The Magi and the Star

 

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ’

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ ” 

Matthew 2:1-8

Scholars tell us Magi were scientists, mathematicians, historians, and astrologers.  They were the most powerful group of advisors in the Babylonian empire.  As a teenager, Daniel was taken to Babylon when Jerusalem was conquered.  He became an influential leader in the kingdom.  Daniel wrote his prophecies about 500 years before Jesus was born.  In Daniel 9:25-26, he prophesied 483 years would elapse from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the birth, life, and death of the Messiah.  This complete length of time was fulfilled.  The Magi from the East knew to search for the King of the Jews through this prophecy in Daniel.  Their forefathers had taken the proper measures to record and testify of the one true God.

Although the Magi were men of great wealth and means, their pride and riches did not stop them from traveling from far away to kneel down and worship a baby.  They traveled approximately 700 miles to visit and worship Jesus.  Contrast that distance with that of the Jewish leadership.  It was only 7 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem; they did not even know the time had come!  They possessed the Scriptures which told the time (Daniel 9:25) and the place (Micah 5:2) of Jesus’ birth.  Yet, they were not even looking for the Messiah.  How tragic to be so thoughtless about God’s Word with it so available.

God purposely sent this star to guide the Magi to see His Son.  He simply guided star–watchers through a star.  He used what they were most familiar with to lead them.  They had followed this star thousands of miles.

Since stars are more visible at night, probably most of their travel was in darkness.  While the rest of the world was sleeping, they were experiencing the divine.  We don’t know where this star originated.  We don’t know if it was really a comet or one of the planets in our solar system.  We don’t know if God, who created every star and threw them on the canvas of His nighttime sky, called one star out for this special assignment.

However, we know that for those who believed His Word and considered it that God provided signs to them in ways that would be unmistakable to them.  These men knew the stars.  They knew when there was a shift or a change.  They knew when one was leading them to the King they sought.  They had the faith in God to leave their homes behind and follow that star wherever it led them.  They didn’t know where they were going or how long they would be gone.  They just knew they had to leave it all behind and seek what they desired most.  They had to seek the King of the Jews.

O beloved, does this not speak to you?  We know this King of the Jews.  We should be willing to risk all to follow Him as He leads us.  We may not have a star in the midnight sky, but we do not study the stars.  So He speaks to us in ways that are our language and what we know and understand.  As we celebrate this Christmas and head into the New Year, let’s be committed to seek Him, believe that He will lead us, and then follow Him with all that we have – no matter where He takes us.

Pray with me:  Our Most High God, how encouraging it is to see these wise men who knew Your Word, Your plan, and Your will.  They were willing to leave it all behind and head out into the great unknown.  They followed You because You presented to them that starry host, that which they knew, to lead them.  Lord, You lead us in similar ways.  You lead us through Your Word.  You lead us through Your Spirit speaking to our hearts.  You also lead us who have eyes to see through signs.  Don’t let us fabricate signs out of nothingness, but give us the discernment to know the signs You give us and the word You speak to us to lead us.  Help us follow You in complete trust and give all that we have to follow Your path of life for us.  It’s in the Name of the Most High King, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study