I Can See Clearly Now
Commentary
The ancient words of the Hebrew scriptures hold the key to cracking the code in all three scriptures this week. In Isaiah, the wisdom of the Lord shines among the people, a light that draws the nations past the darkness towards God’s people.
Ephesus claimed to be the home and host of the great mystery religions, but the revelation of the ultimate mystery, the ultimate sacrifice, is revealed in crucifixion of Jesus. When we bring in what we know about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19), we see that we Christians need to be ready to pay the price, and be a living sacrifice, a part of the mysteries. This is how the whole world is drawn together into the family of God.
And the missing piece of the puzzle in the mystery that has drawn the sorcerers to Jerusalem, is found in the ancient wisdom of the Word of God.
Isaiah 60:1-6
In Isaiah, the light of the Lord shines among the people, a light that draws the nations through the darkness towards God’s people. The nations will be led into God’s presence by their kings (60:3) Is this significant? I can’t help but think of how the kings of the world appear in the Revelation of John. Though the kings of the nations stood for evil throughout the latter book, when the doors of the New Jerusalem are thrown open for eternity, the kings of the earth lead the parade of nations through the doors.
Assyrian kings, Babylonian kings, who destroyed Israel and Judah, are transformed symbolically in this passage. In the wake of the destruction, they brought with them God’s people were scattered and in this third section of Isaiah, when some of the people had returned to the Holy Land, there was still this aching knowledge that not all the descendants of the conquered people had returned. But “lift up your eyes and look around…” Now they’re all coming back. Unlike the terrifying tales of our Native American ancestors, whose forced marches led to the death of many children, we see our “daughters…carried in their nurses’ arms.” (60:4) The most vulnerable, the most likely to die, are cared for. The final verse of this passage speaks about a “tide of camels,” or a flow or spate,” as rendered in Robert Alter’s translation, using the irresistible flow of water as an image for the waves of gifts brought to God’s mountain. They bear gold and frankincense, a verse that will be echoed in the story of the Magi representing the nations come to visit the new-born king.
(The Hebrew Bible Volume 2 Prophets Nevi’im: A Translation with Commentary, Robert Alter, W.W. Norton and Company, 2019, p.833)
Ephesians 3:1-12
Ephesus claimed to be the home and host of the great mystery religions, but the revelation of the ultimate mystery, the ultimate sacrifice, was revealed in crucifixion of Jesus. When we bring in what we know about Paul’s sufferings in Ephesus (Acts 19), we see that we Christians need to be ready to pay the price, and be a living sacrifice, a part of the mysteries. This is how the whole world is drawn together into the family of God.
This passage from Ephesians speaks of the mystery of Christ. Mysteries, associated with the mystery religions, were liturgies and sacrifices that were taught to the initiates, who alone had access to divine wisdom. The apostle in this letter will make it clear that the mystery of Christ is revealed in Jesus in the sacrifice of God’s own son. If it was hidden for ages it is now available for everyone to see, from Paul “the very least of all the saints,” (1:8) to everybody else, including, but not primarily, “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Ancient Greek was written without punctuation and often without spaces between the words. Paul is referring, in my opinion, to rulers of the earth,and heavenly authorities. There are no rulers in heaven except God. As for the hierarchies of angels that the mystery religions claimed were divine authorities, all of these are subservient to Jesus. Paul, imprisoned and on trial for his life, prays for the Ephesians that they will not lose heard because of Paul’s sufferings — they are part of a shared glory, a share in the crucifixion (3:13.) Through our shared sufferings we are initiated in the mystery in the sacrifice that has already been made.
Matthew 2:1-12
Despite familiar hymns like “We Three Kings,” Matthew doesn’t talk about kings. He uses the words “Magi,” often translated in the New Testament as “wise men.” However, the Greek word Magi is a pejorative term, an insult, that should be translated “magician,” “astrologer,” or “sorcerer”! And sorcerers don’t come out looking too good in the Bible.
The evil Simon Magus (the singular of Magi) believed the Holy Spirit, like secret cosmic knowledge, could be bought for a price (Acts 8:9-24). In Ephesus, Magi opposed Paul’s ministry because a treasure trove of magic books, worth 165 years worth of daily wages, were destroyed publicly by converts to Christianity (Acts 19:18-20).
One of the most memorable scenes from the Old Testament involves the witch of Endor (Yikes! A Star Wars allusion in the Hebrew scriptures?), who the embattled King Saul commands to conjure up the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel, who then condemns Saul for this act. (See 1 Samuel 28:3-25) There are many warnings in the Hebrew scriptures, such as the one in Leviticus 19:31 — “Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” And Exodus 22:18 is clear: “You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.”
So, both the Hebrew scriptures and the Greek New Testament warn us against those who practice magic. We should have a very bad feeling about all of this.
That’s why, when the Magi take the stage Matthew draws our attention to this. This is a big deal. Matthew’s first word in the chapter is idou, usually translated “Behold!” but in this case really means: “Look out!” as in “Look out! Magi! Warning! Warning! Pay attention!”
What will happen when these magicians team up with King Herod, the worst king ever? Herod ruled the region on behalf of the Romans. He was admired by the rich and the powerful in the empire because of his elaborate building projects, innovative gardens, becoming the savior of the Olympics of 12 BC by bailing them out financially when much of the western world was facing bankruptcy because of a ruinous series of wars.
But he was hated by his own people. He taxed them heavily, perpetrated atrocities, and was so paranoid he killed many of his relatives for fear they would overthrow him.
So, we have every reason to wonder — what happens when you mix Magi and Herod? Do you get a league of super villains? Will a reign of terror ensue when sorcerers team up with the evil king?
The answer is a resounding “No!” The sorcerers in Matthew’s Gospel (like the Samaritan in Jesus’ parable as told in Luke) confounded conventional wisdom by acting righteously. They turn out to be the bulwark between Herod and Jesus. They play a part in saving his life!
That’s why I like “sorcerers” as a translation. It highlights the shocking turnaround here.
(Adapted from the author’s book No Room for The Inn, CSS 2022.)
Ephesus claimed to be the home and host of the great mystery religions, but the revelation of the ultimate mystery, the ultimate sacrifice, is revealed in crucifixion of Jesus. When we bring in what we know about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19), we see that we Christians need to be ready to pay the price, and be a living sacrifice, a part of the mysteries. This is how the whole world is drawn together into the family of God.
And the missing piece of the puzzle in the mystery that has drawn the sorcerers to Jerusalem, is found in the ancient wisdom of the Word of God.
Isaiah 60:1-6
In Isaiah, the light of the Lord shines among the people, a light that draws the nations through the darkness towards God’s people. The nations will be led into God’s presence by their kings (60:3) Is this significant? I can’t help but think of how the kings of the world appear in the Revelation of John. Though the kings of the nations stood for evil throughout the latter book, when the doors of the New Jerusalem are thrown open for eternity, the kings of the earth lead the parade of nations through the doors.
Assyrian kings, Babylonian kings, who destroyed Israel and Judah, are transformed symbolically in this passage. In the wake of the destruction, they brought with them God’s people were scattered and in this third section of Isaiah, when some of the people had returned to the Holy Land, there was still this aching knowledge that not all the descendants of the conquered people had returned. But “lift up your eyes and look around…” Now they’re all coming back. Unlike the terrifying tales of our Native American ancestors, whose forced marches led to the death of many children, we see our “daughters…carried in their nurses’ arms.” (60:4) The most vulnerable, the most likely to die, are cared for. The final verse of this passage speaks about a “tide of camels,” or a flow or spate,” as rendered in Robert Alter’s translation, using the irresistible flow of water as an image for the waves of gifts brought to God’s mountain. They bear gold and frankincense, a verse that will be echoed in the story of the Magi representing the nations come to visit the new-born king.
(The Hebrew Bible Volume 2 Prophets Nevi’im: A Translation with Commentary, Robert Alter, W.W. Norton and Company, 2019, p.833)
Ephesians 3:1-12
Ephesus claimed to be the home and host of the great mystery religions, but the revelation of the ultimate mystery, the ultimate sacrifice, was revealed in crucifixion of Jesus. When we bring in what we know about Paul’s sufferings in Ephesus (Acts 19), we see that we Christians need to be ready to pay the price, and be a living sacrifice, a part of the mysteries. This is how the whole world is drawn together into the family of God.
This passage from Ephesians speaks of the mystery of Christ. Mysteries, associated with the mystery religions, were liturgies and sacrifices that were taught to the initiates, who alone had access to divine wisdom. The apostle in this letter will make it clear that the mystery of Christ is revealed in Jesus in the sacrifice of God’s own son. If it was hidden for ages it is now available for everyone to see, from Paul “the very least of all the saints,” (1:8) to everybody else, including, but not primarily, “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Ancient Greek was written without punctuation and often without spaces between the words. Paul is referring, in my opinion, to rulers of the earth,and heavenly authorities. There are no rulers in heaven except God. As for the hierarchies of angels that the mystery religions claimed were divine authorities, all of these are subservient to Jesus. Paul, imprisoned and on trial for his life, prays for the Ephesians that they will not lose heard because of Paul’s sufferings — they are part of a shared glory, a share in the crucifixion (3:13.) Through our shared sufferings we are initiated in the mystery in the sacrifice that has already been made.
Matthew 2:1-12
Despite familiar hymns like “We Three Kings,” Matthew doesn’t talk about kings. He uses the words “Magi,” often translated in the New Testament as “wise men.” However, the Greek word Magi is a pejorative term, an insult, that should be translated “magician,” “astrologer,” or “sorcerer”! And sorcerers don’t come out looking too good in the Bible.
The evil Simon Magus (the singular of Magi) believed the Holy Spirit, like secret cosmic knowledge, could be bought for a price (Acts 8:9-24). In Ephesus, Magi opposed Paul’s ministry because a treasure trove of magic books, worth 165 years worth of daily wages, were destroyed publicly by converts to Christianity (Acts 19:18-20).
One of the most memorable scenes from the Old Testament involves the witch of Endor (Yikes! A Star Wars allusion in the Hebrew scriptures?), who the embattled King Saul commands to conjure up the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel, who then condemns Saul for this act. (See 1 Samuel 28:3-25) There are many warnings in the Hebrew scriptures, such as the one in Leviticus 19:31 — “Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” And Exodus 22:18 is clear: “You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.”
So, both the Hebrew scriptures and the Greek New Testament warn us against those who practice magic. We should have a very bad feeling about all of this.
That’s why, when the Magi take the stage Matthew draws our attention to this. This is a big deal. Matthew’s first word in the chapter is idou, usually translated “Behold!” but in this case really means: “Look out!” as in “Look out! Magi! Warning! Warning! Pay attention!”
What will happen when these magicians team up with King Herod, the worst king ever? Herod ruled the region on behalf of the Romans. He was admired by the rich and the powerful in the empire because of his elaborate building projects, innovative gardens, becoming the savior of the Olympics of 12 BC by bailing them out financially when much of the western world was facing bankruptcy because of a ruinous series of wars.
But he was hated by his own people. He taxed them heavily, perpetrated atrocities, and was so paranoid he killed many of his relatives for fear they would overthrow him.
So, we have every reason to wonder — what happens when you mix Magi and Herod? Do you get a league of super villains? Will a reign of terror ensue when sorcerers team up with the evil king?
The answer is a resounding “No!” The sorcerers in Matthew’s Gospel (like the Samaritan in Jesus’ parable as told in Luke) confounded conventional wisdom by acting righteously. They turn out to be the bulwark between Herod and Jesus. They play a part in saving his life!
That’s why I like “sorcerers” as a translation. It highlights the shocking turnaround here.
(Adapted from the author’s book No Room for The Inn, CSS 2022.)
