Probably, by now, for most of us Christmas is starting to feel like a long time ago. Twelfth Night is just behind us and those who had a crib have almost certainly put it away, along with the wise men. Before discarding your Christmas cards, you might find it interesting to note how many feature the wise men compared to those featuring the shepherds. Apparently, according to Christmas card sales figures, cards of those rather pedestrian, dull, smelly shepherds, watching their flocks don’t sell well – but the wise men, dressed up as if they are going to a Buckingham Palace garden party, are very popular!
The Magi
It’s hard to find a biblical story that has caught the imagination and instigated so much research and exploration, as the account of the magi. Along with the crucifixion, it has become the most depicted biblical subject by artists, poets, sculptors and musicians. And yet the story of the magi is given in just one of the four Gospels, and covers a brief 12 verses. Perhaps it’s this brevity that serves to whet our appetites so much to find out more.
Hence, most of what we know of the magi is not found in Matthew. Instead, it’s more due to the result of speculation and embellishment over many centuries. Were there three, as suggested by the three gifts, or four, or even ten? Who were they? Where were they from? Legends over the centuries have transformed the magi into kings and wise men. There’s perhaps no agreement as to who they may have been, but in Matthew’s text, it’s what they represent that we should pay attention to: determined and faithful people who have followed the star to the lowliest of places, who come bearing gifts for a God made incarnate in the Baby Jesus, and who kneel humbly as servants, rather than kings, before Mary and the baby.
Being a seeker
What I like about these wise men is that their intriguing story not only invites us all into becoming spiritual seekers, but also their story gives us a picture of what being a seeker entails.
From the very beginning of the Christmas stories, we learn that all are welcome to a spiritual encounter with God. With Mary we learned that the young, the faithful, and the unexpected can have intimate encounters with God. With the shepherds, we found that those who are on the margins of society can be recipients of divine revelation. And with the wise men, we learn that outsiders – people from the East – or in biblical terms, Gentiles, can be led to a spiritual connection with God.
What we learn from these three distinct groups is that relationship with the Christ Child is open to all. No matter who we are, where we’re from, or what our social standing is, you, me, we’re all welcome with Jesus.
Active not passive
The wise men also teach us that seeking is active not passive. It doesn’t just happen while we sit around, twiddling our thumbs doing nothing. It requires some effort, some get up and go, searching out for ourselves. Nowhere in the text does it say that the magi stumbled upon Jesus by chance. The magi were looking for Jesus. In fact, they were so bold in their seeking that they came into King Herod’s empire asking where the King of the Jews was – the clear implication being that King Herod was not the king they were seeking.
The magi seek this king of the Jews in full view of all – not afraid or embarrassed, but boldly owning their search before others. They continue their search, following that star for who knows how long, with no guarantee that they will find the Christ Child, yet filled with hope and determination to continue their searching.
Mutual, humble and obedient
The behaviour of the magi teaches us that we too are to be active seekers. But being active seekers can be hard sometimes, due to the pressures and distractions of everyday life – so busy with family, work, whatever, that we forget the foundation of our very lives. Seeing Christ in our lives requires active seeking. A relationship with Christ is mutual; it should never be one way; the richer our contributions to that relationship, the richer our relationship becomes. We too are to be active seekers of Christ in this life.
The magi teach us the need for humility in our relationship with Christ. The gifts that the men give, are those kinds of gifts that are humbly given only on the most special of occasions. The magi recognise the amazing thing that God has done in Jesus Christ, and they offer the most special of gifts.
But even more telling than the gifts, is the nature of the wise men’s response. When they see the Christ Child and Mary, they do not congratulate themselves for a search well done. Instead, the magi fall to their knees, on the dirty, filthy ground, sullying those fine garments, in order to pay homage to Jesus. That these three powerful men could be brought to their knees by a mere child shows us the power of Christ, and the humility we all can show before God.
Finally, the magi teach us about obedient listening. Now unless you’re a dog owner, or the parent of a little one, obedience is not a word we particularly enjoy. As individuals we like to think of ourselves as not needing to “obey” anyone. Even when we think of God, we prefer words like cooperation, sharing, or advising rather than the word “obedience.”
Trust and obey
But the magi remind us that obedience toward God is essential. Social mores, political correctness or even the fear of punishment, could easily have led the wise men to disregard their dream warning them about returning to Herod. But instead, the magi obediently listen to their dream – to the word of God that comes to them in the night – and they leave from the country by another road. Just verses later we discover that their dream was indeed wise warning; Herod had nothing but ill-intended wishes on his mind when he asked the wise men to return. However, that is the way with God. We’re not given the future, only the current word of God for us. We are encouraged to trust and obey God when God speaks.
The magi did not just bring gifts for Jesus. The magi give us gifts too. Through them we learn that the kingdom of heaven is a welcoming place for us. We learn through them that the faith journey is one of active seeking after God. Through them we learn the posture of humble reverence before God. And finally, we learn through them that obedient listening is the most direct way to cooperate with God.
We’re grateful today for the witness of the magi, who teach us the best ways to seek and find God. Their example continues to inspire us today to be the seekers that Jesus invites us to be. Welcome to the journey! Amen.
‘Being a seeker’ was preached by Sheila Beattie on 7th January 2024 at St John with St Mark, Bury and earlier at Christ Church Walmersley. It was based on Matthew 2:1 – 12.