the story of the wise men, or “Magi,” as Matthew calls them, has a special sense of mystery and joy and has long been celebrated by Christians on a special holiday called Epiphany. The Greek word epipháneia means “to shine” or “to reveal.” Of course, the Bible is full of great epiphanies: the burning bush that caused Moses to go astray and meet God was an epiphany; Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6 of “the Lord exalted” was an epiphany; The opening of the heavens at the baptism of Jesus was an epiphany. So how did this particular moment in Matthew’s gospel come to be called Epiphany? The answer lies in the fact that it is of special importance to us who are of Gentile descent: those who were not born into the Jewish race, the original chosen people.
Sometimes reading the Old Testament is like listening to someone else’s long family history and makes you wonder what it really has to do with you. But suddenly you hear your own name and realize that this is your story too. This is what happens the moment the Three Wise Men reach the baby Jesus. Until now, the story of the coming of the Messiah has been limited to Israel, the people of the covenant, but here, suddenly and mysteriously, three Gentiles have sensed that his birth is good news for them too and have brought gifts accordingly. Here is an epiphany, a revelation, that the birth of Christ is not one small step for a local religion but one giant leap for all humanity. Jesus is for all of us, Gentiles and Jews alike!
I love the way the three wise men are traditionally portrayed as representatives of the different races, cultures, and languages of the world. I love the way the world, in all its diversity, is captured in the Magi’s character of diligence and joy. They “seek diligently,” but rejoice “with great joy” (Matthew 2:8, 10). I love the way they follow a star, letting themselves be carried away to something beyond themselves. Here is a sonnet that tries to express a little of what this story could mean to us:
It could have just been someone else’s story,
Some chosen people get a special king.
We leave them to their own peculiar glory,
We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean anything.
But when these three arrive
They bring us with them,
To Gentiles like us, their wisdom could be ours;
A firm step that finds an inner rhythm,
A pilgrim’s eye that sees beyond the stars.
They didn’t know his name
but still they looked for him,
They came from somewhere else
but still they found;
In the temples they found those
who sold it and bought it,
But in the dirty stable, on the sacred ground.
Their courage gives voice to our inquiring hearts.
Seek, find, worship, rejoice.
This sonnet, “Epiphany,” is from Sounding the Seasons (Canterbury Press, 2012) and is used with the author’s permission.
Malcolm Guite is a former chaplain and life member of Girton College, Cambridge. He teaches and lectures widely on theology and literature.
This article is part of The Eternal King arrives, a 4-week devotional to help individuals, small groups, and families navigate the 2023 Advent season . Find out more about this special issue that can be used in Advent or any time of year at http://orderct.com/adviento.
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