The star of Christmas is a popular feature of belief among all when celebrating Christmas. Although it was found during that first Christmas night in Bethlehem it is not visible as a celestial light every Christmas.
The description of the star in the Holy Bible represents the conception of the celestial universe in ancient Semitic times. The star has many references in different contexts. The story of God’s creation of the world and other Biblical writings bear witness to this fact. The gospel of Mathew shares the symbolism of the star of Bethlehem. This gospel includes many prophetic writings of the future Messiah.
Mathew’s gospel shows a profound clarity of the theological vision and originality when referring to the symbolism of the star. Mythology or not the Christmas star uniquely symbolises Jesus Christ who is fulfilling all messianic prophesies and is the source of peace for all humanity. The symbol of the star during that first Christmas was understood differently by the gentile wise men and the jewish people including king Herod. The star was the ideal beauty whose light of peace shone that night. The star is always the sign which makes the traveller below on earth to keep to the right path and to find it, when lost. Undoubtedly God almighty for that reason created the star to play its part in the history of mankind, in their journey towards the saviour, Jesus Christ.
A Stella Nova
In Matt 2:2 the word aster or star may mean a comet. But there is no evidence or record to prove a comet had appeared during that first Christmas. In 1606 Astronomer Johannes Kepler suggested that in May 7 BC that there were three remarkable conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn and or Venus which occurred and observable to the naked eye. These findings were later confirmed by Astronomers Munter and Idler in the 19th century.
Perhaps what the wise men saw would have been a Stella Nova, a star which spontaneously increases in magnitude and brilliance then disappears altogether.
Matt 2:9 goes contrary to the findings of modern Astronomy, as there are no fixed stars. A comet could not have disappeared and reappeard and then stood still unless it was a Stella Nova. This star during that first Christmas, its appearance and guiding ways could only be explained by some miraculous phenomenon pertaining to light.
To renew the blessing of creation evolved a seed, a seed to bring light to darkness and to bring hope, the Annunciation and the divine Messenger. The seed of light pervaded the world in to a dark womb and space. Gradually this light took shape and in safety prepared to enter the light of day in all its glory. At the same time a reflection of the light appeared in the sky and a great star was born. The light of the star was transforming and it is said that the wise men saw the star and followed it faithfully, believing and understanding the meaning of this light and bearing witness to the birth that brought great light, hope and healing to the earth.
St.Mathew selected Zoroastrian wise men and elements of Astrology to herald the coming of Jesus. The wise men had anticipated a saviour born of a virgin in fulfillment of prophesies made about him. During the era of that first Christmas due to Hellenistic and Persian influences there was a great interest in Astronomy and Astrology with respect for those who practised them, however hostile it may have been to the Jewish faith. (Dt 18-10, 2Kg 21:6-2). There was popular acceptance of the wise men among Jews and Gentles alike as possessors of special powers. We cannot deny that there could have existed a unique divine revelation or guidance but not specified in the Bible by which the wise men came to know that the birth of this child named Jesus was no mere casual happening but part of the divine plan as depicted by an extraordinary star.
Messiah of humanity
It was the non Jewish people who broke the news of the star to the Jewish people who were not aware of it. In finding the Messiah it is not the erudition of the scriptures that become significant but the search for the star in the sky. The baby of Bethlehem who is called God with us is the Messiah of the whole of humanity, of all cultures and people. Jesus is the source of peace which is ever searched for by humanity.
The role of the star was not unlike our own. The star gave the wise men the indication to begin their journey to find the saviour. The jewish community as a whole did not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah while many of the pagans did. The wise men received a revelation through Astrology. The story of the wise men therefore is a miniature gospel. It presented Jesus as a contradictory sign, a cause for the fall of some, and the rise of others.
The Jewish people had their own convictions of the Natal star which was a celestial light of auspice giving support in finding the baby Jesus. It was a natal star because it related to a birth, the birth of Jesus Christ the saviour of the world. It was a star rising from the East. Through their own cultural thought patterns the jewish people understood the symbol of the star.
Sukkahs
The jewish people had a time of the year when they typically looked at the stars, during the festival of Tabernacles. They built out of green branches booths known as ‘Sukkahs’. For eight days they took their meals and slept in these sukkahs, where customarily there were holes kept on the roofs. These holes enabled them to look at the stars at night. If the wise men were jewish then whilst celebrating the feast of Tabernacles they would have noticed the appearance of a new star. As the Babylonians are generally known to be where Astrology was born, such wise men would have excelled at Astrology.
The wise men or Magi from the Greek word ‘magoi’ – the wisdom seekers or teachers emerging from ancient Persia represent the non Jewish people who were searching for God. Search for God in nature is properly attested in the sacred scriptures (Ps.19:1, Rom 1:20). It has an image of a particular religion and cultural thought pattern. It is the star appearing in the East or at its using which animates the journey of the wise men. The efforts of the wise men demonstrate a search for truth, wisdom, peace and high values in life in keeping with their beliefs and thought patterns. It also signifies a natural and personal thirst for a God experience from the depth of ones heart.
A fascination for all
It is extraordinary how stars have always had such a fascination for all. The first Christmas Natal star was the pivotal point in the sky which made many to raise their heads without tiring their eyes. The first Christmas Natal star was always the sign on high which enabled the traveller on earth to find their way when they are lost. For that reason doubtless God wished that a Natal star should have a part to play in the history of mankind in its journey to the saviour. The star preceded the wise men guiding them across the desert to Jerusalem where the priests and guardians of the scriptures resided. Then it disappeared just long enough to oblige the wise men, to ask advice from the priests of law.
Then it silently resumed its place in the vanguard until the wise men arrived finally to where the infant Jesus was following the route indicated by the doctors of the law. The star stopped over the stable where in swaddling clothes the new babe was lulled to sleep by Mary in the presence of his father Joseph.