Epiphany 2026

(Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2: 1-12)

At this time of year in some countries there is a culinary tradition of baking an enriched bread, lightly spiced and hiding a nut or porcelain representation of the Christ child. This loaf, called Kings bread, is served at breakfast on the feast of Epiphany. This is not just done as a 12th day of Christmas treat before the decorations come down and life begins to return to normal, but also as a way of engaging with the majesty of the day: whoever finds the hidden nut is king (or queen) for the day.

And there are several kings in the Epiphany story aren’t there? Perhaps the most obvious ones are the three kings we read about bringing their expensive gifts. The ones richly dressed in the Nativity plays or in our crib scenes. But who are they, and what are they doing in the Christmas story?

Well firstly, they aren't part of the Christmas story. The Epiphany actually takes place a couple of years after Jesus birth. We don't know why the Holy Family are still living in Bethlehem, but we do know that the baby is now a child. The travellers from the east only set out upon seeing the star which appeared at his birth, and without modern forms of transport, they took their time to travel.

When Herod issues his murderous orders, he commands all boys under the age of 2 to be slaughtered, not new-borns. Secondly, there weren't three of them. Well there might have been, but then again there might not. Matthew, the only gospel writer to include the Epiphany, doesn't number them at all - only the gifts are numbered, and there are three different gifts. The gifts are named, gold, frankincense and myrrh, but the kings aren't. Even though we sing about Melchior, king of Persia, Caspar, king of India and Balthasar king of Arabia, these names were late additions to our Christmas story and not mentioned in the gospels at all.

And of course they weren't kings. The biblical term is Magi, from the Greek magoi (mah-goy), which is used in Acts to refer to magicians. It could, however, be a reference to the Magians, a Persian priestly caste, possibly Zoroastrian. A third possibility and one which seems to have scholarly consensus is that they were stargazers, or more specifically, astrologers who found meaning in the stars. Whoever they were, they weren't Israelites. Whoever they were, these three visitors were outsiders, foreigners, people who were seeking the truth in the stars and in doing so, fulfilling prophecies.

Isaiah predicted many years before Jesus birth that, “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord”. (Isaiah 60:6)

And here they are, although Matthew doesn't mention any camels. So, if these exotic, prophecy fulfilling visitors weren't kings, who are the other kings in the story?

Well Herod is definitely a king and Matthew opens the chapter with the words, “In the time of King Herod.... (Matthew 2:1) But who was Herod? Herod was a client king of Rome, a former governor of Galilee who had gained the favour of Octavian and Mark Anthony. Herod was not born to be king, but had found favour in a violent society, and kingship was inferred upon him. His reign was a long and prosperous one and resulted in many large building projects which kept the economy afloat and his subjects in employment. Herod the Great could be said to be a successful king, he reigned for 33 years after all, however it cost much. Death was always on the horizon: his brother had taken his own life when he had been captured years earlier, and when Herod discovered his wife had cheated on him, he had her killed, along with two of their sons he suspected of having mixed loyalties. Later his eldest son was added to the list of casualties.

With this background to monarchy, Herods fear of a king whose birth had been prophesied in the scriptures and the stars is understandable. Herod was king only as long as he was in favour. This new king was a dangerous threat, and Herod knew how to deal with threats. So yes, Herod is king, but only as long as he can keep favour and power.

Of course the real king is the least likely character in the story. The true king has no power, no wealth or status, and is completely passive in the telling of the story. The child king receives guests and gifts and will be swept up by his family and taken to safety when the story gets dangerous. The true king is found, not in the exotic gifts and foreign star gazers; not in the palace or even in favour with the Roman empire. The true king is not found in wealth or power but in humble surroundings in the care of an ordinary human family.

The good news at Epiphany is that the true king can be found in the heart, and in the home, and in all the hidden places of our lives. The true king can be found in the plight of the fatherless child, the teenage mother, the homeless, the refugee and those sheltering from abuse and war. The true king can be found wherever room is made for the unexpected guest, whenever time is given from busy lives to look to the stars, whenever hope is placed in prophesies and promises, and humility enables us to stop and bow the knee and pay homage.

Amen