Each year it is with great anticipation that I plug in our nativity star. I love the star! The 7′ tall star sits on top of the horse stable on the hill of our farm and shines it’s brightness into the dark night for all the Route 60 travelers to see. When we come home on a dark evening, I love seeing it off in the distance-one lone, brightly shining star. When you get closer you can see its light glistening as it reflects off the roof. There is something so peaceful, so serene and so holy about that star!
The star that the wise men followed in search of Jesus has become a symbol to represent Christmas even though the journey of the wise men was not completed until one to two years after the birth of Jesus. There was no special star marking the bustling inn in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born in spite of what Christmas propaganda portrays. In my mind, I envision a cold, dark night with millions of stars winking and twinkling with glee over their heavenly secret.
We love to tell the story of the wise men (magi) riding on camels following the star as they bring their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the young Jesus. They came from a far-away eastern country and history suggests that they may have first spotted the star on the night of Jesus’ birth. But there is more to this story. These men were astrologers and they also knew the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming. There was something about the “new” star that caught their attention and beckoned them to follow. Was it brighter than all the rest? Could they only travel at night so they could follow it’s glow? Did it hang lower in the sky? This was no ordinary star as stars don’t move.
The wise men stopped in Jerusalem and went straight to the palace of King Herod. They asked him, “Where is he who is born, King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship Him”. What appeared to be an innocence question would have dire consequences as it posed a serious threat to King Herod. After searching the ancient scripture they found the prophecy by the prophet Micah written 500 years prior, ” And you, Bethlehem, Land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler, who will shepherd my people Israel.” (Micah 5:2)
Herod sent the magi on their way to search for this “king” with the request that they come back and report to him where they found him so he could also go and worship the young king.
The star guided the magi to the very house where Jesus lived with his parents. After leaving they were warned in a dream to not go back to the wicked Herod. When Herod realized he had been betrayed, he became enraged and ordered all baby boys two years old and younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding area to be killed. What followed was the tragic slaughter of many baby boys as they were ripped from their screaming, terrified mothers’ arms and killed before their eyes.
When I think of that star-a star sent by God to guide magi to His Son, I realize that the star also set off a series of events instigated by the devil that lead to horrific tragedy for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocence babies and families. These families would bear the scars of that suffering forever.
The star had significant purpose as it guided the magi to the Son of God. Today it is a symbol of beauty and light for Christmas. It minds us of the wise men bringing their gifts and worship to Jesus. It also reminds us to seek the Messiah, the Son of God, as diligently as the magi and to bring Him our own gifts and worship.
When we travel I look for other stars. It appears that most have disappeared and have been replaced with reindeer, Santas, sparkling trees, sleighs and candy canes. Satan is still trying to deny the birth of the Son of God. He is deceiving our society to the truth of the gospel. Our society is losing it’s spiritual conscience and awareness to the true meaning of Christmas but the truth of God’s word still shines clear to those who chose to seek Him….
“For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
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