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1 Now when
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the
east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod
the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he
had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they
said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou
Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda:
for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod,
when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time
the star appeared. 8 And he sent
them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and
when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him
also.
(Matt 2:1-8)
Perhaps you are saying to yourself, “Is it not a bit early to be thinking about
the Christmas Star since Christmas is still many days hence?” That question
would be appropriate if you believed that Christmas can be condensed, in
meaning, to a single day out of 365. Christmas is more than a day, a month, a
season, or a year. It represents a constant Gift to those who know Christ as
their Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King. Christmas was ordained before the
foundations of the world, and all seasons before the actual event may be
regarded as Advent. In great expectation did the prophets and philosophers of
old seek to behold the Christmas promise. Certainly, Abraham sought to see the
day of Christ’s coming, and saw it!
But
the evidence suggests that the Star was first seen by the Magi of Persia long
before that night in which they were come into the house, they saw the young
child with Mary his mother. (Matt
2:11)
Note Mary was no longer in the outdoor fold for beasts of burden, but rather in
a house. The baby was older by now, but probably, based on the narrative, less
than two years of age. Remember, Herod asked the Wise Men “When did the Star
appear?” He obviously considered the star’s appearing to the Wise Men to be the
date of the birth of Jesus. So he later had the male babes of Bethlehem of two
years age and younger murdered. The Wise Men had traveled rugged country –
across wilderness, the steep and stony Zagross Mountain range on the western
frontier of Persia, the dry and sandy deserts of Arabia, and many threatening
areas filled with bandits and marauders. So the Wise Men could have
traveled almost two years to Bethlehem.
But the Star was not first to be seen by the Wise Men. Though not certain, the
Korean observatory of Chomsongdae may have observed the Star and recorded its
movement east to west in 4 BC They recorded on wooden tablets found in the
Library at Haen-sa Temple “an unusual heavenly body moving east to west”. But
if the Korean observers did see the Star, neither were they first to see it.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, or King David were not the first to see it (if they even
imagined it). The first biblical recording of a man who saw the Star of Jesus
was a pagan prophet named Balaam. 15 Balaam the
son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 16 He hath
said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High,
which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his
eyes open: 17 I shall see
him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out
of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. . . . Out
of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion. (Num 24:15-17,19)
It is very appropriate the coming of our Lord should have been heralded by a
heavenly Light, for He is the Light of the World who has forever been, and is,
coming to us. The expectation of the warmth and joys of Christmas fill the
innocent hearts of little children. “How many more days to Christmas,” Papa? Or
“When shall we put up the Christmas Tree,” Mother? The expectation is a great
as the glory of the event, for the Promise was certain which Abraham had
received. It is true that we can better behold the Light after we have
experienced the darkness. Morning sunrises are made even more glorious and
resplendent with radiant beams by the long night of darkness that preceded that
appearance of majestic, heavenly art. 2 The
people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2) Multitudes
still dwell in the dark shadow of death, and without the Light of Christ, the
Angel of that Shadow shall overtake them in their sins.
What is Christmas without Christ? I am afraid we are beginning to see that
Christless Christmas in our day as we turn more and more to the materialistic
and leave off the object of the Holy Day – Christ!
I like the following illustration whose author is unknown to us:
“Two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a
mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. One lady replied, "We
are celebrating the birth of my baby boy." "But where is he?"
inquired the friend. "Oh," said the mother, "you didn't think
I'd bring him, did you?" What a picture of the way the world treats Jesus
at Christmas.”
The Symbol is never greater than that symbolized, but should bear similar
nature to it. The red robes of Santa Claus (a corruption of the name of Bishop
and saint, Nicolas) remind of the blood-red sacrifice required of our Christmas
Gift – our Lord. The traditional Candy Cane shaped as a shepherd’s staff
reminds us of the Good Shepherd – its three small stripes of the stripes with
which He was beaten for us. The broad, red stripe represents His blood shed for
us. Turn the cane upside down and it reminds us of the first letter ‘J’ of
Jesus’ name. Its hard, white body reminds us of the purity and sinlessness of
Jesus as well as the Rock of our Salvation.
What of the Christmas Tree itself. It reminds us of the Tree of Life (which
represented Christ) of the Garden at Eden removed now to the Paradise of God
just as was our Lord at His ascension. The evergreen branches remind us of the
eternal life which Christ offers. It is beautifully decorated with lights and
ornaments to represent the beauty of Christ to the believers. And with what do
we crown the top branch of the Christmas Tree? We decorate that top
branch with either a Star or an Angel either of which represents that first
Christmas when the Star guided the heavenly watchers (as it does today), or the
Angel which heralded the birth of Jesus to the “shepherds keeping watch over
their flocks by night” on the lonely hills overlooking sleepy Bethlehem.
Popular culture, even if they know it not, have employed the symbol of the Star
in their daily intercourse. In the days of my youth, a popular saying of hope
to the young beginner on life’s journey was “Hitch your wagon to a Star.”
Today, even those who never give a thought to Jesus may be heard to counsel
others to “Follow your Star.” Unfortunately, these common idioms bear far less
meaning that that original Star that arose out of Jacob, and came to guide the
Wise Men to Bethlehem. But that Star was a transient Light Source. It represents
a far greater Light Source. Today we have the benefit of that “Day Star” (Sun
of Righteousness) to arise in our hearts daily. (Malachi 4:2)
Just as the Wise Men of old searched, and knew the signs of Heaven, and
recognized the meaning of the Star of Bethlehem when it appeared; we too have
the hope and faith to live daily in the aura of that Light. We search heavenly
things, and know when the Word of God is perverted by vain preaching. Likewise,
we recognize and grasp tightly biblical preaching and teaching – and we know
the difference!
Finally, the Coming of Jesus in the flesh to be Immanuel (God with us) reminds
me of an old story I heard of a Persian king while living in Iran:
Many years ago, there ruled a wise and good king in Persia. He loving king
to his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their
hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and
went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their
ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the
coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he
left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying,
"I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some
gift or favor, but he didn't. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your
glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate.
You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To
me you have given yourself!" The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ,
gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the unspeakable gift!"
