Some of the most well-educated people in the world are not Christians. In fact, some of the best minds on the subject of Christianity are not Christians. How can this be? A talented mind can grasp the breadth and depth of Christianity’s history, literature, customs, languages, and even theology without ever truly knowing Christ as the believer does. Many Lutheran pastors, myself included, draw upon expertly researched books and articles written by intelligent, well-trained unbelievers. This is possible because there is a sharp distinction between understanding Christianity and trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Saving faith in Jesus Christ is an act and gift of the Holy Spirit through the Word and Holy Baptism. The unbeliever contributes nothing to the process of salvation. Although the Holy Spirit uses the Word to create faith, one cannot study oneself into faith. As noted above, there are people all over the world who have read the Bible countless times and still reject Christ. On the other hand, many of the simplest people know peace and joy through knowing Christ.
The Wise Men and Epiphany
The Wise Men are a great example of this phenomenon. We learn from the text that the Wise Men, or Magi, came from the East. It is possible they originated in or near Babylon. We can surmise they had a working knowledge of astronomy and geography, could speak Aramaic (the language of the inhabitants of Jerusalem) and Herod’s language, and likely had wealth, given their gifts to Jesus. Based on this education and wealth, they more than likely came to Jerusalem with an entourage as opposed to coming alone, as modern paintings and nativity sets suggest. While it is possible there were three men, often assumed because of the three gifts, we do not know for certain.
Despite this grandeur, the Wise Men sought not their own glory but that of the newborn King of the Jews. Upon encountering Jesus, they worshiped Him. It was not their education, wisdom, position, or wealth that brought them to see Jesus for who He is, but rather the work of the Holy Spirit. They understood, as all Christians do, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) and that the foolishness of God is wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). They knew that Jesus was greater, that He was to be worshiped. So they did.
Submitting to Christ as the Savior
Submission is a central but quite challenging part of the Christian life. Submission to Jesus is the exact opposite of what our sinful nature wants, and this runs directly back to the Garden of Eden—two human beings who wanted to be like God. Herod exemplifies this. He perceived Jesus as a threat to his kingdom, power, and control. But as Jesus would later tell Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). However, filled with needless paranoia, Herod sought not to worship the newborn King but rather to murder Him. Perhaps not to the same murderous extent as Herod, each of us, Christians included, struggles with submitting to God fully.
Think of it this way. Over the holidays, you may have had people over for a celebration. It is natural to prepare and clean the house in order to make the best impression. Nevertheless, before the guests even arrive, the host has determined which rooms will be open to guests and which will remain private. “You’re welcome to the living room, but please only use the downstairs bathroom.” “The meal is served in the dining room, but please don’t go down to the basement.” Likewise, there are portions of our lives that we have submitted to the Lord and others that we retain. “Dear Lord, help me to find a better-paying job, but do not tell me how to spend my money.” “Dear Lord, teach me to be the best parent I can, but stay out of my marriage.” There are various reasons we retain some parts of our lives from the Lord, but every reason amounts to sin. To one extent or another, we want Jesus as Savior but not Lord.
The degree to which we fully, or otherwise, submit our lives to the Lord has a direct effect on our joy. The more we submit, the greater our joy. Verse 10 reads, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” It would be hard to express the joy the Wise Men experienced more fully. After all their study, experience, and reflection, they finally found true wisdom, real truth, in Jesus Christ. So it is with us. We can never direct our lives the way Jesus can. Left to ourselves, our joy is fleeting, transient. When Jesus is fully at the helm, we find true joy and peace, the life that Jesus always intended.
A Season of Gifts Pointing to Christ’s Ultimate Gift
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
The gifts have a great deal to teach. Gold is suited for a king and, for the wealthy, represents offerings brought to the temple. Frankincense was often burned as part of temple sacrifices, offering a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Myrrh was applied to dead bodies to combat the stench of rot. All three point to the ministry of Jesus Christ, from the manger of Bethlehem to the cross outside the city walls of Jerusalem. The true King, Jesus, worthy of so much more than gold, came as a servant, offering a sacrifice for our sins more precious and pleasing to God than frankincense. He shed His blood as a fully sufficient payment for sin, giving Himself to death and yet experiencing no decay.
The Wise Men were given the best education of all. Thanks to the triune God, we have that education as well. More than knowledge—joy and life.
Read more about the first ten chapters of Matthew in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study. This Bible study series will help you dig deeper into theological topics in an easily accessible format, just like Phil Rigdon’s Digging Deeper blog series.
