Star of Wonder/Bethlehem

[Christina]

Retracing the conjunctions
The show started on the morning of June 12 in 3 B.C., when Venus could be sighted very close to Saturn in the eastern sky.
Then there was a spectacular pairing of Venus and Jupiter on Aug. 12 in the constellation Leo, which ancient astrologers associated with the destiny of the Jews.
Between September of 3 B.C. and June of 2 B.C., Jupiter passed by the star Regulus in Leo, reversed itself and passed it again, then turned back and passed the star a third time. This was another remarkable event, since astrologers considered Jupiter the kingly planet and regarded Regulus as the “king star.”
The crowning touch came on June 17, when Jupiter seemed to approach so close to Venus that, without binoculars, they would have looked like a single star.
The whole sequence of events could have been enough for at least three astrologers to go to Jerusalem and ask Herod: “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.”
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[Guestman]

What kind of star led the "wise men" to Jesus ? Popular Christmas stories portray the star as a good sign from heaven. But was it really ? The peculiar nature of the "star" caught the eye of "wise men" from the East, eventually leading them to young Jesus.(Matt 2:1-12) One reference work refers to the star as part of a "divine pre-arrangement whereby....the child Jesus was honored and acknowledged by the Father as his beloved Son."(The Baptist Magazine, 1866, pg 744) Even Christmas carols honors that star. But, what was that star ?

Some have suggested that it was a natural celestial phenomenon. A number of scholars have proposed that it was a conjunction of planets. However, as the New Bible Dictionary points out, "such a phenomenon could not be referred to as 'a star.' " Multiple planets passing close to each other would still appear as individual points of light and not as a single star. Some have suggested other celestial phenomena, such as a comet or a supernova. However, none of these phenomena could maneuver through the sky in a way that would lead the men to a specific city and then stop over a specific house.

Could the star have been a natural event or could it have appeared by divine providence ? Consider some facts: The "wise men" were not what we would call academics; neither were they kings. They were, as most modern English translations read, "astrologers." They engaged in a practice condemned in the Bible.(Deut 18:10-12) It is of interest that only these astrologers were reported to have "seen" the star. If the star had been an actual star, it would have been as visible as a beacon to the public in general. But even King Herod had to ask them about the details of its appearance. This star guided the astrologers, not to Bethlehem, but first to Jerusalem, to Herod, a mortal enemy of the future Messiah and who intended to kill the child Jesus. Then the star shifted direction and led the astrologers south to Bethlehem where Jesus was, thus placing Jesus life in danger.

What do these facts show ? That the star was from an evil source, most likely Satan. In reexamining the facts, what can be seen ?

(1) That the "wise men" were not wise at all, but were magi or astrologers, persons who look to the stars for their guidance and not God, and thus condemned in the Bible.(Isa 47:12-14)
(2) That the "star" was "seen" only by these astrologers and no one else,
(3) That the "star" led the astrologers first to King Herod, an Edomite or a descendant of Esau, who had no love for sacred things, and who later killed all the babes, two years and younger in Bethlehem (Matt 2:16-18),
(4) That the "star" led the astrologers to Jesus long after his birth, with Jesus now living in a house, and never was spoken of as being sent forth by God, whereas Luke 2 says that God sent forth angels, who reported Jesus birth directly to shepherds in the field.(Luke 2:9-12) Thus, God used these angels and not the evil "star" to inform his people of Jesus birth.