I am sure most of you have heard about the Christmas Star which is supposed to appear in the sky tonight! I am so excited about it. My family will be here and I hope we have clear enough skies to see it!
When I was a child I loved the Christmas song “We Three Kings”. I’m not sure just why that song struck me so but I can remember just loving the song. Especially the chorus.
Oh, star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to that perfect light
I do love to walk outside on a clear night and look at the stars. They amaze me and I can remember looking at stars around Christmas time and wanting to see the star that would have led the shepherds and the wise men to baby Jesus. Well I am not sure if this is what happened to lead them to Jesus, because well God is God and He can put a star in the sky anytime He wants right? But this may be the closest we ever get to see a star that could have led them to the baby!
The science behind this star are two planets getting so close to each other that they will appear to be touching. They are actually really far apart but they will appear close and that will make them appear to be one bright star! Astronomers call this a conjunction. But because this one involves the two biggest planets in the solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, they are calling this one a “great conjunction”. And because it is this week, the week of Christmas, many people are calling it the “Christmas Star”.
I’m not sure if this is how God chose to form the star that led those shepherds and wise men. But think about it, they didn’t have textbooks and computers to explain to them the science behind it. They also didn’t have city lights that blocked them from seeing stars. They slept under them, they probably knew the stars way better than we do because they, especially the shepherds, possibly studied them at night and maybe they were fascinated by them. But they did know, this star, it was different. Something in them had to follow this star, and it led them to a baby, lying in a manger. But not just any baby, this was Jesus, the one who came to save us from our sins. They knew immediately that this was different. The wise men knew to follow this star because it was different.
“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:9-10
So get outside tonight. They say the best time to see it is about 45 minutes after sunset, look to the southwest and you will see it. And when you do, think of that baby, whose mama wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger so many years ago. The same one who grew to be a man who walked this earth and ministered, and healed, and touched so many people humanly. Then he died on a cross so that He could touch all mankind and live in our hearts. When we look at that star tonight, I hope deep down in your soul, you are rejoicing with exceedingly great joy because you know this baby, this man, this Savior!
Restore 