His Star...

"I see Him but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel."

                                                                                                                                   Numbers 24:17


The first Christmas was filled with a myriad of miracles.  The blessed event began with God's plan for the redemption of humanity and culminated in the birth of a baby that was both one hundred percent man and one hundred percent God.  Prophecies were fulfilled and supernatural occurrences abounded in an effort to reveal to the world the Messiah that ushered in the presence of God into the midst of His people.

There were mysteries that perplexed even the wisest of men as they followed the star that shone in the East.  They travelled to the Jewish capital (Jerusalem) where they were intercepted by a wicked king named Herod.  They told king Herod that they saw a new star, meaning that nothing like it had ever been seen before.  It was Herod that then pointed them to Bethlehem where the star reappeared and led them to Mary and Joseph.

Speculation still surrounds the star of Bethlehem today, or, as Matthew calls it, "His Star" (Matthew 2:2).  The theories range from naturalistic explanations such as : a nova, a supernova, a comet, and a planetary convergence to supernatural events, such as the shekinah glory of God.  While the answer is still unclear, it is noteworthy that in Matthew's account of this story, the text implies that the star was only for the wise men to see and follow.

It is curious to me as to how the Maji interpreted the meaning of this star.  These men were most likely from Persia (and possibly other nations) and were known as astrologers, which was an accepted branch of science in their cultures.  Most likely, their religion was Zoroastrianism, which is still practiced in Iran today.

The biblical exposure they would have had would have come from the writings of Daniel, where he wrote, "Seventy weeks [or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies.  Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Anointed One, a Prince, shall be seven weeks [49 years] and sixty-two weeks [434 years]; it shall be built again with square and moat, but in troublous times" (Daniel 9:24-25).

Yet, these Maji were still able to correctly interpret these writings of Daniel and perhaps the prophecy written in the book Numbers that says, "I perceive Him but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel" (Numbers 24:17).  They perceived the coming Messiah, but their revelation partial and progressive.

Another example of partial revelation can be found in the life of the apostle, Paul.  As he journeyed on the road to Damascus, he encountered a bright Light and that Light was the Lord (Acts 22:6-11).  While the people with Paul could all see the Light, it was only he that could understand the Voice within the Light.

When we speak of the shekinah glory of God, it denotes the visible, tangible presence of God.  It is a real, physical manifestation of God being near.  It is the actual dwelling place of God that transforms everything and everyone around it.

The Maji knew that Jesus' star revealed the Messiah, even before they were able to see Him with their eyes.  It is most likely that these wise men were kings in their own right, based on the following three Old Testament prophecies:

Isaiah 60:3 "And nations shall come to Your Light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising."

Psalm 72:10 "The kings of Tarshish and of the coasts shall bring offerings; the kings of Sheba and 

                      Seba shall bring gifts."

Psalm 68:29 "[Out of respect] for Your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring gifts to You."

Therefore, we have kings of the earth worshipping the ultimate King of heaven and earth.  Jesus extended the invitation to them, just as He does to you and I.  Jesus also provided the star to lead and guide them, just as He leads and guides you and I.  When you consider the question as to why the God of the universe singled out these men and extended His grace and salvation to them (as He does to you and I), perhaps his is the greatest mystery of all.

Yet, Jesus' mission on this earth was very intentional.  God sent Jesus to earth "because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and mad partakers of Christ's salvation.) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

God is constantly wooing men to Himself.  As we see the world reject Him more and more, we can know with certainty that this breaks the heart of our Lord and Creator.  He literally sacrificed everything for us to have an eternal relationship with Him and day to day He is with His people. The more the world disengages from Him, the more He will make Himself known through our lives.

This is the time to chase after God with abandon.  It is the time to be led and guided into the dreams God has placed within us and to pursue the godly passions we have been given.  It is time to fulfill the destinies that require divine intervention.  It is time for each one of us to throw off every encumbrance, take risks, and follow His star.

His star still shines brightly in the world for those who will come to it.  Just as He extended Himself to the Maji, He also extends Himself to us.  He wants a personal, committed, and intimate relationship with each one of us.  Just as His star led to a progressive revealing of who Jesus is, so our lives should continually grow in the knowledge and revelation of our Lord and Savior.  It was the purpose of His life and the purpose of His star.

"O, Star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright; Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light."

                                                                             Excerpt from We Three Kings of Orient Are