“After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
Mat.2:9-10
A new star in the heavens is a quite remarkable event. Of course what is “new” to us on earth is relative. The star that the wise men saw was in the plan of God and had its origin long before any of the wise men were born.
When you look at the night sky you are looking at history. The light we behold at present left its star of origin many light-years before it reached our galaxy. Many of them have run their course and died before we even see their light on earth.
It makes me fall on my knees before this God who wonderfully provides for our salvation, even before our ancestor, Adam, sinned. He knew that we would need a savior. These wise men from the east, who were not of Israel, saw “His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
“His star in the east…” These were the magi, a caste of men specializing in astronomy, astrology, and natural science. It is likely they were Medes, Persian, or Babylonians and were adept at the secret learning which had its seat in Egypt.
They were, among other things, students of nature. A wise man can learn from nature. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hand.” Psalm 19:1
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made , so that they are with excuse …”. Rom.1: 20
But the general revelation of God can only do so much. It begs the question: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship.”
The inquisitive mind, the hungry heart, the thirsty soul will find what its looking for in the Word of God, the special revelation of Jesus Christ.
Their searching brought them all the way to Jerusalem. The logical person to ask was King of Judea, right ? Wrong! He doesn’t know, so he refers them to the chief priests and scribes and they know what the Word says in Micah 5; The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. You would think that chief priests and the scribes would’ve been excited to hear the news. I can hear Jesus in the future telling them; “ You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; It is these that testify about Me; And You are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life ,” (John 5:39)
The star, which the magi had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
The universe was ready to play its part. It was a unique event indeed, when a star arrested its course to rest on a pre-selected target. When that star was born, it was for this purpose. The light from that star traveled an uncertain number of light-years to get to its predetermined destiny, until it came to rest on the Messiah, in Bethlehem, Immanuel; God with us.
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…. Gal.4:4
The wise men would never be the same. The world would never be the same, either .
So the next time you look at the night sky, praise Him for He knows your end from the beginning. Like the stars, may our light travel onward when we have finished our course.
Questions To Think About:
Mat.2:9-10
A new star in the heavens is a quite remarkable event. Of course what is “new” to us on earth is relative. The star that the wise men saw was in the plan of God and had its origin long before any of the wise men were born.
When you look at the night sky you are looking at history. The light we behold at present left its star of origin many light-years before it reached our galaxy. Many of them have run their course and died before we even see their light on earth.
It makes me fall on my knees before this God who wonderfully provides for our salvation, even before our ancestor, Adam, sinned. He knew that we would need a savior. These wise men from the east, who were not of Israel, saw “His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
“His star in the east…” These were the magi, a caste of men specializing in astronomy, astrology, and natural science. It is likely they were Medes, Persian, or Babylonians and were adept at the secret learning which had its seat in Egypt.
They were, among other things, students of nature. A wise man can learn from nature. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hand.” Psalm 19:1
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made , so that they are with excuse …”. Rom.1: 20
But the general revelation of God can only do so much. It begs the question: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship.”
The inquisitive mind, the hungry heart, the thirsty soul will find what its looking for in the Word of God, the special revelation of Jesus Christ.
Their searching brought them all the way to Jerusalem. The logical person to ask was King of Judea, right ? Wrong! He doesn’t know, so he refers them to the chief priests and scribes and they know what the Word says in Micah 5; The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. You would think that chief priests and the scribes would’ve been excited to hear the news. I can hear Jesus in the future telling them; “ You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; It is these that testify about Me; And You are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life ,” (John 5:39)
The star, which the magi had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
The universe was ready to play its part. It was a unique event indeed, when a star arrested its course to rest on a pre-selected target. When that star was born, it was for this purpose. The light from that star traveled an uncertain number of light-years to get to its predetermined destiny, until it came to rest on the Messiah, in Bethlehem, Immanuel; God with us.
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…. Gal.4:4
The wise men would never be the same. The world would never be the same, either .
So the next time you look at the night sky, praise Him for He knows your end from the beginning. Like the stars, may our light travel onward when we have finished our course.
Questions To Think About:
- How does trusting in God’s perfect timing help you navigate seasons of waiting or uncertainty in your life?
- Like the star, what kind of light are you hoping to leave behind in the world?
Posted in A Star is Born