The Star of Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-10
Revelation 22:16
Rev. Mike Browder
Dec. 11, 2011
I was walking in the country the other night, just after dusk, and I saw a beautiful star. It was shining by itself in the heavens. The light was so bright, that you could almost see your own shadow.
I thought, “What a beautiful light! It pierces the darkness of the night. And it lifts my spirits, because it seems to pour its light right down on me.
We all love stars, don’t we? From the time we are small children. What’s the first song you learned to sing when you were little? What is the first song a child learns to play on the piano? Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.
As I was walking and gazing at that beautiful star the other night, I thought of the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Wise Men to the manger where Jesus lay.
Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. For centuries, people have asked this question about the Star of Bethlehem. In fact, ever since the days of the famous astronomer Johannes Kepler, in the seventeenth century, astronomers, and other scientists, have argued and speculated about the star that hovered over the place where the Messiah was born.
By the way, such reports were not unknown in other corners of the ancient world. For example, in Virgil’s Aeneid, [Did you have to read that in Latin class, like I did?] Aeneas is guided by a star to the place where Rome is to be founded. Even before that, Greek writers said that a star actually appeared to Magi, the Zoroastrian priests in Persia, when Alexander the Great was born. And, of course, the Wise Men of the Christmas story were Magi.
So, exactly what was this star in Bethlehem? Since the time of Kepler, there have been three predominating theories. The first suggestion is a supernova.
This was the theory Kepler preferred, because it fits Matthew’s description so well. A nova is a new star in a faraway galaxy. It might be many times, perhaps even thousands of times than the size of our sun. Occasionally one of these stars will explode, sending a ball of light millions of miles across the universe. To people watching the heavens here on earth, and especially to expert sky-watchers like the Magi, it would look like a bright new star.
A second possibility would be a comet. A comet, with its tail, was called a “bearded star,” by ancient astronomers. Comets were thought to mark special events in history. But, what makes this less applicable to the star in Bethlehem is the fact that comets were usually associated with negative events, like the death of a famous person.
A third explanation for the Star of Bethlehem could be a juxtaposition of planets. When two large planets come together, in our line of vision from earth, they appear to form a very bright star. This is especially true when Jupiter and Saturn coalesce. On a very rare occasion, Mars will pass by the other two and make the star seem triply bright. [And, as we all know from the song, “When Jupiter aligns with Mars, It is the dawning of the ‘Age of Aquarius.’”]
Such a coalescing of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars occurred at least once at about the time when Jesus was born. By the way, the Jews of Jesus’ time were great star watchers. And they attached special significance to Jupiter and Saturn.
There are a couple of other theories about the Star of Bethlehem that I should mention. One very devout author, in his commentary, said that he believed it was a special unique star, one created by God for just this one occasion. I can’t argue with that. But it would be hard to prove it, one way or the other.
One final explanation is that the star was actually an alien spacecraft. You know how satellites always shine brightest in the sky? Even so, I’m sorry, but I just have trouble taking the aliens-from-outer space theory seriously as an explanation for the Star of Bethlehem. Really!
So, after all this, we still say. Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. We might also ask: This star of Bethlehem: What does it mean to us?
Some of the most important places where the Bible mentions a star are passages about prophecy. And we all know that Advent is the season for prophecy.
Early in the Old Testament, in Numbers 24:17, Balaam appears to be prophesying the coming of the Messiah, when he says: I see him, but not in the present time.
I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. Surely this is a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus.
And then, we read in Revelation, that great book of prophecy, at the end of the Bible, Jesus says: I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am [] both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.
Jesus, himself, is the bright and morning star. [“He’s the Lilly of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star.”]
All this takes us back to the Star of Bethlehem. In the first place, the star is a symbol for Jesus. He indeed is our star. He is the “light that shines in the darkness,” “giving light to every human being.”
When you look up at a bright star in the sky, you can remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. He is bringing light into your darkness, and showing you the way.
Sometimes we wander around in the darkness, trying to find Jesus and his salvation. Sometimes we have problems and burdens. But the Lord sends us his Holy Spirit to guide us, and show us the way. The Star of Bethlehem is a symbol of God’s grace, showing us the way to Christ. Yes, when you see a light in the heavens, you can rejoice! And remember these things.
Let us pray. Lord, let your light shine on us, as surely as it shined in Bethlehem long ago. Just as the star showed the Wise Men the way to Jesus, let your love show us the way to Christ. Let the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, drive away our darkness and lighten the way to eternity, so that we might dwell in his light forever. Amen.