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Was the “Christmas Star” a Star?
(Excerpt from 12/25/11 Study)
Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem..., Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, “Where is He who is born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
8 [Herod] sent them to Bethlehem....
9 ... They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him....
Imagine the reaction of unbelievers! Magi in the east see a star, and somehow know it leads them to the Christ Child. Then the star disappears, but somehow reappears in Bethlehem, and brings them to Jesus. The star literally hovered over the house of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Picture years of ridicule by our science-oriented society -- a sphere of 8000º plasma resting over a house without incinerating the entire solar system?
What does the Bible really say?
The “Christmas Star” was not a star at all. Nor a comet zigzagging across the sky. Nor a meteor, colliding moons, nor any other normal astronomical phenomenon.
So what was the “star”? The Greek word translated “star” is <asthra>from the root word <asthr> (pronounced as-tare').
In modern Greek, the word does mean “star”. In Ancient Biblical Greek --especially in prophecy -- the word often refers to an “angel”.
Example: Jesus, in Revelation 1
Re 1:16 In his right hand, [Jesus] held seven stars <asthr as-tare'>....
And what did Jesus say “star” meant ?
20 The mystery of the seven stars... is this: The seven stars are [seven] angels....
Example: The apostle John in Revelation 9 refers to Satan as <astera>
Re 9:1 ... I saw a <astera> star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.
Example: Jesus in Revelation 22 calls himself “the bright Morning Star<asthr>
Re 22:16 “I, Jesus..., am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning <asthr> Star.”
Example: When Jesus promises Himself to the overcomer, Jesus in Revelation 2 calls says:
Re 2:28 I will also give him the morning star.
Example: The Old Test refers to the Messiah as a star (in the Septuagint:<astron>)
Nu 24:17 ... A <astron> star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel....
Stars refer to Jesus (Numbers 24:17 & 2 Peter 1:19), angels (Job 38:7)
So stick with me. Suppose that <asthr> “star” refers to an angel. Then,
Then instead of:
Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born... , Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 ... We saw his <astera> “star” in the east and have come to worship him.”
We have:
Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born..., Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, “Where is He who is born king of the Jews? We met with his angel in the east and have come to worship him.”
Didn’t an angel (Gabriel) make such an announcement to Mary? Joseph? Zechariah (father of John the Baptist)?
Let’s continue.
Instead of:
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the “star” had appeared.
We have:
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time theangel had appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem....
Instead of:
Matthew 2:9 ... They went on their way, and the “star” they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
We have:
Matthew 2:9 ... They went on their way, and the angel reappeared and led them to the home of the Christ Child.
Instead of:
Matthew 2:10 When they saw the “star”, they were overjoyed.
We have:
10 When they saw the angel who’d lead them to Christ, they were overjoyed.
Does it really make a difference?
“Christmas Star” versus “An Angel announcing the birth of Christ”?
To me, yes. I don’t believe the Bible because of blind faith. I believe the Bible because it’s true.
I don’t believe in Jesus because I need to believe in someone. I believe in Jesus because He truly is -- beyond a shadow of a doubt -- who He claims to be. He is the Son of God, King of Kings, my Lord and Savior and Great High Priest, and He died for my sins so I can spend eternity with Him!
Unbelievers often say the Bible makes no sense, and belief requires blind faith. Wrong. The more I study Scripture, the more it makes perfect sense.
Comments/Questions? Email me at:
Welcome to Threshing Floor Ministries
Written by Administrator
Sunday, 22 January 2012 09:37
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