His star rising, the scripture says that Herod was afraid, along with the religious and political aristocracy of Jerusalem. Herod first summoned his paid priests and brought biblical scholars to ascertain where the Messiah was to be born. There are always paid priests, preachers, and pastors who remain on Herod’s payroll. They told him that the child was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea.
The question is: why were Herod and the religious and political aristocracy of Jerusalem so afraid of a baby? It was because of what the child represented. The child represented an end to their bullying diplomacy and their disrespect for the sanctity of human life. The child represented an end to their fleecing of the poor to further enrich the wealthy. The child represented the liberation of those persecuted by the powerful. The child represented God’s judgment on the government of Herod and the empire of Rome for their mistreatment of “the least of these” and for acting as if they were equal to God.
Herod then held a secret meeting with the Magi, during which he learned the exact time the star appeared. He told them to search for the child and, when they found Him, to report back so that he too could worship the child. The text makes clear that Herod was lying about his desire to worship. His real intention was to kill the child. The Magi followed the star until it stopped over a house where they found Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus. They paid homage with extravagant gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were then warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went home by another way.
Joseph was also warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to hide because Herod intended to murder the child. When Herod discovered that he had been outsmarted by the Magi, he went into a murderous rage and ordered the killing of every male child in and around Bethlehem who was two years old and under.
Megalomaniacs are compulsive liars, and I do not know what lie Herod told to get his military to carry out illegal, immoral, unethical, and unspeakable horrors against innocent baby boys. Perhaps he labeled them “narco-terrorists”—I do not know. The text teaches us that megalomaniacs often suffer from profound ego and insecurity issues. Herod and his paid priests feared that their criminal and cruel reign was coming to an end, and therefore they unleashed heinous and hateful attacks on the poor. They created death policies designed to murder the poor indiscriminately. They concocted massive disinformation campaigns to confuse the masses. They disregarded the rule of law and the compassion of God in order to stay in power.
I have said before that the Bible anticipates us. The times we are living in now are reflected in the times then. Scripture also affirms that God always has a plan of escape, re-entry, justice, and deliverance. The Word reminds us that all megalomaniacs are temporary, but truth is eternal. The text teaches that the cruelty of empires eventually implodes because of greed, and they soon devour themselves.
Finally, the text of Matthew and the story of the Magi instruct those of God’s will and goodwill to be watchful, woke, and attentive to the still, small voice of the Creator for direction toward another way—a better way, a more lifesaving and affirming way.
Be aware. Be authentic. Stay woke.
Uhuru Sassa!!!
The Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ-Gary, 1276 W. 20th Ave. in Gary. “We are not just another church but we are a culturally conscious, Christ-centered church, committed to the community; we are unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian.” Contact the church by email at [email protected] or by phone at 219-944-0500.