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OW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matthew 2:1-2)
Having lived more than five years on the high desert of Persia (Iran) – the land of Omar Khayyam, Cyrus the Great, Darius the Great, Xerxes, Daniel, Esther and Mordecai – I was enamored with the history and beauty of the land. Though the elevation of my city was 5,000 feet above sea level, there were majestic mountains that rose to even greater heights all around Esfahan.
The Zagros range was to the immediate west of the city whose melting snows fed a small river (Zayanderud – Giver of Life) that meandered through the city and across the desert wastes to the east, and the desert spread its sands and dunes even further east to the bases of even more mountains. This was home to the Bakhtiari Nomads who still plied their trade routes from caravanserai to caravanserai using celestial navigation to guide them. The desert landscape was dotted with oases whose place was inevitably marked out by ganats (underground streambeds) leading from the nearest mountains.
The night sky was brilliant with thousands of points of light whose beams had traveled from the far reaches of the universe to light the way and serve as navigation to the desert traveler. I was astonished at the pristine night skies of Iran and the clarity of the stars. A distant city could appear on the desert horizon at night as perhaps twenty miles away while it was actually one hundred miles, or more, away.
Just north of Esfahan is a small mountain called Atash-Gah. Upon that mountain the Zoroastrian magi (priests) kept the eternal flame burning night and day. These were learned scholars of the movement of stars and other heavenly bodies. It may have been these magi of Esfahan who first observed the Star of Bethlehem rise on the eastern slopes to pass over their city bound to its western destination.
As one looks into the purple canopy of the night sky of Iran, one would wonder at such a star as that of the Star of Bethlehem being easily discerned from the countless array and brilliance of all the other stars. What could have led the magi to identify the characteristics that distinguished that Star from all others?
The first clue could have been the movement and DIRECTION the Star was traveling. None other stars noticeably moved, but this star was different. It held a definite course toward the west. This would have been the first alert to the ground observer of the coming of the Christ-Child who was the Truth, the WAY, and the Life. His was a Star among many. All bore light, but none others bore its brilliant beams on an unwavering and predetermined path as did this one Star. Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of woman like unto all men, but this woman was a young virgin. He bore our likeness, but not our proclivity to sin. He was Begotten of the Father and of the same substance, yet, we can only count ourselves as ADOPTED of the Father. His Star was different from all the rest – not in appearance, but in nature and character.
The second possibility of their recognition of that Star was their study of the movement of heavenly bodies coupled with a depth of knowledge of the Hebrew prophets. If we are to count our Savior as Lord and King of our lives, we must study to show ourselves approved of God. We must diligently study the Scriptures to know Him intimately.
Thirdly, that Star was conspicuous in its glittering beauty. It stood out among all other stars, and it moved with steady pace in the direction in which the magi had learned Christ would be born.
Though that land is full of beauty and romantic appeal, it is nonetheless rugged and treacherous in crossing. There is slight vegetation except along the rare stream beds, and the mountains are steep and rocky. It would have required great perseverance to travel across mountain, desert, and wilderness in following that star. Likewise, the Christian requires perseverance in following in the steps of Christ all the way to life’s end. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 It should be comforting for us to know that whoever truly accepts Christ as Lord and Savior will certainly “endure to the end.”
As the wise men approached Jerusalem, they left off following the signs from Heaven and began using their own feeble logic. Surely the future King would be born in the palace at Jerusalem. They found no such evidence in Jerusalem, but when they departed the city, and left behind the false lights thereof, they again spotted the Star and were glad.
Perhaps we could take a lesson from the wise men and never stop following that divine Guidance provided in Holy Scripture – for the Lord Jesus Christ is His Word Incarnate!
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