A Fresh Look at The Star of Bethlehem

The Christmas Card tradition shows three Wise Men trudging across desert sand dunes at night following an astronomical phenomenon (star) westward to Jerusalem.

The most important element of the story is the birth of the new King of Israel – the arrival of the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us – Emmanuel – God with us.

God chose to inform a group of shepherds, the humblest sector of Jewish society, of the birth of Jesus by an angel of the Lord and a host of angels (Luke 2).

At the same time, a group of Magi somewhere far east of Judea, may have seen the same angels as the shepherds, which would have appeared to them like a bright star, as the angels rose up over Judea en route to heaven .
This perspective was put forward by Richard Stepanek in an interesting article  .
The prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24:17 says, ” I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near.  A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel,” (World English Bible throughout)

It is possible that as the Magi were enabled to see the group of angels rising in the west, they were also able to hear them singing,  “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men” (on whom his favor rests).

After seeing the ‘star’ they took about two years to make arrangements and preparations and travel to Jerusalem, which they related to Herod when he asked them in private when the ‘star’ first appeared. The priests, who informed Herod that the king of the Jews was to be born in Bethlehem, probably didn’t see the star that the Magi saw, and didn’t believe that God would show the sign of the Messiah’s coming to strangers, instead of them. They obviously didn’t feel it worthwhile to follow the Magi to see if they actually found the baby boy. Fortunately Herod didn’t think it necessary to send soldiers to follow them either.

As a deliveryman I imagined how I would approach the assignment to deliver a parcel (gold, frankincense and myrrh) to the new King of Israel, who presumably would be born at Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem. I imagine this was the first destination that would come to mind among the Magi at that time. As we know, a complete and correct address is required in order to deliver a package.

There were well known trade routes in those days and Jerusalem was a kind of hub. When kings went to war they would often pass through Judea on their way to somewhere else. Also robbers were quite plentiful in the area, so security measures would include traveling in daylight only, and not wearing regal robes or jeweled crowns. There may have been inns along the way or sheltered places in which to rest and feed their animals.

All went well along the way and they arrived intact at Herod’s palace.  Once there they asked in Matthew 2:2-8, “ ‘ Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.’  When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. They said to him, ‘ In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’  Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.’ ”

The road to Bethlehem was well known and went south for about 6 miles, which rules out their following a natural phenomenon.  It is possible that nobody knew where Jesus, the Messiah, might be living.

Sometime after they departed from Herod, and were on their way to Bethlehem the ‘star’ they saw in the east appeared again and this time to lead them right to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus (now up to 2 yrs old) were living. You can imagine how the Magi were relieved to be guided supernaturally to their destination. Matt.2:10 says, “When they saw the ‘star’, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” They no longer had to face doing a door to door search.

I believe only the Magi could see the ‘star’.  God only opens the eyes of certain people according to his will, so they can see angels – especially in this case when security was paramount. This is compatible with the theme that Jesus emphasized when he said that his kingdom was not of this world.

After offering their gifts of gold , frankincense and myrrh and no doubt telling the whole story of their pilgrimage and the appearances of the ‘star’, they rested overnight. As was her custom, Mary pondered these things in her heart and no doubt later relayed their story to Matthew and the other apostles – thus we have it recorded in the Bible. The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to return home by a different route. So there was a road  available to bypass Jerusalem and make connections with trade routes to their home country.

The traditional theory that a star was needed to find their way to Jerusalem, because of the absence of trade routes, does not give due respect to the intelligence of  the Wise Men, or the ability of the Romans to build roads in their territory, in my opinion.

All that said, the most important element of the story is the birth of the new King of Israel – the arrival of the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us – Emmanuel – God with us.

The gospel message would be preached some 30 yrs later, which is the good news of God’s free gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of God – by his grace and love, through faith in Jesus as Lord – whose Spirit leads us to love and obey him, and become like him in attitude and character.

I think it’s time to pause and give thanks for God’s wonderful plan to give eternal life, to all who are willing.