Read:
Matthew 2:1-12; Acts 10:1-11:18
Reflect:
January 6 is known as Epiphany (manifestation) in the various traditional celebrations of the Christian church calendar. It refers to the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, represented by the magi (Matthew 2:1-12), in the Christmas story. That in itself is quite remarkable. The story of Jesus’ birth is very much set in a Jewish context. Outsiders (like the Roman authorities) were indifferent, if not hostile, to the arrival of a new king on the scene. So what are Gentiles, like the magi, doing in the story?
The magi were Persian/Babylonian wise men and priests, expert in astrology and the interpretation of dreams. They came from eastern lands (Mesopatamia) that were traditional enemies of Israel. It would still be fresh in the memory of Jewish folk that Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, had invaded Israel, destroyed their temple, and taken many captives into exile six centuries earlier. The Jewish expectation and hope was that when Messiah came he would destroy their enemies in Davidic fashion, and so they would not be particularly welcoming to the arrival of these ‘outsider’ magi.
Matthew does not spell out these hostilities which were latent in that society. His point seems to be that whereas the ‘insiders’ (the chief priests and scribes) did not recognize Jesus as their rightful king, ruler and shepherd (vv 4-6), the ‘outsiders’ (the magi) did. They acknowledged him as the king of the Jews (v 2), worshipped him, and brought gold, frankincense and myrrh; gifts suitable for royalty (v 11). This appears to be a clear signal that in the days ahead Gentiles would come to worship Jesus and be included in the people of God. Epiphany, then, clearly celebrates the wonderful Gospel truth that believing Gentiles are welcome along with believing Jews as God’s people.
The early, completely Jewish, church had to come to terms with the full and equal acceptance of Gentile believers in Jesus into the body of Christ. The encounter of Peter (an observant Jew) with Cornelius (a Roman Gentile) in Acts 10:1-11:18 shows us the first steps of how God orchestrated the church to full, mutual acceptance of one another in Christ. When Peter first saw the vision of the sheet full of unclean animals with the command to eat non-kosher food he did not understand what the voice meant: What God has made clean, do not call common (10:15). However, when the Spirit directed him to go with Cornelius’s messengers he realized that the vision was not about food, but about his treatment of people. He said: God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean (10:28). While interacting with Cornelius he began to understand that God shows no partiality, but accepts people who reverence him from ever nation, and that Jesus Christ is Lord of all (10:34-36). In fact, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name (10:43). Then when some criticized him for eating with Gentiles (11:2-3) Peter insisted that the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning (11:15). Therefore:
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (11:17)
So the principle of full and mutual acceptance was established, though the church continued to struggle with its full implementation.
The primary lesson we need to learn from this is to fully accept any follower of Jesus, of whatever race, language, culture or ethnicity, as a member of the body of Christ.
Respond:
Let us fully and gladly practice what Paul writes in Galatians 3:27-28:
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.