GLORY!

A meditation before the Lord’s Supper

January 2, 2000

Matthew 2: 1-12

This day marks the beginning of many things: a new year with three zeroes we have to remember to write. Most important for us in the Christian Church: a new opportunity to see the GLORY OF GOD in the face of Jesus Christ!

This is Epiphany Sunday: "Appearance" to the Magi, or the famous three kings of the East. God revealed Himself not only to His people, but to the world...Gentiles, these men from the East - Persia or Arabia is our best guess. As with the shepherds on the first night, and with Simeon and Anna in the temple, the wonder of God always did one thing above all others. He caused each one to worship! They each experienced GLORY! The GLORY OF GOD WAS BEFORE THEM. What an example for us today!

There was one person in the scripture today that did not see the glory of God. In fact, this man saw only trouble! King Herod- called, The Great- could have done what the rest of those people did. He could have gone to the Christ Child and worshiped. Instead, he saw a threat to his own kingdom and his own way of life.

He was an Edomite, but also a Jew. He was a cruel man- executing three of his sons and his second wife. Yet, he rebuilt the Temple and made Jerusalem a strong economic center of the Roman empire. Not a nice man! He was the center of his own world. Greedy, thoughtless, and a pain in the neck on his best days. When those three kings did not return to Herod and report the place of the new king of the Jews, he sent his soldiers to kill all newborn baby boys two years and younger in the region of Bethlehem. The Day of the Innocents is still celebrated in many of our Christian churches, remembering those who die and are innocent before God.

Why, we might know some lesser Herods ourselves. People who are cruel in their homes, tyrants at work. TYRANT... We see them in every area of life. When our lives are centered in our own passions, when we refuse to surrender our lives to a higher authority, we tend to spoil every relationship. There is but one answer to anyone who behaves like Herod. Consider looking up to the answer God gives. If only Herod looked up, the story might be different today.

Friend, it is easy to become self-centered...to forget that we have a King - Jesus Christ. We need to come to His Word and see that even nature points to Him. All we can say - GLORY!

I am talking about the Star that came to those kings. Let’s call it the Star of Glory. Let the star of Glory teach us today to say: GLORY!

First, we see the GUIDING STAR OF GLORY. "We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (2) Those kings, those wise men, would never have been able to find, see or worship King Jesus without the GUIDING STAR OF GLORY! They covered vast distances and many dangers to find the Savior-King.

The men consulted by Herod were guided to the right place - Bethlehem - in the shadow of the capitol city Jerusalem. Yet, with all their information, it was a group from beyond the chosen people that God was guiding through this star of glory.

God has given us this brilliant star, guiding us to honor Jesus Christ on the day of His birth. His birthday guides the whole world, whether they recognize Him or not. Our calendars with all the problems of dating, are marked from His birth.

What passes through your minds when you consider His guiding star? Many people see His star as nothing more than a myth. But those men traveled long distances to find the One worthy to receive their lives and their gifts. Many people you might know, like to think of themselves as wise...they think that more knowledge will make for better living. These men had the humility to LOOK UP...and they took a step of faith...a star was guiding them to the GLORY OF GOD. We need to continually LOOK UP...humbly...to see again ...the Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, we see the GUARDING STAR OF GLORY. "When they heard the king (Herod), they departed; and behold, the star...stood over where the young Child was." (9) Notice that the star appeared AFTER THEY LEFT Herod. Later, in a dream these men were warned not to return to Herod. Now, that star moved very deliberately! There was no doubt.

Some of you might have seen the science fiction movie CONTACT. A scientist made connection with the star Vega, and one day was to visit the place. The results of her visit were disappointing, Those out there in Vega seemed to be guarding some deep dark secret...that life is better, if you just try harder. The star God sent was guarding the Christ Child from those who wanted Him only for their own ends.

Question: do you review the basic truths of Jesus Christ at this time of year? Christmas and Epiphany welcome the review: God became a man, He lived like us, tempted like us, but without sin...He died for us...His blood was shed for us...and He opened the way to be with God through His own sacrificial death on the cross. He was raised and lives today to welcome us...who believe only in Him for eternal life. THE GUARDING STAR OF GLORY CAUSES US TO WORSHIP!

When we review the life and death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, we are guarded by Him from evil plans from the Enemy (ourselves...or others) to distract or destroy our faith in the Babe of Bethlehem who became the Christ of Calvary and our Lord of Victory - GLORY!

THIRD, WE SEE THE GLADDENING STAR OF GLORY! "When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." (10) This star led those wise men, those kings to the Christ Child. They entered the house, fell down and worshiped Him. They had their priorities in order. They knew that only a king would accept gifts if he first accepted them. The young child received them...and so they brought gold...for a king...frankincense...for a high priest...and myrrh...for a prophet’s proper burial. How the father and mother must have rejoiced and yet, wondered at the future of their child. They both knew who they had in their hands. They both observed the special people who came to give glory to their son. And so they rejoiced that God was working out His plan in the midst of evil men and precarious times.

This star always leads to Jesus. Those of us who see through the commercialism and commotion of the days just passed know how to give God the GLORY HE DESERVES.

What a privilege to give glory for what God has done...He even put nature to work to bring us to praise His name. Consider the past days. We had the STAR OF GLORY GUIDING US TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ONE MORE YEAR...THAT STAR OF GLORY GUARDING CHRIST FROM THOSE WHO WANT HIM ON THEIR TERMS...AND THAT STAR OF GLORY GLADDENING EVERYONE OF US WHO MUST ALWAYS GIVE HIM GLORY!

So, come to the Lord’s Table ... you are guided by the One who needs no star. We have seen Him, who died for us, and now lives to pray for us and be our GOOD NEWS IN ALL OF OUR LIVES...UNTIL WE SEE HIM FACE-TO-FACE....GLORY!

(Presented by Dr. Kenyon P. Kalvesmaki,

Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church,

Russellville, Arkansas,

January 2, 2000)