Season of Joy: Advent 2024

This sermon examines biblical joy through the story of the Magi in Matthew 2, demonstrating how true joy differs from modern concepts of happiness. Through the example of pagan wise men who recognized a divine king "from ancient days," the sermon shows that biblical joy is both commanded action and profound experience. The Parable of the Talents teaches that lasting joy comes from investing our God-given gifts in His kingdom rather than pursuing temporary worldly pleasures. The sermon connects this understanding to the Lord's Supper, where Christians actively participate in joy while anticipating Christ's eternal kingdom.

Synopsis:

During the Christmas season, many homes display nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. These familiar tableaus include Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus (sometimes reserved until December 25th), shepherds, animals, and the wise men bearing gifts. While each element carries profound significance, the presence of the wise men presents a particularly intriguing theological puzzle that opens a window into understanding biblical joy.

The Mystery of the Magi

The wise men seem peculiarly placed in this narrative of divine birth. Their identity and purpose raise questions that lead us deep into both historical context and theological truth. In the original Greek text of Matthew 2:1-12, these visitors are called "Magi" (magos), which translates to sorcerers or magicians. This translation might surprise modern readers, but in the ancient world, the distinction between wise men and practitioners of magical arts was often blurred.

A helpful modern reference point can be found in Disney's Aladdin, where the character Jafar serves as both a royal advisor and a practitioner of sorcery. This dual role of wisdom and magical arts characterized the historical Magi, making their presence in the nativity story even more remarkable. These pagan sorcerers came seeking the "king of the Jews," having observed his star in the heavens. Their declaration in Matthew 2:2, "We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him," carries profound theological significance.

Historical Context (From Daniel to the Magi)

The Book of Daniel provides crucial historical context for understanding the Magi. When Daniel, an Israelite exile in Babylon, demonstrated his God-given ability to interpret dreams (Daniel 2:24-30), he was sent to study in Chaldea, a training center for sorcerers and magicians. This educational tradition persisted through various imperial transitions, from Babylon to Persia, and eventually to the Parthian Empire during the time of Jesus.

The Magi of the Christmas story emerged from this same tradition, based in what is now modern-day Iran. Their training included various forms of sorcery and, notably, astrology. Like many in the ancient world, they viewed celestial bodies as divine messages revealing earthly truths and supernatural entities. Their practice involved careful observation and interpretation of the stars, sometimes including prayers to these celestial bodies to understand their gods' will.

Political Tension and Prophetic Fulfillment

The arrival of these foreign wise men in Jerusalem created significant political tension, particularly for King Herod. As a vassal king under Roman rule, Herod jealously guarded his authority over the region then known as Palestine. Troubled by the Magi's quest, he gathered the chief priests and scribes to inquire about prophecies concerning a king in Israel.

They directed him to Micah 5:2: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." The Magi, likely familiar with this prophecy due to the historical presence of Israelites in Babylon and Persia, followed the star to Bethlehem.

Herod, feeling threatened by the prospect of a rival king, devised a plan to eliminate this potential competitor. As recorded in Matthew 2:7-8, he secretly called the Magi and asked them to report back once they found the child, claiming he, too, wished to worship him. However, after presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Magi were divinely warned in a dream to return home by another route (Matthew 2:12), thus protecting the infant Jesus from Herod's murderous intentions.

Biblical Joy

Matthew 2:10 describes the Magi's reaction upon finding Jesus: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." While this phrase might seem redundant in English, it actually conveys two distinct concepts in Greek - the act of rejoicing and the experience of joy itself. This distinction becomes crucial for understanding the biblical concept of joy.

The Magi's joy stemmed from their recognition of the profound implications of Micah's prophecy. The prophecy speaks of one "whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days" who would be "ruler in Israel." Notably, it describes a ruler "in" Israel rather than merely "of" Israel, suggesting a broader scope of authority. The phrase "from ancient days" carries special significance, as it refers to an origin predating creation itself.

This terminology connects to Deuteronomy 32:17, where Moses distinguishes between the gods of other nations - described as "new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never feared" - and the true God of Israel. Moses characterizes these foreign deities as demons rather than genuine gods, stating, "They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known."

Joy in the Old Testament

The Old Testament presents joy as a communal reality deeply connected to the religious and national life of God's people. In Deuteronomy 12:7, the Israelites were commanded to "eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice" when bringing sacrifices and offerings to the Temple. This communal aspect of joy is vividly illustrated in 1 Kings 1:39-40 during Solomon's anointing as king: "Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, 'Long live King Solomon!' And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy so that the earth was split by their noise."

The Psalms frequently present joy as a divine command for corporate worship. Psalm 81:1-3 instructs: "Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day." This isn't merely a suggestion but a "statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 81:4).

Joy and Salvation

The prophet Isaiah associates joy with God's salvation. Isaiah 49:13 proclaims: "Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted." This connection led Judaism to view joy as a characteristic of the messianic age, believing the Messiah would usher in unprecedented times of joy for God's people.

To better understand biblical joy, we can examine its contrasts in Scripture. Psalm 30:11 presents joy as the opposite of mourning: "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Similarly, Hebrews 13:17 contrasts joy with groaning in the context of spiritual leadership: "Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." These contrasts suggest that true joy involves transcending temporal struggles to participate in eternal realities.

The Parable of the Talents

Jesus's teachings frequently address the concept of eternal joy, particularly in Matthew 25:14-30's Parable of the Talents. In this story, a master entrusts different amounts of money (talents) to three servants before departing on a journey. The first servant receives five talents, the second two talents, and the third one talent, each according to their ability.

The first two servants double their master's investment through diligent work. Upon the master's return, he commends them with identical words: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21, 23). However, the third servant, who buried his talent out of fear, is condemned as "worthless" and cast into "outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30).

While the parable's immediate context deals with monetary wealth, its implications extend far beyond material possessions. The early church consistently interpreted "talents" symbolically to represent all the gifts, abilities, and resources God entrusts to His people. This interpretation aligns with our modern use of the word "talent" to describe natural abilities or skills.

Temporal Pleasure vs. Eternal Joy

This broader understanding suggests that everything we are - our personalities, abilities, experiences, and resources - belongs to God and should be invested in His kingdom's purposes. The world offers numerous sources of temporary pleasure - entertainment, fine dining, vacations, and various forms of amusement - but these experiences often prove fleeting and potentially addictive. Their temporary nature creates a cycle of pursuing ever-greater experiences to recapture fading pleasure.

The pursuit of worldly pleasures often leads to a pattern of diminishing returns. A remarkable vacation may provide momentary happiness, but upon returning to a daily routine, one might find themselves depressed and immediately planning an even grander trip to recapture that fleeting joy. This cycle reveals the transient nature of worldly pleasures and their inability to provide lasting fulfillment.

Joy in Christian Worship

The Lord's Supper serves as a powerful example of enacted joy in Christian worship. Like ancient Israel's commanded rejoicing, this sacrament provides an opportunity for believers to actively participate in joy, even when they might not feel particularly joyful. It allows Christians to rejoice in the assurance of Christ's first coming and the promise of His return to establish God's kingdom fully.

This practice reminds us that God has invested tremendously in humanity through the gift of His Son, whose life and death provide the means for our redemption and restoration. As Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, Jesus himself endured the cross "for the joy that was set before him." This ultimate divine investment gives us access to eternal joy, transforming our temporal struggles into eternal celebration.

The Nature of True Joy

Understanding biblical joy thus requires recognizing it as both an action and an experience, a present practice, and a future promise. It involves faithfully stewarding all that God has given us for His kingdom's purposes while looking forward to the complete joy that awaits in His eternal presence. This comprehensive view of joy transcends momentary happiness, offering instead a lasting foundation for meaningful living and worship.

The story of the Magi illustrates how even those outside the covenant community could recognize and respond to the joy of God's presence in the world. Their journey from pagan sorcery to worshiping the true King demonstrates that authentic joy isn't limited by cultural or religious boundaries but is available to all who recognize and submit to God's sovereign rule.

In our modern context, this understanding of joy challenges us to evaluate how we invest our lives - our talents, resources, and abilities - in light of eternal purposes rather than temporary pleasures. True joy comes not from accumulating earthly experiences or possessions but from faithful service in God's kingdom, anticipating the day when we, too, will be invited to "enter into the joy of your master."