Was The Star Of The Magi Really A Star?

The sequence of events I'm about to describe concerning the Wise Men and the star does not contradict any scripture found in the Bible. However, it is much different than what is commonly thought regarding the star. Some think the star was an alignment of the planets -- not a supernatural phenomenon, but a natural one. I disagree.

Unfortunately, the details regarding the story of the Wise Men, also referred to as Magi, is very brief as found in the Bible, limited to only twelve verses (Matthew 2:1-12). However, when comparing the events of the Wise Men to the other events surrounding the birth of Jesus, logical deductions can be made.

After many years of rethinking how the Bible account of how the Wise Men story unfolded, I've settled on what I think really happened. It may not be the only correct scenario, but it is one that certainly is plausible.

The Magi were experienced sky-watchers—astrologers—so they always monitored the night time sky. But on the night Jesus was born, the most peculiar, bright light in the sky appeared to them. This star was like none ever seen before. It had a dazzling radiance. I picture it with rays shooting out, and pointing downward.

To the Wise Men, this so called star, or bright light in the heavens, appeared to be exactly in the direction of Jerusalem, the city which was the Jewish religious center, hundreds of miles to the west of them. As they were noticing this unique star, most likely from Persia, it suddenly went out! 

The Magi concluded that this star was a sign announcing that a new king of the Jews had just been born in or near Jerusalem. They were right—sort of. Rather, the King who was born was much more than the King of Jews. He was the King of Glory, the King of Heaven and Earth, the King of all kings—Jesus. 

In response to the sign in the sky that they saw, the Magi decided that they must make the long journey to Jerusalem in order to acknowledge and honor the new king. It would take much planning. After all, a journey of hundreds of miles would require an entourage with food, water, and protection. I believe it was God's providence and the Holy Spirit's influence that prompted them to go. 

What was the "star" that they saw? I propose that it wasn't a star at all, but was actually the same brilliant radiance of God's glory that surrounded the angels and the shepherds on the very night Jesus was born, seen from a distance by the Magi (Luke 2:8-15).

The shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem had been engulfed in this brilliant, supernatural radiance of light when the vast armies of angels appeared with them. Can you imagine how huge this column of light had to be? How tall in order to include the vast army of angels? I picture it as a bright, white spotlight from the heavens shining down like a beam around the shepherds and the angels. Suddenly though, the angels disappeared along with the brilliant radiance and darkness returned to the scene. 

Once the Magi were prepared for the journey, they headed toward Jerusalem. There was no star in sight—they didn't need one because they already had decided Jerusalem was their destination. If they were guided by a star, they would have been led to Bethlehem, not Jerusalem. Their trek must have lasted months before finally arriving, expecting to find the new born king of the Jews.

By this time Jesus had left the manger in Bethlehem, gone into Jerusalem to be consecrated (after Mary's days of purification were over—40 days), and returned to Bethlehem to live in a house, probably with relatives of Joseph. 

In order to find the new king of the Jews, the Magi thought that the most logical thing to do would be to ask King Herod. And that's what they did, although Herod was very disturbed about the idea of the existence of a king other than himself. So he asked the religious leaders where the prophesied Messiah was to be born. The Jewish priests knew the scriptures which told them that the Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem. 

The Magi told Herod how they had seen this "star" back in the east where they were from. To calculate how old this new king of the Jews was, Herod asked the Magi when they first saw the "star". They most likely told him it had been several months. Herod then sent the Magi on their way to Bethlehem, telling them to come back and report where they found the new king so he could worship him as well (right).

As the Magi left Jerusalem, heading toward Bethlehem, a second supernatural beam of light suddenly appeared that was similar in design to what the Wise Men first saw back in the east. They recognized it immediately and were overjoyed. I picture this beacon a column of light resembling a helicopter's searchlight peering down out of the night time sky, only much more intense. The Bible says that the miraculous beacon not only guided them to Bethlehem, but "went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was" --the exact house where Jesus was staying! It was a supernatural, miraculous guiding light. It's obvious that God wanted the Wise Men to find Jesus.

When the Wise Men entered the house, they bowed down and worshiped Jesus, then presented Him gifts. Then God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod, but to go home a different way. That very night an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph telling him to gather his family and flee to Egypt, which they did. 

When Herod found out that the Wise Men outwitted him, he was furious. In an attempt to kill the new king, Herod decided to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem, figuring that Jesus had to be one of them. Since he calculated that the new king was probably several months to a year old based on what the Wise Men had told him, he added a safety factor just to make sure, extending the age at two years old and under. That way, he was sure to include the new King. 

An angel warned Joseph in a dream to escape with his family to Egypt. The Wise Men were also warned to escape. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph safely lived in Egypt until Herod died before finally settling back in Nazareth. 

As you can see, God's hand was at work in many ways during the time of the birth of Jesus. The "star" was actually two separate supernatural events, not a physical star at all. It's obvious that God wanted the Wise Men to go to Jesus. Why? Because their valuable gifts would later be needed as provisions for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to escape to Egypt, live there for an extended time, and return to Nazareth later on. The Wise Men may not have realized it, but their role was a crucial one in the Christmas story. 



Matthew 2:1-18

The Wise Men -- How It Really Went Down

Who In The World Reads The "Terms and Conditions" Page?

When I changed my Verizon Fios password online, I followed the prompts that stepped me through various pages. There was one page, however, that would not let me continue unless I clicked "Agree". It was the contract agreement page, in other words, the terms and conditions. It's the typical legal jargon that you are supposed to read, agree to, and approve on all kinds of things -- like when you download and launch a new app, or apply for something online, or subscribe to something. We've all seen them. However, how many people actually read them? I dare say, very, very few. 

As for me, I don't even look at it. I just click "Agree" and keep going. I know it's probably not the right thing to do, but would I really have a clue what it says anyway? They always seem like long, complicated legal documents that only lawyers would be able to interpret. The Verizon Fios agreement page seemed like such a document. It was so huge I decided to copy and paste it into my word processing software, have it count the words, and just see how big it really was. Guess what? It contained a whopping 6493 words! I got about three lines before my head started to spin. 

I bet most of us just click the "Agree" button and quickly move on. Here's my question -- do we do the same thing with the Bible, not even reading it even though we know we should? That might work for some things, but if there's one document that we should actually take the time to read, it should be God's word. After all, the Bible is God's "terms and conditions" document.

What are the terms and conditions of the Bible? I would say it's believing who God is, who Jesus is, and how to become and live as an obedient Christ follower. I suggest we commit to taking the time to read the Bible, starting with the New Testament. Then let's come to know, believe, and agree to God's terms and conditions.

What Not To Do If Jesus Comes Back

Jesus came to earth taking on the form of a man. He came to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus died and was buried, but after 3 days He resurrected from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into Heaven, and He is coming back again one day to gather His church. That's a promise! It's not "if" He comes back, it's "when" He comes back.

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

So, what should you do if Jesus comes back while you are still alive? Run and hide under something? Lock yourself in your house? Call 911? Get in your car and try to drive away as fast as possible? Pretend you don't see Him? Come up with some quick excuses why you haven't been following Him lately? Faint? Those are things not to do!

Sadly, for some people, those may actually be the responses! For true Christians, those who have surrendered to Him and are living as Christ followers, there should be a quite different response. 

So what should true Christians do when Jesus suddenly returns? Fall face down in worship and reverence? Be silent and close your eyes? Kneel? Bow your head? Raise your hands? Those certainly seem like appropriate responses, but no, the scripture actually tells us followers specifically what to do! 

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (The words of Jesus - Luke 21:27-28)

There's the answer on what to do when Jesus returns: stand up and lift up your heads. You are about to be taken up in the air to meet your Lord! What?!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

It's wild to imagine that day-- the Lord coming down from heaven -- the voice of the archangel -- the trumpet call of God -- the resurrection of the believers who will meet the alive believers in the air to live with the Lord forever!!! Wow! Talk about drama!!

For Christians who are alive when He returns, it will be no surprise because we will be anticipating it. We know that His return is promised. For those who are not believers, it will be a shock. 

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4)

The good news is that whether you are alive or dead when Jesus returns, you will rise to meet Him if you are in Christ. So hold on to that promise -- it's your reward. 

Jesus is coming back! We just don't know when. 

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36)

The Bible's Hidden Meaning Of Noah's Ark

The Bible story of Noah's ark and the great flood is one the most widely known. Because of all the evil in the world, God decided to wipe out all living things by creating a flood that covered the entire earth. Only eight people were found to be righteous and survived -- Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives. Noah was told to build an ark, the flood came, and Noah and his family, along with the animals God had sent to the ark, floated safely on the water until it receded. 

The story of Noah has been read over and over. However, there is a New Testament twist on this story that many people have overlooked. It's by the Apostle Peter. He has an interesting, significant interpretation about that famous, historic event that is uniquely found in his New Testament epistle (letter) called "1 Peter". 

In that letter, he uses a teaching technique called typology. Typology is the study of persons, places, or things in the Old Testament which are prophetic pictures of the greater things to come in the New Testament, brought to fulfillment in Jesus Christ and His church.

Here's an example of typology: In the Old Testament, manna is that miraculous bread that came down from heaven that daily fed the Israelites and sustained them while they were in the desert for 40 years. In the New Testament, we find that manna is a picture of Jesus Himself! Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven. And it's He that sustains us and gives us life. 

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven" (John 6:51). 

Regarding Noah and the great flood, Peter uses typology to explain what I call the hidden meaning in the story of of Noah's ark -- our baptism! That's right -- Peter portrays the great flood as a picture of our own baptism into Christ! 

...to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21)

Understanding what baptism is will help you understand what Peter is getting at. First, Biblical baptism is done by immersion, when one's complete body is submerged under water and brought back up out of the water. This is shown by examples in the New Testament Book of Acts, as well as scriptural teachings. Furthermore, a person's baptism is one's spiritual death, burial, and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:3-4). In baptism, we bury our old self! And rise to walk a new self, forgiven and free. 

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4)

Here's what Peter is implying: During the terrible flood that Noah experienced, all the unrighteous were buried under the water just as our old, unrighteous self is buried under water in baptism.

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)

 Noah was saved by means of water, just as we are assured salvation by our baptism. When Noah reached land, he started a new life, just as we rise to walk in a newness of life when we rise up from being baptized. 

Peter's teaching brings a whole new perspective on how Noah and the great flood relates directly to us as Christians today. Amazing!

5 Excuses Why People Don't Read The Bible

Here's 5 excuses why people don't read the Bible. 

1) I won't be able to understand it. 

2) I won't know where to start.

3)  I don't have time.

4) I don't think it's necessary. 

5) Some people will think I'm too religious.

If these excuses sound like ones you've used, consider the following points.

1 - You won't understand it? 

God is not a God of confusion, and generally the books of the Bible are easy to understand especially if you use a version that is an easy translation to read, such as The New International Version, or the New King James Version, or the New Living Translation. 

2 - Where to start? 

The New Testament should be the place to start because it is about the life and teachings of Jesus. Begin reading one of the Gospels such as the book of Mark. 

3 - Don't have time?

Just set apart a certain time of every day and read only a little at a time, even if it's only 10 or 15 minutes a day. The main thing is to start a routine.

4 - Is it necessary?

 You better believe it! It will tell you who God is, who Jesus is, and who you are. It will change your life in a positive way forever. And it will lead you into a loving relationship with God through Jesus that brings forgiveness of sins, hope, joy, peace, and a promise of eternal life. 

5 - Worried about what some people will think?

Really? --  especially after all the things I pointed out in #4?

Conclusion -- it's time to start right now if you haven't already. 

Click on the links below for some help with reading the Bible:

3 Ways How Not To Read The Bible

7 Good Bible Reading Habits

5 Reasons Why The Bible Is Still Relevant

The Tower Of Babble

There's a famous Bible story in Genesis 11:1-9 that describes how the descendants of Noah, who spoke one language, decided to build a city with a tower that would reach the heavens, making them famous. 
It was called the Tower of Babel. God did not like their prideful arrogance, so He confused the people with different languages so they couldn't understand each other, and scattered them all over the world. The word 'babel' means confusion. 

Our English word, babble, sounds very similar to babel, and has a similar meaning -- to talk in a long-winded way without making much sense. One who babbles can also be referred to as a prattler (a person who talks at length in a foolish way). A babbling prattler can be considered as someone who likes to blither (to talk continually without making sense). A babbling, prattling, blitherer will naturally blather (talk forever without making much sense). A babbling, prattling, blithering blatherer tends to jabber (talk rapidly and excitedly with little sense). This babbling, prattling, blithering, blathering jabberer tends to be a chatter-box with the gift of gab who may be considered a blowhard, gasbag, motormouth, windbag or yapper, especially if they are spewing nonsense. 

Be warned! Do not be drawn in to such person who is trying to argue about foolish, ignorant things. Such an arrogant person is like a human prideful tower of babble. It's best not to debate but move on. There may be a time to discuss and debate, but not with someone who is making no sense and is unreasonable. You'll be able to discern the difference.  

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. (2 Timothy 2:23 NLT)

A blabber-mouth is bad enough when talking nonsense in a worldly way and may even be considered a blithering idiot by some. But when talking spiritually, we as Christians need to be cautious. We need to be grounded in the Word of God to recognize what is foolish nonsense and what is not. What is truth and what is not. We need to be like the ancient Bereans who were known for checking one's truthfulness. They checked the Apostle Paul for accuracy, comparing what he said against what the scriptures said. 

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. (Acts 17:11 NLT)

If someone is trying to persuade you of some spiritual, theological concept, you need to check it against the Bible to see if it is truth. It's the only way to be sure that you are not captured by some prattling, blithering, blathering, jabbering tower of babble.

Unfortunately, too many people are led astray by false teachers. 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

So be on guard.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

And keep growing spiritually by reading the scriptures. 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14)

E Pluribus Unum

Do you recognize the phrase, "E Pluribus Unum"? If you live in America, you should. It's part of the great seal of the United States and is printed on much of our currency. Just look at the back of a dime. Look on the back of a dollar bill, although you may need a magnifying glass. It's latin for "out of many, one". But are we really "one" as a country today? It sure doesn't seem like it considering how polarized our political parties have become.

There is so much hate in politics. Instead of the two parties simply presenting and debating differences on a mature, reasonable, professional level, it's obvious that in many cases, there is real hate. And it's ugly. 

However, even though the phrase "E Pluribus Unum" may not seem relevant today in our country, there is a place where it applies perfectly -- the church. When it comes to the Christian church, it's actually the perfect theme. 

Christians of all nations, all ethnicities, all races make up one body -- the world-wide church of Christ followers, with Jesus at the center. The body of Christ is made up of the young, the old, the poor, the rich, the intelligent, the less intelligent, the fat, the skinny, the beautiful, and the ugly. It's made up of people with many different languages and many different cultural traditions. The church is "out of many, one". 

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. (Ephesians 2:20-21)

The night before He died, Jesus prayed that we, as His followers, would be united as one.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21)

E Pluribus Unum!