Rest of the Story - Star of Bethlehem

The Mysterious Star of Bethlehem

Just the facts!

• Legends, stories and traditions add some color to the meaning of Christmas.
  
  • They can also get in the way.
    
• The real story is better than the legends.
  
• The problem with legends is that sometimes they add color to stories that don't need any additional color.
  
• In fact, sometimes legends are so colorful, they are unbelievable, and can end up making the entire story unbelievable as well.
• Astronomy verses astrology
  
  • Divination in the Old Testament
    
  • Signs in the sky verses directions for life
    
• Stars are anchors for historians.
  
  • The heavens are so predictable that a description of the sky in a text often enables precise dating of ancient events.
    
• A Star which is part of the orderly natural universe is a Clockwork Star.
  
  • A sign put in place before men walked the Earth...

God’s Stars

Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
Genesis 1:16

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4

And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
Deuteronomy 4:19

He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea; He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number
Job 9:8-10

When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:7

The Lord asked Job, “Can you bind the chains of Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?
Job 38:31

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
Psalm 8:3-4

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.
Psalm 147:4

The Light of the Star

• Matthew 2:1-10
  
• The Star of Bethlehem
  
  • The Magi interpret the meaning of the luminaries (Vs 1-2)
    
  • The star leads the way (Vs 9-10)
    
• We can learn 9 characteristics from this passage of Scripture

The Stars Characteristics

1. It signified birth.
   
2. It signified kingship.
   
3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.
   
4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
   
5. It appeared at a precise time.
   
6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
   
7. It endured over time.
   
8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
   
9. It stopped over Bethlehem.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11