Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1,2
Each year at the Christmas season we hear renewed speculation about the identity of the star of Bethlehem. In fact, on a December trip to India (a largely Hindu nation), I was surprised to see an article in a local newspaper discussing all of the commonly held natural explanations for the appearance of the star that announced the birth of Christ.
Man has many explanations for the appearance of this star. Some say that it was a star gone nova and exploding in the heavens. Some say that the bright light was caused by a unique conjunction of planets. Still others opt for an explanation that involves a meteor or comet of some sort. As we shall soon see, none of these explanations are satisfactory and all of them fall far short of the true Scriptural description of the events that occurred in the heavens at the time of the birth of Christ.
A Supernatural Star
The problem with all of the explanations given above is that they rely on natural phenomena to explain a supernatural event. Fallen man will always try to dismiss the infinite power and works of an infinite God with finite explanations that are more palatable to his wicked mind. As believers, we must not be guilty of participating in these foolhardy efforts. If we really believe that Jesus Christ was a supernatural being, then it should not be hard for us to believe that the announcement of His birth was also supernatural.
The best way to understand the supernatural nature of the star of Bethlehem is to look closely at the Scriptural account of its appearing. The Bible’s description of the characteristics of the star precludes any natural phenomena from being its source.
Firstly, the star is referred to in scripture as “his star”.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1,2
The star described in this passage was no ordinary star. It was a specific star with a specific purpose, to announce the coming of the King of the Jews. It is hard to imagine that any ordinary, natural phenomena would have brought these wise men from the east to inquire about the King of the Jews. Clearly, whatever it was that these men saw in the sky, they associated it specifically with the King of the Jews and the God of Israel. No natural phenomenon could be designated as “his star”.
Secondly, the star had to be able to perform some very specific unnatural actions in that it had to be able to guide the wise men to the exact location where Jesus Christ was located.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. Matthew 2:9
Notice that this star had to be able to show direction in order to lead the wise men to Christ, and it also had to be able to stop at that exact spot. None of the natural phenomena advanced to explain the identity of the star could fulfill this requirement. While a meteor or comet could possibly show direction, there is no way that either could stop at the exact spot where Christ was located. Also, a careful reading of the text indicates that the event described above in verse 9 is actually a reappearing of the star that had appeared earlier. Contrary to all the “manger scene” images we see at Christmas, the time when the wise men from the east were visiting Bethlehem was actually nearly two years after the birth of Christ. (See Matthew 2:7,16.) When the wise men first addressed Herod they said “we have seen his star in the east” (past tense). In verse 9 “the star, which they saw in the east, went before them”. The star, which had brought the wise men to Herod to begin with, reappeared after they met with Herod to guide them to the exact location of Christ. Surely, no natural phenomenon could account for these occurrences.
Thirdly, the star had to be able to come near a physical structure without consuming it.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Notice that the star was able to identify the very house where Jesus Christ was located. No natural phenomenon could fulfill such a requirement. Any natural star moving that close to a physical structure would incinerate not only it, but also the entire earth, immediately. Perhaps a meteor could have crashed through the roof of the house, but that certainly wouldn’t have done the house or its occupants any good!
The only reasonable conclusion based on the facts presented above is to conclude that the star that announced the birth of Christ was, like the birth itself, supernatural. It is only a heart of unbelief that would try to concoct a natural explanation to these clearly supernatural events.
The Glory of the Lord
Once we leave the realm of the natural, the explanation for the star of Bethlehem becomes relatively simple. Scripture describes a phenomenon that matches in every way the requirements described above. That phenomenon is the appearance of the glory of the Lord.
In the Old Testament when the glory of the Lord appeared, it was a clear indication to Israel that God was present.
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. . . . For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:34,35,38
The appearance of the glory of the Lord was a visible assurance to Israel that God was with them in their journeys. What better occurrence to announce the birth of Immanuel (God with us) than for the glory of the Lord to be present? Just as the glory of the Lord showed God’s presence in the tabernacle, it also showed God’s presence in the birth of Christ.
In addition to showing God’s presence, the glory of the Lord also acted as a guide for Israel on their journeys.
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. Exodus 13:21,22
Just as the glory of the Lord led Israel through the wilderness, so the glory of the Lord led the wise men to the place where they could find Christ.
Finally, only the glory of the Lord could meet the final requirement of the star of Bethlehem, the ability to come near a physical structure without destroying it.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Exodus 3:2,3
If the glory of the Lord could come upon a bush and cause it to burn without consuming it, then it could certainly have come upon the house where Christ was located without consuming it. In this way, the exact location of Christ was made known to the wise men.
In addition to the above circumstantial evidence for the star of Bethlehem being the appearance of the glory of the Lord, we are also told specifically in Scripture that that is exactly what appeared on the night that Christ was born.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:8,9
As we have seen, if we are simply willing to leave the realm of the natural and accept that God works in supernatural ways, then the explanation for the star of Bethlehem becomes quite simple. The light that the wise men saw brought them to Herod. It then reappeared to lead them to the very house where Jesus Christ was located. This light was the appearance of the glory of the Lord. The glory of God announced the earthly presence of God.
He Came Unto His Own
What a glorious and marvelous event! God was dwelling on the earth in the form of man, spreading His message of love and salvation to all men. Or was He? A careful reading of the gospel accounts of Christ’s earthly ministry reveals that indeed, He was God in human form, but he was not here with a message for all men. To the contrary, His message was limited to a very select group of people, the nation Israel.
Christ’s coming was to the nation Israel.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:11
Christ’s ministry was to the nation Israel.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: Romans 15:8
Christ’s apostles were sent to the nation Israel.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5,6
Christ’s apostles presented His death as being for the sins of Israel.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:29-31
Clearly the glory of the Lord revealed through the earthly coming and ministry of Christ was limited to the nation Israel. The Gentiles were notably excluded from access to God’s glory during Christ’s earthly ministry. In fact, in His three years of ministry, Christ ministered to only two Gentiles, each of them having come through the nation Israel and receiving access to God’s glory only through them.
God’s Glory to the Gentiles
Fortunately for us, the star of Bethlehem was not the only time that the glory of God appeared to announce the presence of Christ. Jesus Christ appeared again later, this time not on the surface of the earth but from heaven to Saul on the road to Damascus.
This appearing revealed Christ in a greater, brighter glory that his previous appearing.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Matthew 17:1,2
At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. Acts 26:13
Notice the subtle difference in the description of the light that Peter, James, and John saw, and the light that Paul saw. Matthew described a light that “did shine as the sun” while Paul described a light that was “above the brightness of the [midday] sun”. In other words, the light that Paul saw on the road to Damascus was brighter than the light that Peter, James, and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is true because the light that Paul saw was the appearance of Jesus Christ in His heavenly glory, while the light that was seen on the mount was the appearance of Christ in his earthly glory. Jesus Christ came to Israel to present himself as the ruler of an earthly kingdom, sitting on the “throne of His father David”. (See Luke 1:30-33) Paul, the apostle, presented Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as the ruler of a heavenly kingdom on a throne that is “far above all heavens”. (See Ephesians 4:9,10).
This presentation of Christ by Paul is not a brighter light only because of the heavenly glory that it involves. For the Gentiles it is a brighter light because it is this appearing that offered us the opportunity to share in God’s glory. Paul’s ministry made God’s glory available directly to the Gentiles.
God chose Paul to take the message of forgiveness to the Gentiles.
And I [Paul] said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:15-18
God chose Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: Romans 11:13
God chose Paul to minister to the “churches of the Gentiles”.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Romans 16:3,4
God chose Paul to minister his glory to the Gentiles.
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:25-27
Unlike the glory of God revealed at his coming in Bethlehem, which was limited to the nation Israel, the glory of God revealed on the road to Damascus was to be sent directly to the Gentiles. This was not simply glory reflected to the Gentiles through Israel, as the prophetic program had promised. (See Isaiah 60:1-3.) This was glory sent directly to the Gentiles through the new and unique ministry of Paul. This was glory that the Gentiles would not only receive but would also proclaim. This change in the Gentiles standing is illustrated in the way Paul addresses Gentile members of the Body of Christ in his second letter to the Corinthians.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. II Corinthians 5:18-20
This is a marked contrast to the way that Jesus Christ viewed Gentiles in His earthly ministry.
Then came she [a Gentile] and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Matthew 15:25-28
Clearly today, Gentiles are not simply “dogs” waiting to scrape up a few crumbs that fall from Israel’s table. We are “ambassadors for Christ” who have received the “ministry of reconciliation” to take the “word of reconciliation” to a lost world and beseech it, “be ye reconciled to God”.
The Brighter Light
There can be no doubt that the star that appeared to announce the birth of Christ and to guide the wise men was the supernatural appearance of the glory of the Lord. What we, as Gentiles in the Age of Grace, must remember is that the same light appeared again to Paul to bring a message of forgiveness to us. For us, the appearance of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus is truly the brighter light.