"...There ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until
it stopped over the place where the Child was." (Matthew 2:9)
In the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew, the Magi appear as "wise men" guided by a
star from the East to Jerusalem where they sought out the new born King of
the Jews. Coming from the East denotes the magi are outside of Israel.
Scholars seem to think the Magi perhaps came from the banks of the Tigris
and Euphrates, where astronomy was cultivated early by the Chaldeans.
The Israelites seem to have devoted little study to astronomy. Many
Israelites it is thought believed the study of stars would encourage
idolatry of star worship. Therefore there was no abundance of knowledge
related to the study of stars among the Israelite culture. Regular patterns
of travel of the stars and planets were sufficiently known to produce a
calendar with the dates of holy days and festivals.
The star appearing in the days of Herod the Great of Judea (37-4BC) was a
new star appearing for the first time. And only this one time did it appear.
Frequently called "the Star of Bethlehem," this star was definitely an
unusual brilliant celestial body that captured the attention of those who
followed it.
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St-Takla.org Image: Xmas Ornament صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: زينة الميلاد |
Bethlehem was a town some five or so miles south of Jerusalem. By the time
of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, Bethlehem the once famous City of
David, had become an obscure village. Bethlehem is first mentioned in the
Holy Bible as being located near the burial place of Rachel and was called
Ephrath (Genesis 35:19). Bethlehem was the home of Boaz who married Ruth. It
was home to Jesse, David's father (I Samuel 16). It was prophesied in the
Old Testament that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Herod
the Great's priests reminded him of this prophecy and the wise men were sent
to look for the Child in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-8).
Origen the Scholar states, "The star that was seen in the east we consider
to have been a new star, unlike any of the other well-known planetary
bodies...Yet, it had the nature of those celestial bodies that appear at
times, such as comets...It has been observed that, on the occurrence of great
events, and of mighty changes in earthly things, such stars are apt to
appear, indicating either the removal of dynasties or the breaking out of
wars...There is a prophecy of Balaam recorded by Moses to this effect: 'There
will arise a star out of Jacob, and a man will rise up out of Israel."
In the Old Testament Balaam was one of the Magi predecessors, a Gentile who
also anticipated the coming of a King among the Jews.
Why would wise men follow this most famous star seeking to worship a King
not from among their own religion but instead from among the Jews? The
answer may lie in the fact that the religion of the wise men was similar to
the Jews. Originating from Persia, the magi believed in one God, did not
worship idols, and worshiped light as symbolic of God. It was expected from
the ancient of times that a great king would rise up out of the Jewish
population. A child from Heaven would come who would restore the golden age
to the Jewish nation. This expected child documented in ancient literature
would take away all sin.
The prophet Daniel was a prince and chieftain among this particular class of
magi or wise men. Through the Holy Book of Daniel, Daniel's prophecies and
calculations of when the Lord Jesus Christ should be born were made known to
the wise men that followed the star.
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Origen stated the "star was not any of the constellations existing in the
sky that was made to be the star of the East. Rather, it was something of
another order, appointed for this purpose and in the service of the
knowledge of Jesus."
The Holy Gospel of St. Matthew further alludes to the Old Testament prophecy
that "a star shall come out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of
Israel." (Numbers 24:17) The reference to a star in ancient time signified a
god or deified king.
What exactly did the Bethlehem star signify? It signified the extraordinary
importance of the birth of the Christ Child. The star followed by the wise
men was a sign of the Messiah Himself, signifying the true light He was
certain to shed upon the world.
St. Ignatius of the first century tells us regarding the birth of the Lord
Jesus Christ, "How, then was He manifested to the world? A star shone forth
in Heaven above all the other stars. The light from this star was
inexpressible, and its uniqueness struck men with astonishment."
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when
they had come into the house they saw the young Child with Mary His mother,
and fell down and worshiped Him." (Matthew 2:10-11)
The worship of the infant Lord Jesus Christ following His Holy birth by the
Magi was symbolic of the Church. As it has often been said, the Church, the
true Israel determines its membership by faith and not by ethnic lineage.
The wise men received knowledge of the newly born Lord Jesus Christ through
observation of a star. It is interesting to note that the chief priests of
the temple in Jerusalem including the high priest who alone can enter into
the Holiest of All (Hebrew 9:7) had no idea that the Messiah had been born
and where. God in His infinite wisdom revealed His Truth to those with a
noble and good heart earnestly seeking to worship Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ revealed by an astoundingly brilliant star that had
appeared only one time from the East is our everlasting bright and morning
star (Revelation 22:16).
May the faith of the three who followed the star from the East abide in us
all.
H.G. Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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