When Isaiah offered King Ahaz a sign of God’s power and existence, he told Ahaz to “ask it either in the depth or in the height above,” according to Isaiah 7:11. Should it surprise us that God gives us signs in the heavens and the earth? As Christmas approaches, we can look back to the events that occurred almost 2,000 years ago and see God’s signs and wonders. Yet because God never changes, we should understand that He continues to operate in the same manner today.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
Micah 5:2
Years before the birth of Jesus, Micah penned this prophecy of the place of our Lord’s birth, the little town of Bethlehem, which means “house of bread” in Hebrew. With it all being a part of God’s plan, the “Bread of life” of John 6:48 was born in the same village that witnessed the birth of King David. This was not where Mary and Joseph lived, but because of an edict from Caesar, they made the 80-mile, difficult journey, even though Mary was about to give birth.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
Though most modern interpretations of the birth of Jesus seem to present a large congregation at the manger, the Bible reveals that the “Star of Bethlehem” began on the night of Christ’s birth and drew the magi, the kings of the east, to begin over a 500-mile journey to find Him. Though the journey of Mary and Joseph certainly was not an easy one, especially in regard to the difficult terrain and the condition of Mary, the journey of the magi was much farther. Daniel gives us insight into these men, for in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, Daniel was in charge of these astronomers. A recent article reveals that the mathematicians of ancient Babylon were using the Pythagorean Theorem 1,000 years before the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras postulated it. These were wise men, and under the tutelage of Daniel, also were well-informed in the Old Testament prophecies.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
This star was not just any star, it was “His star!” Modern science tells us that because most stars are many light years away, that if we see that star turn into a nova, becoming much brighter before returning to its original brightness, that the actual event occurred up to a thousand years in the past. Because our sun is closer, through telescopes, we presently can see events that took place three to five days in the past. Yet in regard to the Star of Bethlehem, if this earthly, scientific knowledge is accurate, Jesus created the star and set it to become a nova on His alarm clock, for the time when He departed heaven for earth. The star was a welcoming committee announcing His arrival. For the magi, who certainly knew of the coming Messiah, it was a timer as much as it was a guiding light.
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
Matthew 2:3-5
Why was Herod troubled? It had to do with his own pride, for as king, he did not want to be supplanted by a greater king. Yet this fear affected all of Jerusalem, which points directly to the contingent of foreigners making this journey. Though tradition tells us of Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar as the three wise men, the Bible does not ever mention their names or numbers. As travel in that time into foreign territory carried with it a high-degree of risk, chances are that this was not a small band of magi. Instead, with a background of Daniel’s teaching, the magi anxiously had been awaiting the appearance of God on earth. This likely could have been a large caravan, consisting of the magi, servants and soldiers. That presence certainly would have troubled Herod and all of Jerusalem.
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Matthew 2:7-12
Herod directed the magi to Bethlehem, having asked the rabbis about prophetic writings of the Messiah’s birth. The magi knew of Herod’s evil intentions, as God had warned them in a dream. Upon beginning their journey again, the magi saw the star and rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Can you imagine the joy when they saw the Child? Certainly, this was not a newborn baby, as He had been when the magi first saw the star, and they spoke to Herod of a child who already had been born. The gifts given to Jesus helped support a poor young couple that immediately fled to Egypt, based on the desires of Herod to kill Him. God always provides!
Just as God gave a sign in the heavens to those interested on the night of our Lord’s birth, He continues to speak to us. Last night, a total lunar eclipse occurred on the winter solstice. Those two events have not coincided since 1554. Is it a sign? Well, it certainly is not a coincidence, as God always has a purpose and a plan. We do not know what that sign points to, yet Jesus told us that in the end days, He would give us signs in the heavens. Just as in the days of the magi, those signs are for timing. Are we in those days?
25 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:25-26
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