By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, January 3, 2010 · Epiphany Sunday
Sermon Text: Matthew 2:13-18
Sermon Theme
Herod has no joy at the news of the birth of the Messiah. As a tyrannical king he is not about to recognize some unknown new king of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). Herod represents the evil in the world. He is the first of many who will oppose Jesus Christ and all that he represents. In the words of Charles Dickens, Herod symbolizes “the dark side of Christmas.” He exemplifies the fear and doubt that lie at the heart of sin in Matthew’s Gospel. He orders the brutal murder of all children under the age of two “in and around Bethlehem.” Joseph and Mary flee with the baby Jesus to Egypt. Egypt in Scripture stands for the reality of the present world. It can be positive or negative depending on the circumstances. Jesus will fulfill the entire Old Testament and lead his people on the ultimate Exodus. This is the great hope which overcomes the terror at Christmas.
Sermon Outline
- Evil. The birth of Jesus Christ is met with both joy and fear. To those who look to God and not to themselves, it is an announcement of great joy (Matthew 2:10). However, to others who are invested in the world in terms of its corruption and brokenness, the announcement of Jesus coming into the world inspires fear and dread (Matthew 2:3). Fear and doubt lie at the heart of sin in Matthew’s Gospel. Herod is an example of both. He’s afraid of Jesus and at the same time doesn’t believe he really is “king of the Jews.” Herod gives in to the evil in his heart and orders the death of the children of Bethlehem. How can God allow this evil to happen? The ultimate answer is that God has a larger purpose, to bring good out of evil. We see this in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus comes into a world where evil is all too common. This world is not about to welcome him.
- Egypt. Egypt plays a major role in Israel’s history. It represents two opposites. It is both a place of refuge and a place of bondage. This is true not only of Joseph and Moses but of a host of others as well. Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus find refuge there. Yet it is also the place symbolically where Jesus is crucified (Revelation 11:8). Egypt then symbolizes the present world. It can be positive or negative depending on the circumstances. Herod will reenact the role of the Pharaoh who condemns the Hebrew male children to death. Jesus is both called out of this world and sent to it as well. We are neither to abandon the world nor be enslaved to it. We are called rather to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
- Exodus. Egypt as the symbol of this sinful world cannot be improved. It must be either destroyed or converted. The death of Herod does not end the terror. Throughout his narrative of Jesus’ birth, Matthew is emphasizing that Jesus is a second Moses, greater than the original Moses. However, unlike Moses he will die at the hands of the Gentiles whom the Egyptians symbolize (Matthew 20:17-19). Yet Jesus is the ultimate Exodus. As the ancient Israelites were able to go into the sea and return alive, so Jesus will undergo death itself and return alive again. We live therefore in the exodus. All the challenges faced by Israel confront us as well. These include fear, doubt, temptation, frustration, rebellion, lack of resources, opposition and false gods. The Apostle Paul says that the Israelites were led through the wilderness by Christ (I Corinthians 10:1-4). Christ leads us as well. He may give us a sign such as a cloud, a pillar of fire or a star. Yet we are finally led by God’s word. Mary and Joseph are on the move. They respond to God’s call to change direction and go to new places. We cannot stand still either.
Questions for Us
- The question of evil is the most difficult one facing us as believers in a God who is both completely good and all-powerful. How does the story of Jesus' birth help us to come to terms with the reality of evil in the world?
- How does the symbolism of Egypt both in Matthew's Gospel and in Scripture as a whole help us to understand the world in which we live, our present day "Egypt"?
- How does the image of the Exodus inform our present life as Christians? We easily become adjusted to things as they are. How do the examples of Joseph and Mary and the Wise Men, as well as the symbolism of the Exodus, help us to see our lives as being lived out in the midst of change and movement?
