8th Day of Advent-BETHLEHEM’S SUPENATURAL STAR

BETHLEHEM’S SUPENATURAL STAR

Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:2

Many times the Bible baffles our curiosity about just how certain things happened. So, how did this star get the magi from the east to Jerusalem?

It does not say that it led them or went before them. It only says they saw a star in the east, and came to Jerusalem.  How did the star go before them in the short five mile stretch from Jerusalem to Bethlehem? How did it a star stand over the place where the child was? (Vs 9).

The answer is: We do not know. There are numerous conjectures trying to explain this by speaking of the conjunction of planets, comets or supernovas.  We just don’t know. We cannot, should not become preoccupied with developing theories that have little spiritual significance,

Those becoming preoccupied with such things as how the star worked, and how the Red Sea split, or how manna fell, and Jonah survived a fish, are generally people who are what may be called as mentality for the marginal. One doesn’t see in them a deep cherishing of the central things of the gospel – the holiness of God, the ugliness of sin, the helplessness of man, the death of Christ, justification by faith alone, the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the glory of Christ’s return and the final judgment. They are always taking you down a side track with a new article or book.  There is little centered rejoicing. What is plain concerning the staris that it is doing something that it cannot do on its own: guiding the magi to the Son of God to worship Him.

The lesson is plain: God is guiding foreigners to Christ to worship Him.  And He is doing it by exerting global –probably universal – influence and the power to get it done.

Luke shows God influencing the entire Roman Empire so that the census comes at the exact time to get a virgin to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy for her to deliver.  Matthew shows God influencing the stars in the sky to get foreign magi to Bethlehem so that they can worship Him.

This is God’s design.  He did it then.  He is still doing it now. His aim is that the nations – all nations (Matthew 24:14)- worship His Son.  This is God’s will for everybody in your office at work, and in your neighborhood and in your home.

The purpose of God is the ingathering of the nations to worship His Son.